In this new installment of our series, we fly down under to Australia & New Zealand to continue discovering the favorite records of our official adjudicators based across the globe. Chris Sheedy, our very own Guinness World Records’ Australian representative, has seen all kinds of record attempts over nearly two decades but never anything quite like five couples literally taking a plane into marriage.
Current news worked with Fiji Airways to surprise with a heart-warming spectacle the passengers of a flight from Auckland, New Zealand, to Nadi, Fiji. As the aircraft climbed to cruising altitude, five couples of brides and grooms prepared for a very special ceremony. What they didn’t know is that I had also boarded into the plane prior to the take off and they were in for a lovely treat.
All dressed and ready to seal the deal, the couples paraded down the aisles before the eyes of an astonished audience. Once cruising altitude had been reached, I personally checked they were flying above 41,000 feet with an aircraft printout provided by Captain Warwick Daw, Fiji Airways’ Manager Line Operations. All was set for a new record attempt and I gave the nod to marriage celebrant Helena Dixon to proceed with the ceremony, which would be the world’s highest altitude wedding on an aircraft and one of the most exciting adjudications I’ve ever done.
Couples pledged their love and openly expressed their feelings and commitment to one another and the world below them. Tears flowed freely as vows and rings were exchanged in that business class cabin of a Fiji Airways A330 aircraft, a scene I’ve and will remember for many years to come. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was a great deal of emotion as all involved realised the joy of what it was they were doing despite the unconventional and extraordinary setting.
Under the watchful eye of Captain Daw and myself, the pilots had kept the flight at an even altitude throughout the event, which I could certify with a second printout from the aircraft systems. A curious fact from the feat is that to comply with legal requirements for marriages under New Zealand law, the plane had to fly south over the country’s land mass and double back up north. So we didn’t just fly over the beautiful New Zealand once but twice in a day!
I had been longing to join the ceremony since I stepped aboard really so it was a great pleasure to finally introduce myself to the newlyweds. They had been completely unaware they were under carrying the record attempt for highest altitude wedding up to that very moment and I could feel that was going to be a very special Guinness World Record title announcement for all present, including myself. I have worked for Guinness World Records for over 18 years and I have been to possibly thousands of record events but never one that has involved so much raw and proper emotion. “Really just to add the icing to what is already a very beautiful wedding cake for all of you, you are now official record holders for the world’s highest altitude wedding”, I announced to the merrily married couples. That was the closest I’ve been to practice as a marriage celebrant and I can say it was really an effort to hold my tears of joy back.
Champagne corks popped open as we all cherished and celebrated the unique moment together. What struck me most was the overwhelming happiness of the newlyweds, for which the record attempt had been kept as a surprise only to discover they were to join the family of Guinness World Records as married couples. My best wishes and congratulations go once again to the newlywed record holders – Shannon and Chris Michl, Chelsea and Joe Williams, Philomena and Arron Wilson, Brent and Amber McArthur, and Liahn and Wade Herewini. Their married lives truly began on a record-breaking high and I thank them all for the opportunity to be part of it.
