That Wild Wedding in Wales – Unique Weddings

Not long ago in Wales, a woman who’d invited her partner to a mutual friend’s wedding showed up instead in full bridal regalia—a white gown and a priest at her side—making her way to the altar determined to hear a “Yes,” completely catching him off guard. Apparently he took it well: the future groom had tried time and again to persuade her to wear a ring—a tough sell for Aleasha Pilaw after two failed marriages. Then she changed her mind, and the rest is history.

Extravagance comes in many forms. Some couples opt for a Bollywood-style celebration: renting an entire cruise ship—in one case the Costa Fascinosa—and throwing a Maharaja-worthy, high-security ceremony with a handpicked “crew.” The only passengers? The invited guests. With over a thousand people on board, the ship sailed to Barcelona, then docked in Cannes where the four-day festivities unfolded. And that’s not all: a Chinese couple in Capri demanded ten white Rolls-Royces, two children scattering petals as they passed—and, believe it or not, a hundred extras.

For some, renewing vows becomes an annual tradition. A Brazilian couple has said “I do” every year in a new locale—Rio de Janeiro, Ibiza, New York, Bora Bora—and this time chose Venice. They remarried aboard the Royal Gondola, surrounded by an army of gondoliers in polished white-and-gold uniforms, then dined at one of the lagoon’s most prestigious restaurants before dancing a tango in the magical Piazza San Marco to the accompaniment of a live ensemble.

Rings—essential to any wedding. A white veil for her, a black hat for him, and an over-the-top bouquet just big enough to cover “the important bits.” That’s how two Australian fiancés decided to pledge their love “as mom made them,” in front of 250 guests. In a similar, gravity-defying twist, Jeroen and Sandra Kippers—originally from Brussels—mounted a suspended platform with an officiant and twenty guests, pronounced their vows completely naked, then leapt into space on a bungee jump. The reception? Also in mid-air, with everyone strapped into their chairs.

Sometimes these antics chase world records. Xiao Wang spent over a year collecting 99,999 red roses for his bride, Xiao Liu, on their wedding day. In central China, the number 999 is considered supremely lucky, so he rallied 30 decorated cars and even placed an online call for help to hit his target. The power of love, indeed—Xiao Wang donated 20 percent of the flower bill to charity, perhaps to boost his good fortune.

In 2010, April Pignataro slipped into a white wetsuit and Michael Curry into a dark one to marry inside the shark tank at Atlantic Marine World in Riverhead, New York. Witnesses included sharks, eels, and a giant grouper. The two experienced divers exchanged vows inside a cage with microphones broadcasting to relatives outside—no officiant in sight—so they could all share in that breathtaking sense of inevitability that makes every moment uniquely precious.