Wedding bells can still ring in New York, as long as your Wi-Fi doesn't conk out.

To virtual doctor's appointments, business meetings and happy hours, we can now add video nuptials.

Many marriage bureaus in the state – typically located in town and city clerks' offices – have temporarily closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

That's made it difficult for couples to get marriage licenses because of laws requiring they appear in person to do so.

But top state officials announced Saturday that New York would let people obtain a marriage license remotely and allow clerks to perform marriage ceremonies through video conferencing with the couple.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo at his Saturday news briefing responded to a question from a reporter by quipping, "Marriage bureaus? I think the divorce rate is going up. Marriage rate is going down. Divorce rate is going up."

He then turned to his aides, including his health commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker: "What are we doing about marriage bureaus? Why didn't somebody think about that, Howard?"

His top adviser, Melissa DeRosa, then described the executive order that would take effect Saturday.

"So if that's an avenue people want to go down, it will be available to them," she said.

"Video marriage ceremonies," said Cuomo, who is divorced and single. "There's now no excuse when the question comes up for marriage. No excuse. You can do it by Zoom. Yes or no."

Story topics: Coronavirus / Covid-19 / Stephen Watson