Couples go to extremes for memorable weddings
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THERE are few days in the life of a couple as memorable as their wedding day, and most are willing to go all out to ensure that everybody leaves with some unforgettable memories. Traditionally, Western brides don white dresses, have their official marriage ceremony in a church decorated for the occasion, and then will host a reception dinner and party for their guests. Modern Chinese weddings are much the same — swap the church for a hotel, and there you go. Recently, however, many couples are going to higher heights and greater lengths to give their wedding that extra “wow factor.” Destination and themed weddings have long been en vogue in the nuptial industry, but some couples go the extra mile to create an edgy — and even perilous — wedding full of thrills and chills that will leave a lasting impression for years to come.
Wedding in the skies
An unforgettable option to tie the knot is to take to the skies in a colorful hot air balloon. This type of ceremony has become particularly popular among the residents of Albuquerque, the capital of the US state of New Mexico, and the city that hosts the annual International Balloon Fiesta. Many couples take to the skies in the thermal fliers, which can accommodate up to 12 guests.
Sometimes, however, the bride and groom cannot limit themselves to just 12. Head to the Belgian capital of Brussels, home of Dinner in the Sky. Dinner in the Sky offers brides the option to have their weddings 50 meters in the air on a cross-shaped platform, with guests strapped into seats dangling over the edges. The company markets this option to couples who “want to bring their chapel a little closer to the angels” — just make sure that your wedding doesn’t turn into a permanent stay!
Extreme nature weddings
Some couples prefer to keep their feet on solid ground; nevertheless, there is a plethora of audacious options for weddings on terra firma. In fact, some couples have chosen to go into the earth itself to host their ceremonies in caves. Guests stand amongst the stalactites and stalagmites as the couple says their vows to the tune of dripping water and squeaking bats.
Some couples have gone to the opposite end of the spectrum, saying their “I Dos” atop glaciers. Bride, groom, officiant, and guests must all bundle up in hats and gloves — as well as crampons, special boots with spikes on the bottom that prevent falls. The photos alone, however, are worth the bite of the frigid polar breezes. To take the concept of a winter wedding to a new extreme, couples are heading to the US states of Alaska and Washington, where certain hotels and national parks will work with guests to plan the icy initiations into matrimony.
If an arctic wedding is not enticing, why not go to the other extreme and try a wedding on the ledge of a volcano? Couples in Hawaii will pledge their love near the mouth of one of Hawaii’s active volcanoes. Many brides pray that it doesn’t rain on their wedding day; let’s hope these weddings aren’t called off on account of lava.
If the thought of getting frozen, scorched, or buried alive on your wedding day hasn’t made your heart rate spike, there’s also the option of tying the knot in the middle of a national park or wildlife preserve. This option may appear innocuous at first, but many of these parks are home to dangerous animals, including lions, elephants, and all sorts of critters. Again, the photographs are beautiful, and the destination is unique — just be sure you don’t step on a poisonous snake.
Spooky weddings
Some duos, rather than doing an outdoors wedding, opt for a more traditional indoor wedding, but that doesn’t mean that their venues have to be traditional as well; some are having their weddings in haunted houses. Salem, Massachusetts — the location of the historic witch trials — has become a favorite locale, along with a variety of ghost-inhabited houses, hotels, and castles across the world. Sometimes the site of the ceremony itself isn’t haunted, but guests are invited to stay the night in a haunted inn. What a way to spend your wedding night!
Halloween weddings have also gained popularity over the past few years. Sometimes the bride, groom, and bridal party will wear costumes during the ceremony, but, more often than not, it is the reception party where the Halloween theme makes itself known, with participants and attendees alike transforming into ghouls, goblins, and everything in between. Many brides that choose this theme will also select a gown decorated with black accents, or even purchase a black dress instead of traditional white. The Halloween theme will also present itself in the details of a wedding — a cake decorated like a graveyard, for instance, or cocktails with candy eyeballs.
Finally, in the past year or so, zombie-themed weddings have become a trend for engagement and wedding photoshoots, as well as weddings themselves. Many wedding shoots will depict the bride and groom fighting off a horde of hungry zombies together; still others take the concept of “’til death do us part” to another level, showing the bride and groom sharing a final kiss as they are overtaken by the rabid brain-eaters. One such shoot depicts a bride-to-be and her fiancé having a romantic picnic, only to be attacked by a zombie, which they subsequently behead with shovels.
All of these wedding ideas are certainly among the more memorable. If you and your partner are true daredevils, or just campy horror enthusiasts, there are plenty of options to get your pulse up and your blood flowing on your big day. Whether it’s a wedding venue accented with lava or ghosts attending your wedding, there’s something for every intrepid bride and groom. Who knows what crazy adventure some fearless couple will think up next.
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