Earlier this year, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and Russian citizen Ekaterina Dmitriev had their wedding in space via satellite video link. The bride was at NASA headquarters in Houston, Texas, and the groom was in orbit. The couple exchanged vows via video link and Yuri wore a bow tie to mark the occasion.
The couple’s plans were initially met with resistance from the Russian Mission Control Center, which said that their wedding was not a matter of state business and that no resources should be allocated to it. But two months later, Yuri Malenchenko returned to Earth, and his bride, Ekaterina Malenchenko, was waiting for him at the airport. The couple had moved to Russia, although the bride had kept her U.S. citizenship. Despite the disapproval of Russia’s space officials, their ceremony went on and the couple married in Yaroslavl.
Their marriage was a unique experience. Both cosmonauts were married in space for the first time, and they walked down the aisle in an amazing ring. The space wedding also involved a video conference between the couple and their friends and family. It was classified as a private family conference, and was not shown on NASA television. The wedding was planned so that it would not disrupt the mission. The wedding ring was delivered to the ISS on the Progress cargo spacecraft. It was the same as the ring that Ekaterina had previously worn, and was set with precious stones in gold.
Although space weddings are not yet available in the United States, it’s possible to plan a wedding in space if you have the money and nerve. Currently, a Japanese firm is offering the service. The ceremony is supposed to last a few minutes and the couple will be able to exchange their vows in zero gravity.
If you don’t have the money to hire a wedding planner in space, there are other ways to host your ceremony. The Space Foundation has an onsite event planner who can help you plan the wedding of your dreams. You’ll have the chance to have a museum-quality reception at a space-themed venue.
While the natural lighting isn’t flexible enough for an industrial space wedding, you can soften the light by hiring performers to light up the space. Your wedding guests’ experience in such a space is also important. If you’re not sure how to set up the venue, a professional planner can help you make the right decisions and coordinate the various vendors.
While you’re in search of a space for your ceremony, make sure that it’s flexible and can accommodate as many guests as you have. You should make sure that the seating and ceremony areas are separated. Make sure that there’s no obstruction between the two areas. Also, ensure that your seating arrangements allow for clear line of sight for the guests. You don’t want your guests to have to peer around corners to view the ceremony.