Above the skies of Rencomb Airfield on Tuesday, August 5th, a young couple decided that for their marriage, the sky was the limit. Katie Hodgson and Darren McWalters had themselves strapped upright on the wings of separate bi-planes while a vicar, George Brigham, was strapped to the wings of a third plane. The vicar stood facing the couple on his plane between and slightly ahead of the couple’s planes, and shouted out the marriage rites to the pair. About a thousand feet below, the wedding guests listened in to the exchange of vows thanks to microphones worn by the trio.
For many people, the very idea of such a vertigo-instilling marriage ceremony would not even warrant a brief discussion, much less come up as a genuine possibility for the wedding ceremony. However, the images of the happy couple going through with the event may help to bring out the more adventurous nature in some. It’s one thing to talk about being married on the wing of a plane, another to actually do it. But why would a couple be compelled to commit such a daring act at the official start of their life together?
Katie Hodgson offered up some insight to that question when she expressed that she found that age was increasing her adventurous nature. Following the flight she stated that, “I bring the adventurous side out of Darren - he used to be scared of heights.” Perhaps she is getting at the root of this riveting and airy issue.
As she aged, she seemed to have learned to step out of her comfort zone and jump into life. It is obvious through Darren’s actions that it was her embrace of the adventure of life that is a part the draw he feels to her; so much so that he was able to face and overcome his own fears through his love for her. The very nature of life is to live, and perhaps the new couple figured out something many of us miss: intensity of situations can help bonding, and what better way to officially begin a life with a loved one than to embrace the thrilling sensation of a true physical risk with that loved one by your side.
