Move over beach weddings — there’s a new ultimate wedding destination that’s out of this world (literally). Orlando-based Space Perspective is offering couples the opportunity to take their vows in space. The company’s revolutionary Neptune spacecraft will take passengers to the edge of our planet’s atmosphere and provide them with a once-in-a-lifetime view. The waitlist for this otherworldly expedition is already light-years long.
The company hopes to start journeying passengers on their out-of-this-world wedding adventure from 2024, though a seat will set you back a cool $125,000 per person. Unlike many commercial space flights, the Neptune uses renewable hydrogen and is propelled by a combination of electricity, heat, and water, meaning there’s no need for the typical rocket launch. This makes the voyage much safer and more accessible to people who may not be medically eligible for a regular space flight.
In 2003, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko married his American bride Ekaterina Dmitrieva via video link in Houston as he orbited the International Space Station. She walked down the aisle to David Bowie’s “Absolute Beginners” while wearing her classic white wedding dress, and at one point she blew him a kiss — and he blew her one right back. It wasn’t the first space wedding, but it was the first to be public and had some repercussions. In fact, a few years after the ceremony, the contracts that cosmonauts sign before their space missions now contain a clause that prohibits them from marrying while in orbit.
As a result, most astronauts only have a handful of family members or close friends attend their weddings in space. They also typically have to make the arrangements themselves, which can be challenging for those with busy schedules and travel restrictions. Thankfully, this may change soon.
A few companies have sprung up to cater to the demand for space weddings, and there’s even an app that helps plan a ceremony from the ground up. The most important thing is to determine how many people you want to invite. If you have too many guests in a small space, it can feel claustrophobic and crowded. Also, it’s a good idea to ask your potential wedding venue how many people the space can accommodate comfortably so you know how much seating you’ll need to reserve.
Choosing the right date is also essential. Typically, you’ll want to book your space well in advance to ensure that it is available on the date you’re hoping for. However, some companies will hold a space for you if you give them enough lead time, so don’t hesitate to ask if they have availability.
No matter what you do, it’s likely your wedding will be unlike any other. But it doesn’t hurt to consult with a wedding planner, either. They can help you find a unique venue and make sure everything goes according to plan on your special day.