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Groom Justin George arrives at St Thomas Orthodox Cathedral in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
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Bride Jubee Vargheese arrives at the cathedral in Dubai with her parents who are wearing mandatory face masks. Pawan Singh / The National
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Father Ninan Panackamattam performs the marriage prayer at St Thomas Orthodox Cathedral in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
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Guests wore face masks and some wore gloves during the wedding service. Pawan Singh / The National
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Thermal thermometers were placed at the entrance of the cathedral in Dubai to check guests coming in and out of the building. Pawan Singh / The National
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Father Ninan Panackamattam performs the blessing of the crowns during the short wedding ceremony in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
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Stickers were placed throughout the cathedral to remind guests to keep a social distance. Pawan Singh / The National
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Father Ninan Panackamattam performs blessing of the rings during the wedding service in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
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Guests dressed in colourful saris wearing pink masks. Pawan Singh / The National
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The intimate gathering was a stark reminder of the current health pandemic. Pawan Singh / The National
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Jubee Vargheese and Justin George planned to marry in India on August 24 but had to postpone the wedding due to Covid-19 restrictions. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QSWT3INIBNDK7CLTYOFBSVLCMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f9792001b87776e0a767894a08aee02524c7f445e446a78899dd7137d041c341&width=400&height=225)
Relatives and friends wear protective face masks and gloves as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus during the ceremony. Pawan Singh / The National
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Guests take pictures of the bride and groom arriving at the cathedral in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
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If not for the pandemic, the guest count at the wedding would have been closer to 400. Pawan Singh / The National
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Groom Justin George arrives at St Thomas Orthodox Cathedral in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UECRT56TY3I3I2GHZRBSFGLHQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=87e797359a1361c84679847fa9f52db8449c6d3f6835efa67c370833613311d5&width=400&height=225)
Bride Jubee Vargheese arrives at the cathedral in Dubai with her parents who are wearing mandatory face masks. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BCMMBH4KDHQ6ZZBGNYXA2FFKK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=7b77d96487635c840612c035a784971c09ed3282741a29911ed06db3f1b2370a&width=400&height=225)
Father Ninan Panackamattam performs the marriage prayer at St Thomas Orthodox Cathedral in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J6ASRY77RL5HHYNLOUZHURLTSU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9a184510174924e28c6817b1c1e7b56174d184c6f3c140e60187568424127de3&width=400&height=225)
Guests wore face masks and some wore gloves during the wedding service. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DLHK4YCSNABPG5BX4IOF3Y3ZZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=84187b08f40f4ee14454d839d6c905eb55c196742c8ff68fa0d856fb6b507389&width=400&height=225)
Thermal thermometers were placed at the entrance of the cathedral in Dubai to check guests coming in and out of the building. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BOEBXBRZ7JAXALQJBVWUPQAF6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=d88451fd1237b167c072bcfacff5373270c7d93a03e7cbb1b47c008f4001eb97&width=400&height=225)
Father Ninan Panackamattam performs the blessing of the crowns during the short wedding ceremony in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CY3HYYFNRIS5UUYXCLSW7LB6RM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b2558c8cf1572c2686acb5f86c806d9dbc5cafcc7009618eb96420a82b22d3c1&width=400&height=225)
Stickers were placed throughout the cathedral to remind guests to keep a social distance. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PDPFABWZOZRERXY3XM47CFFNWY.jpg?smart=true&auth=a80e65484f7a3d085da697a92585669616e6eb8c31aab208911b88768ca59f3f&width=400&height=225)
Father Ninan Panackamattam performs blessing of the rings during the wedding service in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WCSLDDJBZIHXKBYCJL6QZ4T4IE.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd37037f1da91e80fe256464d0e9992c051c24cf76bf37f9f9de5a4e9f2c2449&width=400&height=225)
Guests dressed in colourful saris wearing pink masks. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QI3757BT6R273B6EZF464LUG6I.jpg?smart=true&auth=e1fe2a4d628018f66efb344ba75c76d8af40f15debb304a56689c676cd6dd0b1&width=400&height=225)
The intimate gathering was a stark reminder of the current health pandemic. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KZFYARLCHNPXGBXETKVTA3GJZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2e9f2248b9fb1245e2a81e9b9b00e38c35438e2906e8635376fcf2571a9d6ce1&width=400&height=225)
Jubee Vargheese and Justin George planned to marry in India on August 24 but had to postpone the wedding due to Covid-19 restrictions. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QSWT3INIBNDK7CLTYOFBSVLCMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f9792001b87776e0a767894a08aee02524c7f445e446a78899dd7137d041c341&width=400&height=225)
Relatives and friends wear protective face masks and gloves as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus during the ceremony. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MLLXODKTTCBCA5SDM6HDGE4ZEI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a213aa1434a498f01cf1a7f7c22f4d361fb00b75e2ab03b31c57acef308cd9f9&width=400&height=225)
Guests take pictures of the bride and groom arriving at the cathedral in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DOXHX4LLXTKIHNTARSI6POTY4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=3bc364d8d5656672d8a6c7f994f42dfc150280874b7d96844ce78a8b5df5c258&width=400&height=225)
If not for the pandemic, the guest count at the wedding would have been closer to 400. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/37INNFIZXTEBLLJFROHHDILOMY.jpg?smart=true&auth=946af33e60ffb1a6c404a2bb6689192a3a317bdb53a0de212bd605ba31ae2b25&width=400&height=225)
Groom Justin George arrives at St Thomas Orthodox Cathedral in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Inside a Covid-19 wedding in Dubai: Couples tie knot before guests in masks and gloves
A ceremony for 400 was downsized to only 25 – but it was a perfect day for Justin George and Jubee Vargheese
![Kelly Clarke](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F0d1398b1-947f-4bc8-a663-69c6b02cb849.png?smart=true&auth=168c867e0c9f9e3320a65ec2cb755dfde78d4c07327944646c4aad65792033ee&width=70&height=70)
Kelly Clarke
27 October, 2020
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