If a simple wedding at your local church sounds a bit ho-hum for you or you think Alia-Ranbir’s private affair was too lowkey and Ambani’s affair was just a little too grand, you might want to consider getting hitched in space. A company called Space Perspective is giving couples the chance to do just that. The company will send you into orbit in a carbon-neutral balloon that features giant windows to give you the ultimate view of planet Earth. Of course, it’s not cheap — tickets start at $125,000 per person. But if you have the budget for it, this could be your big day.
Astronaut Yuri Malenchenko became famous for his space wedding — a non-traditional ceremony he held while on an International Space Station (ISS) mission in 1994. The couple married in a small room on the space station using a video link with guests back on Earth, and they later celebrated with a reception at a Russian restaurant. Their marriage was notable because it violated the contracts that cosmonauts sign before their missions, which stipulate they cannot marry while in space.
But the couple’s love for each other was obvious, and they remained together for over two years before Malenchenko finally returned to Earth in 1996. During his professional career, he served on five space missions and is second in the all-time list of most-experienced cosmonauts. He performed multiple spacewalks and has been awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation.
Although he’s retired from his career, Malenchenko continues to advocate for others to follow their dreams. In fact, he’s now a motivational speaker who encourages people to live their own version of “the greatest life.”
His passion for inspiring others to go for the stars has even led him to partner with space tourism startup Space Perspective to offer brides and grooms the opportunity to say their vows at the edge of space. The one-hour space journey aboard a Kistler Japan rocketplane, which can hold nine people including the pilot, will include drinks and comfortable chairs to admire the views from 62.1 miles above Earth. The company says it can also arrange for you to FaceTime or livestream the entire experience if desired.
Space Perspective’s spaceship, called Neptune, will have giant windows to provide the best possible view of Earth. And if that’s not enough, it uses renewable hydrogen to propel itself into orbit without the use of rocket fuel and its resulting carbon footprint. If you’re interested in getting married at the edge of space, Space Perspective will be taking reservations starting in 2024. But you’ll have to be fast: Couples will need a budget of at least $125,000 if they want to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime event. For more information, visit the company’s website here.