The idea of getting married in space might sound like something straight out of a sci-fi film, but it’s now a real option for couples who want to tie the knot with an out-of-this-world view. Orlando-based company Space Perspective is offering to take passengers up to 100,000 feet above Earth in their carbon-neutral spaceship Neptune for an intimate, six-hour wedding flight.
The company says it’s already been offering this type of flight for corporate events and private journeys, but they’re now making it available to lovebirds looking to make their big day truly out-of-this-world. Those interested can join the waitlist on their website and expect flights to begin in 2024. But a seat will set you back USD $125,000 and that doesn’t include meals.
Yuri Malenchenko, a Russian astronaut who is now the second-longest-serving resident of the International Space Station (ISS), was married while in orbit in 2007. Though experts warned that the risky ceremony could jeopardize his career, the cosmonaut decided to marry Ekaterina Dmitrieva, a former ballet dancer, as his mission was not yet completed.
Officials tried to persuade him to postpone the ceremony until he returned, but he refused. He is now number two on the list of cosmonauts who’ve spent the most time in space and holds Russia’s highest military honour. He also went on to serve on two more ISS missions after his wedding.
The couple exchanged rings on a video conference call from the ISS and had their marriage recognized by the Russian government when they returned to Earth. They wore custom-designed wedding suits made by Russian designers and even had a cake made to look like the ISS.
Spaceship Neptune can accommodate up to eight passengers and one pilot in reclining seats with plenty of windows to admire the view from space. They’ll be able to toast with sky-high cocktails and enjoy meals while on the mission, which will last for six hours. The website also claims the spacecraft can be customised for special requests.
Guests will be able to experience a “thin blue line of Earth’s atmosphere, the curve of our planet and the total blackness of space” during the ascent. Once the flight is over, the capsule will descend into the ocean for splashdown.
The final destination is a beach on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, where a water landing will occur. Afterward, passengers can enjoy a few hours on the beach before heading home.
We’re guessing that many couples who opt for this extraterrestrial wedding will be hoping for stunning photographs, an incomparable view and an experience of a lifetime. And it’s worth pointing out that those priorities will probably be different for every couple who chooses to marry in space.
For the rest of us, we’ll just have to keep dreaming.
See more celestial ideas on our list of the best space-themed wedding decor and our guide to planning an out-of-this-world day.
Image credit: Yuri Malenchenko/AP Images.
This article was originally published on March 22, 2019. It has since been updated.