Ryan George is a passionate Fifa gamer. The football simulation is not only a pastime for him, but also a hobby that allows him to communicate with other people all over the world without knowing them. The Welshman has even found real friends through his passion for gaming. Friends so good that he invited four of them to his wedding without ever having met them in real life.

It's the perfect way to "have a few beers together," George told the BBC. Because so far he and his buddies had only talked to each other while playing Fifa, but apparently they had developed such a good relationship that he wanted to have her there on one of the most important days of his life.

In fact, three of the friends, who live across the UK, came to the Welsh capital of Cardiff for the wedding reception. Unfortunately, one had to cancel, his wife had recently given birth to a baby. The five have a long history: George has been playing Fifa since he was eleven. He met his friends on a team for which they compete in online tournaments. A personal friendship has long since developed from this, which has nothing to do with whether you are physically sitting across from each other or not.

That's why he didn't have to think about inviting his online friends to the wedding, George said: "We all grew up with the game. I think deep down we still think we're 17 and the same game play like back then." The meeting at the wedding didn't feel "funny", everyone got along well in direct contact – and his wife was happy that his friends from the internet were really real, George said with a wink. The next meeting is already planned: next year the group wants to go to a concert of the band Blink-182.

What: BBC

Watch the video: A wedding in Hawaii almost fell through. Shortly before the ceremony, the participants were suddenly surprised by waves several meters high.