Filipino couple marry in Genshin Impact-inspired wedding

A Filipino couple tied the knot in a wedding ceremony in Iloilo City that was inspired by Genshin Impact, an open-world role-playing game.

The bride, Winky Palmares-Dignadice, recently shared a throwback photo of the invitation to the January 2023 wedding on a Facebook group for local players, where it was promptly admired.

“The game talaga became a huge part of our lives,” Winky said in an interview with GMA Integrated News.

The wedding invite looked like a “passport” to the in-game nation of Inazuma. There was a Torii Gate installed in the church aisle. Winky also had an Electro emblem sewn into her wedding dress.

The couple even invited their Genshin friends to the big day!

“We have friends we met in-game na nasa wedding. At least five are based in Iloilo. One even flew from Quezon City just to attend,” Winky said.

Winky added that an in-game friend who wasn’t able to attend sent a video message instead which was played at the wedding.

“A perfect marriage — it does not exist. Always look for ways to be better for each other,” the friend said to the couple through the video.

Released months after the first COVID-19 lockdowns, Genshin Impact quickly garnered interest and brought people together in the thick of the pandemic. It was then awarded “iPhone Game of the Year” by Apple and “Best Game of 2020” by Google Play.

The game remains to be a big favorite. Year after year, it still lands on reports that list the highest-grossing mobile games.

Read more parts of the GMA Integrated News interview with Winky below:

Hi, Winky! Both you and your husband play Genshin?

Yes! We enjoy the game as much as we love the characters.

Can you remember the version you started playing?

I started version 1.0 Can't remember when my husband started but he just celebrated his third Lantern Rite with Hu Tao. I'm low key jealous. Haha.

And who do you main?

I have always been a Keqing main. My husband is a Hu Tao main.

Why Inazuma?

Because it is the land of eternity. I want it to symbolize our marriage. A union that will last eternally and forever.  

What do you feel was the "most Inazuma thing" about your wedding?

We had a Shinto shrine with sakura blossom accents on the wedding entrance! There is a sacred tree in Inazuma called Sacred Sakura where players offer Sigils to receive blessings. It is protected by a Shinto Shrine. The Sacred Sakura bestows a grana as its envoys players, helping them to conquer adversity.

Are there times you do domains, exploration, or boss fights together?

The funny thing is, we don't usually play together! When we do, my husband always needs help in weekly boss fights… hindi niya kaya gawin mag-isa! Haha.

I like to go solo because I'm very busy sa work and random times of the day lang ako nakakapag-login. We're not the usual couple who likes to play together. We are both independent players who know how to depend on each other in desperate times.

But I did introduce him to Genshin Impact and the game became a huge part of our daily function. —JCB, GMA Integrated News