•Sara and partner
A couple travelling to Las Vegas for a private elopement unexpectedly found themselves getting married mid-flight after Southwest Airlines crew members turned their journey into a surprise wedding ceremony.
Sara Arroyo Montalvo and her partner had planned to exchange vows privately after arriving in Las Vegas.
However, after flight attendants learnt about their plans, they decided to organise an impromptu ceremony aboard the aircraft.
The wedding took place on August 13 in front of 178 passengers, with the plane’s captain officiating the ceremony. The captain was also an ordained minister.
The crew went a step further by creating wedding accessories from items available on the aircraft. Montalvo was given a veil and a one-ply wedding dress made from toilet paper, while coffee stir sticks were used to create her bouquet.
Reflecting on the unexpected turn of events, Montalvo wrote, “Fate couldn’t have been more aligned,” noting that it was the couple’s first time flying with Southwest Airlines.
She also expressed her gratitude to the crew for transforming what was supposed to be an intimate elopement into an unforgettable celebration.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for an unforgettable flight!” she wrote.
Photos from the ceremony showed the couple exchanging vows in the aircraft aisle as fellow passengers watched and celebrated with them.
The unusual wedding quickly attracted attention online, with social media users praising the airline crew for helping create a memorable experience for the newlyweds.
The spontaneous ceremony also prompted questions from some users about the legal details of getting married in the air, including where the marriage licence would be issued and how the necessary paperwork would be completed.
The couple’s unusual wedding comes amid other reports of people choosing unconventional venues for their big day, including another couple who recently got married at the McDonald’s restaurant where they worked.
