Getting married is an exciting time for every couple. Whether it’s an intimate ceremony on the beach or a grand affair at an event space NYC couples love, there are endless possibilities to make your special day unforgettable. One new trend, however, is going out of this world (literally). A company called Space Perspective is offering the chance to say “I do” on the edge of space, and more than a thousand people have already signed up for it.
The first ever space wedding took place in 2003 when U.S. citizen Ekaterina Dmitrieva and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko tied the knot via satellite video link from inside the International Space Station. The wedding caused quite a stir on Earth, but it wasn’t the last time the ISS became a venue for a marriage. The event was so unique that the contracts that astronauts sign before their missions now contain a clause forbidding them from marrying in orbit.
As for the actual space wedding, Space Perspective’s Neptune capsule has been designed to seat nine passengers with a dining table and altar. It is powered by renewable hydrogen rather than rocket fuel, and the entire trip will take six hours—two hours for rising steadily above Earth’s surface, two more to float on the edge of space, and two more for a smooth splashdown in the ocean. Guests can bring a camera and even FaceTime loved ones back on Earth for a truly out-of-this-world experience.
For the most part, however, you will be alone in the spaceship’s lounge as other passengers leave for their own explorations on the horizon. A bar, refreshments and Wi-Fi are available to keep you entertained between wedding pictures and the exhilarating view of Earth. The price tag for the trip is about $125,000, and if you’re interested in joining the ranks of space brides and grooms, you can register for the experience on Space Perspective’s website.
Despite the pandemic and the shutdown of many public spaces, unique wedding ideas are still popping up all over the globe. Virtual reality may one day allow couples to tie the knot within a game, but it is the metaverse that could potentially bring out-of-this-world weddings into the mainstream. Just think: guest lists that run into the thousands, registries for non-fungible tokens and, yes, even destination weddings on the moon or Mars!
In the meantime, we can all dream about the day when Voyager Station—an upcoming cosmic cruise ship that will operate as an orbiting hotel—comes to fruition. It’s set to open in 2027, so you have plenty of time to get those plans in motion. Just be sure to hire a talented wedding officiant, as well as a photographer and videographer who can capture all the excitement and adventure. Happy wedding planning!