Vacation spot weddings took on an entire new that means final week as two Royal Caribbean cruisers tied the knot at Good Day at CocoCay. However the newlyweds didn’t get married on the island… they received married above it!
Thomas and Nancy Budzyn had been wed on the high of Royal Caribbean’s Up, Up, and Away helium balloon at Good Day at CocoCay. Whereas weddings on a cruise are nothing new, this can be probably the most distinctive cruise wedding 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 best vantage level in the complete Bahamas, the helium balloon supplies a view of the island like no different.
On December 9, 2022, two Royal Caribbean cruisers had been married on the helium balloon. We needed to be taught extra about their big day.
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.
Whereas the pair had met years in the past, their relationship as a pair started after the cruising restart, they usually took their first cruise collectively in July 2021. As the 2 each work remotely, they’ll cruise usually and have been on 13 cruises collectively because the restart.
I couldn’t assist however ask how the thought of getting married on the Up, Up, and Away helium balloon got here to be.
“We have now been to CocoCay so many instances collectively and all the time have a good time,” Thomas talked about. “Plus, it’s so stunning there. It simply appeared like the proper place to have our excellent day.”
Thomas and Nancy had been the primary couple to get married within the balloon, though one other couple had beforehand gotten engaged there!
“Everybody all the time does the identical factor. We needed to do one thing totally different and hopefully be trendsetters.”
After a trial run within the balloon throughout a cruise over Thanksgiving, Thomas and Nancy had been able to return in just a few weeks for his or her big day.
The ceremony
One of many principal points with the Up, Up, and Away helium balloon at Good Day at CocoCay is that rides are climate dependent. Climate situations have to be ultimate–with little or no wind and no rain–for the helium balloon to run.
Thomas defined how this was a possible subject for his or her big day.
“The one concern was the wind, as that might trigger the balloon to not go up. We had been mentally ready for a last-minute venue change, both the marriage pavilion or someplace on the seashore.”
Fortunately their wedding ceremony day introduced sunny blue skies. They had 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 Leisure Supervisor, the balloon operator, the officiant (Nancy’s greatest buddy), and one other buddy that took pictures. The Up, Up, and Away helium balloon can accommodate thirty folks in whole.
“The balloon experience is brief,” Thomas mentioned. “The entire thing from boarding to unboarding was round 12 minutes. We had a brief, easy ceremony to suit inside the time constraint.”
After the marriage
After the ceremony, the marriage celebration 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 personal 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.
As soon as again onboard, Thomas and Nancy headed to the on line casino (a bit post-wedding luck, maybe?) earlier than having fun with champagne and cake.
Thomas talked about how the workers was glorious through the planning course of and wedding ceremony ceremony.
“The workers had been all simply as excited as we had been. The crew, each on the island and on the ship, made us really feel like they had been a part of our wedding ceremony and our household.”
The one caveat with getting married at Good Day at CocoCay? The warmth.
“One doesn’t notice how sizzling it’s,” Thomas joked, “till you stroll from the ship to the balloon in a tuxedo!”
Thanks to Thomas and Nancy for sharing their story with us at Royal Caribbean Weblog. Congratulations and we want you a lot comfortable years collectively!
