Thaindian News

Lucknow, Feb 27 (IANS) Marriages are said to be made in heaven and it got a bit closer to that in the case of a Lucknow-based couple who exchanged their vows Thursday evening in a hot air balloon.
Guests, media persons and even onlookers watched with curiosity as the ceremony took place nearly 35 feet above the ground in the gondola of a hot-air balloon that took off at 10.20 p.m. at the Ramlia ground in Aishbagh locality.

The hot air balloon carried the pilot, the couple and a priest, who not only solemnised the wedding but also filmed it with a video camera.

While the couple tied the knot in the air, closed circuit TVs captured the action for those on the ground who watched it on LCD projectors.

The fragrance of rose petals and other flowers filled the air as the couple showered them on the guests on the ground.

It was groom Dev Prashant, a resident of the LDA colony here, who thought of solemnising his marriage in the air.

“As I always wanted to make my marriage a memorable event, the idea of tying the knot in the air came to mind,” Prashant told reporters before the wedding.

Employed with a private bank in Lucknow, Prashant discussed the idea with his fiancee Archana and she agreed.

“After the final decision, the next thing before us was to convince our parents for the wedding. Initially, my parents were nervous when they came to know about our idea. But, I managed to persuade them and got the permission,” said Archana, who hails from Etah district.

Prashant then approached the Sky Aerospace Club, Uttar Pradesh.

“The wedding has generated a lot of curiosity and excitement. Now, we expect more couples to approach us,” said captain R.P. Sen, owner of the Sky Aerospace Club that was formally launched during the marriage function.

“Although as per the plan, we wanted to go nearly 100 feet above the ground, owing to unfavourable winds the balloon could not reach the desired height,” Sen said.