Two strangers get married in Las Vegas after meeting on TikTok

Pair decided to marry to show that ‘life’s a game’

Two strangers get married in Las Vegas after meeting through TikTok (TikTok / @gunnar.michels)

People are sharing their well-wishes for two strangers who recently tied the knot in Las Vegas after meeting on TikTok.

The unique meeting and subsequent wedding occurred after Gunnar Michels, a 24-year-old videographer posted a TikTok last month in which he explained that he wanted to marry someone he’d met on the app because he thinks people “take life too seriously”.

“I want to marry someone from TikTok. No, really,” Michels said in his initial video, which has been viewed more than 1.3m times. “I’m going to fly me and you, wherever you are, out to Las Vegas, where we will get married.

“I think people take life too seriously and I’m just here to prove that it ain’t that deep. Life’s a game. Let’s break some norms.”

In the clip, Michels then encouraged viewers to share the TikTok with someone they think would be “perfect,” with the 24-year-old explaining in a subsequent video that applicants had to be over the age of 18, had to tell him where they are from and had to explain what sets them apart from the rest of the people applying.

Although Michels received hundreds of direct messages, the offer eventually captured the attention of Danielle Elleinad, who responded to the video with a TikTok of her own, in which she introduced herself and shared that she is 24, an Aries and from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

@gunnar.michels

Wifey WYA! ##wheresmywife ##marriage ##couples

♬ original sound - Gunnar Michels

“I know I have to be the one to take this crazy adventure with you because nothing in life has ever been that serious to me and I’ve always wanted to get married in some crazy stupid way [like] in Vegas, in a bikini and a cowboy hat getting married by Elvis, or going on a rollercoaster and getting matching tattoos with each other on the rollercoaster,” Elleinad said.

The 24-year-old also offered the suggestion that, instead of flying to Las Vegas, the pair could road trip down to Nevada in the “ambulance that I live in”.

@daniiiellelele

@gunnar.michels let’s do the d*mn thing! ##ZodiacSign ##lifesagame ##dowhateveryouwant ##letsgetmarried ##marryme ##awayssayyestoit👍🏻👌🏻👍🏻👍🏻

♬ Marry You - Bruno Mars

Adding that the transportation alternative was just an option, Elleinad concluded the video stating that she was serious about marrying Michels because she “loves the idea” and thinks they should “break some societal norms because we’re only here for a short amount of time in life, so why not do whatever the f*** we want, right?”

Elleinad’s video, which has been viewed more than 7m times, prompted a response from Michels, who FaceTimed with Elleinad before meeting her in person for the first time, at which point he proposed.

In the proposal video, Michels, dressed in a suit, introduced his followers to his new fiance, who after accepting his ring told the camera: “We’re doing it.”

@gunnar.michels

IM GETTING MARRIED! Meet my beautiful Fiancée @daniiiellelele ##wheresmywife ##marriage ##couples

♬ original sound - Gunnar Michels

Over the past two months, Michels and Elleinad also took their followers along as they shopped for wedding outfits and celebrated their upcoming nuptials with a bachelorette party.

@daniiiellelele

T-12 day’s til my TikTok wedding day! 💒 ##youcantmarryamanyoujustmet ##lifeisshort ##alwayssayyes ##letsgetmarried ##marryme

♬ Rasputin (7" Version) - Boney M.

The couple’s story culminated with a wedding on Valentine’s Day, with Michels revealing in a TikTok montage taken on the day that he “couldn’t ask for a better wife”.

“No matter where we end up Danielle, near or far, just know that I’ll always be there for you,” Michels said in the clip, which showed scenes from the couple’s wedding.

@gunnar.michels

marrying a stranger from tik tok ✅. Couldn’t ask for a better wife @daniiiellelele ##lasvegaswedding ##foundmywife ##marriage ##tiktokmarried

♬ original sound - Gunnar Michels

In the comments, Elleinad shared a sentimental response, writing: “I’m so grateful to be part of your life forever now. This experience has been absolutely mental, and I loved every minute of it! Xo - your wife.”

While the couple’s story is uncommon, thousands of people on TikTok have become emotionally invested, with many expressing their hope that Michels and Elleinad stay together.

“I just can’t wait to see them actually fall in love and be together forever. I’m here for it,” one person commented.

Another said: “I honestly love this. It’s so unique and different from the norm. Wishing y’all a happy life!”

“Wish you guys nothing but the best. What an amazing story you guys will always have,” someone else wrote.

Others hypothesised that the couple’s unique meeting would end up in a movie, with some suggesting that the storyline will be picked up by Netflix or Hallmark.

As for whether the newlyweds will actually fall in love, Elleinad told BuzzFeed that love is a “strong word,” but that she does care for Michels, adding that who knows what will happen after their wedding.

The Independent has contacted Elleinad and Michels for comment.