When you think of a wedding, you probably don’t picture an event that takes place in space. But a space travel company is offering couples the chance to say their “I dos” in orbit—for a price.
The company, called Space Perspective, is offering to take lovers up 100,000 feet into the air in a carbon-neutral balloon with giant windows so they can look down on Earth and see the stars (see photo below). The whole experience lasts about six hours and costs $125,000 per seat. If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is.
While it’s certainly an out-of-this-world idea, it’s not without its risks. For example, the cosmonauts who work for Russian space agency Roscosmos don’t have the option of getting married while they are in orbit because their contracts include a clause saying that they must behave like a professional and avoid any activities that could put them at risk of losing their jobs.
One such cosmonaut, Yuri Malenchenko, became famous for marrying his US-born wife Ekaterina Dmitrieva while he was on the International Space Station in 2003. Their ceremony was carried out via a satellite video link, with her dressed in a white gown and he in his standard ISS uniform with a bow tie. The couple wore matching ring sets that had been sent up on a Progress cargo craft ahead of their big day.
But Malenchenko’s choice to marry while in orbit didn’t just cost him a promotion—it also put his career in jeopardy. The incident prompted Roscosmos to review all its astronauts’ contracts and impose strict new rules about getting married in orbit. And even if the contract had allowed for it, his career probably wouldn’t have survived that setback because he was a highly respected cosmonaut who had logged more time in space than any other Russian.
So far, no other cosmonaut has dared to marry while in orbit. But it may be a matter of time, because a company that offers to do so has already got a waiting list that’s light-years long.
In the meantime, some adventurous couples are choosing to wed outside the box and in unique spaces such as beside a river, in a rustic horse stable or on top of a mountain. The key is to know what you want and to find a venue that can offer you the right options to meet your needs.
If you’re planning a wedding and are interested in exploring all your options, I suggest you reach out to a certified event planner who can help you weigh the pros and cons of each venue based on your specific needs. And don’t forget to take into account how much your desired venue might cost once you add in all the extras — including tables, chairs, flatware, china and decor. Then you’ll have an informed and balanced decision to make!