BY GREG PALASKAS
Times-Shamrock Correspondent
Alfredo Morales and Rebecca Schmidt, both of Kingsley, tied the wedding knot in a hot air balloon 2,000 feet above the Nicholson Bridge on Saturday. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Pastor Kim Bode said that he enjoys weddings this time of the year, and is used to couples who want to make a statement whether it be outdoors, in a barn, a resort or his own Grace Lutheran Church in Hop Bottom.
But, on Saturday, Bode, who has been in the ministry for 40 years, performed a first, ascending 2,000 feet into the heavens in a hot air balloon as Mr. and Mrs. Alfredo Morales of Kingsley exchanged wedding vows.
The wedding party consisted of nine people in three separate balloons.
The main balloon was occupied by the bride-to-be Rebecca Schmidt and her groom-to-be, Alfredo, the pastor, the bride’s brother Jim, and her Maid of Honor, Mandy.
The bride’s and groom’s other family members rode in the accompanying balloons.
Times-Shamrock Nicholson correspondent Greg Palaskas thought it strange that three hot air balloons should be traveling in tandem Saturday afternoon, until he learned later that a wedding ceremony was being performed. PHOTO BY GREG PALASKAS
The wedding party took off for its adventurous ceremony in Nicholson and landed in Fleetville after a journey of approximately 45 minutes.
Mrs. Morales said on Monday, “We had the most stunning view of the Nicholson Bridge while we were getting married, it was so romantic.”
She said Monday that the idea of getting married in the sky occurred to them last year when the daring couple took a helicopter ride over Niagara Falls.
Inspired by their flight over the falls, the couple originally planned on getting married in a helicopter over New York City, but wanted to be sure that Pastor Bode would be able to conduct the service.
After searching the internet for helicopters, they discovered weflyhotair.com, a local website offering hot air balloon rides.
She noted, “The balloons were a great alternative to the helicopter and seemed to be much quieter.”
The new bride said she tried to keep the plans for their wedding in the sky quiet for long as she could, but as the date got closer they had to reveal their plans.
When Alfredo and Rebecca told Pastor Bode they had plans for getting married in the air, he replied with an apprehensive “Okay.”
Later, Rebecca heard that the pastor may have had a fear of heights, but, she said, “He didn’t show it and performed their beautiful ceremony perfectly.”
Pastor Bode said the wedding ceremony was special and he chose New Testament scripture from Ephesians 3:18 because he thought it was appropriate.
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is,” he said.
“A few of my family members were nervous at first,” Rebecca admitted, but Tony Saxton, the ground crew and pilot from Endless Mountain Hot Air Balloons did a great job at making everyone feel very safe and comfortable.
She added that everything was so calm and romantic, that they almost forgot they were 2,000 feet above the ground.
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