Marriage With a Difference: The World of Wacky Weddings

The warmer weather of spring traditionally marks the start of the wedding season, and across the country, thousands of couples will be joined in holy matrimony. But wedding ceremonies have come a long way from the days of a traditional church ceremony and a few handfuls of confetti. These days, husband-and-wife to be can choose from a huge range of wedding styles, ceremonies and venues, and many couples are combining their favourite sporting passions with their big day plans - creating very unusual, yet memorable wacky weddings.

Instead of walking down the isle, why not try free-falling in love by saying your vows at 14,000 feet above sea level? It may sound extreme, but this is the wedding of choice for highflying sky divers, who get a huge rush of adrenaline from leaping out of planes on a regular basis. This type of wedding requires you to be a qualified skydiver and is obviously not the best choice for those with a fear of heights!

Or, if you’re more of a water baby than a bird, then why not try tying the knot 30 leagues under the sea with a scuba wedding? This type of wedding is possible in several tropical holiday destinations such as Hawaii and Bali, and with a scuba wedding package deal you get the services of a PADI certified vicar who will make it official under the ocean waves. For this type of ceremony the wedding couple and any underwater attendees must be certified divers.

Perhaps you’d prefer not to get wet on your wedding day, so if you’re a snow addict who loves the mountain environment, then why not get hitched with a pair of skis attached to your feet? Many ski resorts offer wedding services which give couples the chance to ski, snowboard, snowmobile or even ride on a horse-drawn sleigh to their wedding location. Packages will typically include a certified minister, a photographer and ski lift passes if required. Your ceremony will be performed atop a beautiful mountain, after which you will schuss back down the slopes where your reception party awaits.

Alternatively, if you love horses and romantic rides, then a horseback wedding could be for you. You and your wedding party can take a scenic horseback trail to a secluded natural location, before dismounting and performing the ceremony and then galloping back to the stables as husband and wife.

Though memorable, wacky weddings certainly aren’t for everyone. So, if you prefer to just get hitched in the more usual manner, then perhaps a traditional ceremony in a luxury wedding venue will be more suitable. Many hotel venues offer complete wedding packages for the happy couple - ensuring that the big day will be just as memorable!

Andrew Regan is a freelance online journalist who lists travel and rugby among his list of interests.