Destination weddings took on a complete new which means final week as two Royal Caribbean cruisers tied the knot at Perfect Day at CocoCay. But the newlyweds didn’t get married on the island… they obtained married above it!
Thomas and Nancy Budzyn have been wed on the prime of Royal Caribbean’s Up, Up, and Away helium balloon at Perfect Day at CocoCay. While weddings on a cruise are nothing new, this can be essentially the most distinctive cruise marriage ceremony we’ve seen but!
The Up, Up, and Away helium balloon at Royal Caribbean’s personal island takes visitors 450 ft within the air for 360 diploma views of this Bahamian paradise. As the very best vantage level in your entire Bahamas, the helium balloon gives a view of the island like no different.
On December 9, 2022, two Royal Caribbean cruisers have been married on the helium balloon. We wished to study extra about their special occasion.
The newlyweds
Thomas and Nancy Budzyn dwell in Naples, Florida and are frequent Royal Caribbean cruisers, each of whom maintain Diamond Plus standing within the Crown & Anchor Society.
While the pair had met years in the past, their relationship as a pair started after the cruising restart, and so they took their first cruise collectively in July 2021. As the 2 each work remotely, they will cruise usually and have been on 13 cruises collectively for the reason that restart.
I couldn’t assist however ask how the concept of getting married on the Up, Up, and Away helium balloon got here to be.
“We have been to CocoCay so many times together and always have a great time,” Thomas talked about. “Plus, it’s so beautiful there. It just seemed like the perfect place to have our perfect day.”
Thomas and Nancy have been the primary couple to get married within the balloon, though one other couple had beforehand gotten engaged there!
“Everyone always does the same thing. We wanted to do something different and hopefully be trendsetters.”
After a trial run within the balloon throughout a cruise over Thanksgiving, Thomas and Nancy have been able to return in just a few weeks for his or her special occasion.
The ceremony
One of the principle points with the Up, Up, and Away helium balloon at Perfect Day at CocoCay is that rides are climate dependent. Weather situations should be best–with little or no wind and no rain–for the helium balloon to run.
Thomas defined how this was a possible difficulty for his or her special occasion.
“The only concern was the wind, as that could cause the balloon not to go up. We were mentally prepared for a last-minute venue change, either the wedding pavilion or somewhere on the beach.”
Luckily their marriage ceremony day introduced sunny blue skies. They have been notified half-hour earlier than the ceremony that the balloon experience would happen.
The ceremony was small, with six attendees: the couple, the island’s Entertainment Manager, the balloon operator, the officiant (Nancy’s greatest good friend), and one other good friend that took pictures. The Up, Up, and Away helium balloon can accommodate thirty individuals in whole.
“The balloon ride is short,” Thomas mentioned. “The whole thing from boarding to unboarding was around 12 minutes. We had a short, simple ceremony to fit within the time constraint.”
After the marriage
After the ceremony, the marriage social gathering headed over to Oasis Lagoon and every had the island’s signature drink, the Coco Loco. They took a number of pictures on the bridge over the lagoon earlier than heading again to the ship.
A non-public tram escorted the newlyweds again to Symphony of the Seas, the place they took just a few pictures with the island’s dancers and band.
Once again onboard, Thomas and Nancy headed to the on line casino (a bit of post-wedding luck, maybe?) earlier than having fun with champagne and cake.
Thomas talked about how the workers was glorious throughout the planning course of and marriage ceremony ceremony.
“The staff were all just as excited as we were. The crew, both on the island and on the ship, made us feel like they were part of our wedding and our family.”
The solely caveat with getting married at Perfect Day at CocoCay? The warmth.
“One does not realize how hot it is,” Thomas joked, “until you walk from the ship to the balloon in a tuxedo!”
Thank you to Thomas and Nancy for sharing their story with us at Royal Caribbean Blog. Congratulations and we want you a lot completely happy years collectively!