What’s the most unusual place to get married? At the bottom of Grand Canyon, perhaps?
What if you reside in India and aren’t too keen on circumventing the globe, let alone dishing out cash for unexpected airline fees? Then you might consider emulating Dev Prashant and Archana, both of whom opted to tie the knot 70 ft. above land.
ICICI Bank employee Dev and his bride Archana sought to leave a long-lasting impression on their friends and families, which is why on Tuesday, February 26, they, along with the pilot and a priest, ascended 70 ft. above the Aishbagh Ramleela ground in Lucknow to exchange vows of matrimony.
“I wanted to make my marriage memorable and, therefore, this idea of solemnizing the ceremony in the air came to my mind,” said Dev. And so the inspired young lover sought out the help of his uncle, Captain R.P. Sen, owner of the Sky Aerospace Club.
Sen gladly accepted the challenge and now boasts, “The wedding has generated a lot of curiosity and excitement. Now, we expect more couples to approach us.”
As for Archana, she initially replied in shock at the suggestion, asking, “Are you out of your mind?” Dev’s charming rhetoric convinced her though, after-which she herself had to plead their case to her parents. “Initially, my parents were nervous when they came to know about our idea. But, I managed to persuade them and got the permission.”
A unanimous decision was only their first step; managing to actually complete the ceremony was next. At first the flight was nearly canceled due to a hole in the hot-air balloon. Thankfully, Captain Sen’s crew was able to fix it, allowing the couple to begin their climb into the heavens.
It then took another 15 minutes to stabilize the balloon from the breezy wind. Despite the setbacks, the couple continued undeterred. Said Dev, “We were nervous, but decided not to back out.”
Friends and family remained on the ground, but were able to tune in via a set of LCD projectors tied directly to a set of closed-circuit televisions setup to capture the event. Plus Dev and Archana kept the ceremony interactive by showering their guests with rose petals and other flowers—and perhaps even a bouquet.
All in all, the unorthodox wedding was a huge success. The couple had fun; plus they earned the attention and praise of an entire community. One wonders, though, how the eccentric couple plans to celebrate their upcoming honeymoon. For the sake of aliens looking down from space, they won’t do it in a hot-air balloon!
/Weird Asia News/Click to enlarge: