In a time where weddings are getting bigger, flashier and more expensive (we’re looking at you Alia-Ranbir and the Ambani fam), there’s one thing we’d love to see: a space-themed one. Orlando-based company Space Perspective has said that it’s received interest in taking people to the edge of space so they can say their “I dos” with a view of a star-studded universe overhead. Its spaceship Neptune will be able to take couples at an altitude of 100,000 feet—about the same height as the International Space Station.
The company’s website doesn’t mention a specific date yet, but says it will begin accepting bookings for late 2024. A ticket costs a not-insignificant $125,000 per person, which is on par with some of today’s most extravagant oceanic wedding packages.
While it may seem like a dream come true, the idea is not without its challenges. For starters, it’s against the law for active cosmonauts to marry while in orbit. A contract signed by ISS astronauts forbids it, and the Russian mission control center has no sympathy for a crew member who violates that rule.
However, Yuri Malenchenko is no ordinary cosmonaut. He is a five-time space veteran who has clocked more than two years in orbit. He’s number two on the list of cosmonauts who have spent the most time in space, and has even been dubbed a hero of Russia. He’s also married twice, and in fact, the first time was while he was still aboard the ISS.
On that occasion, he and his then-wife Ekaterina Gordeeva smuggled in an officiant from outside of the station. The couple had a religious ceremony at a church in Yaroslavl, north of Moscow, that has a lot of traditional Russian church architecture. They reportedly had around 200 guests for the event, though only about 30 made it to the actual wedding.
Once the pair reunited on Earth, the official ceremony was held at NASA’s mission control in Houston. They had to rely on their friends for the music, and a few photos were taken with a telescope that had been left aboard the ISS. They kept the rest of the ceremony simple.
While the wedding wasn’t a complete disaster, it was a significant one nonetheless. Many feared that it would ruin Malenchenko’s career, but he went on to complete two more missions and remained in good standing with his superiors.
Interested couples can register for the trip via Space Perspective’s website, and while their dream destination wedding isn’t cheap, it might not be as far out of reach as some might think. The company doesn’t use a rocket, but instead takes passengers to the edge of space using an “orbiting platform” equipped with large windows for heavenly views. The spaceship itself has been designed to be as comfortable as possible with amenities that include a mini bar and concealed lavatory. Regardless, the experience will be unforgettable. And that alone might be worth the price of admission.