Flight Passengers Become Surprise Wedding Guests as Couple Exchange Vows at 35,000 Feet
A couple tied the knot 35,000 feet in the air on a flight from Newark to Orlando
United Airlines coordinated decorations, refreshments and — in a way — the guest list for Jake Meli and Abigail Power's sky-high wedding
The pair were met with a celebratory cake at their arrival gate and headed to their honeymoon in Disney World and Universal StudiosA bride and groom's love is soaring to new heights.
Jake Meli and Abigail Power said "I do" 35,000 feet into the sky while on a United flight from Newark to Orlando, the airline shared in a press release. The plane's crew coordinated the decorations, refreshments and — in a way — the guest list for the couple's marriage to take flight.
In a video shared by the airline on Instagram, the ceremony kicked off with a special announcement: "Attention all passengers, we will be starting the wedding now!"
"Whether you're here for the vows, the vacation, or you're just trying to get home, thank you for being part of this one-of-a-kind moment," the couple's officiant said in the video.
Twinkly lights and ribbons lined the airplane's interior when Meli and Power stood at the front of the cabin to exchange vows. The idea to tie the knot in the sky actually originated as a dare, the couple told the airline — the groom's friend got married in the middle of the ocean while on a cruise and subsequently challenged Meli to "one-up him."
So Meli hatched an idea. "I've been flying United since I was a kid," Meli said. "Let's see if we can maybe work something out."
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The bride and groom were already going to be on a flight to Orlando, as they decided to honeymoon at Disney World and Universal Studios, and decided that flight was the perfect venue for their wedding.
United happily obliged, organizing champagne for them on board and a celebratory wedding cake waiting for them at the gate in Orlando. The cabin filled with clapping and cheers as the couple officially wed.
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