SEQUIM — Many brides are described as floating above the ground on their wedding day, but on Sunday, Misty Collard made it literal as she exchanged vows with groom Cory Adcox in a hot air balloon early in the morning at the Sequim Valley Airport.
About 20 guests from Colorado, Oregon, and Washington state, along with about the same number of onlookers who were at the airport to attend the Air Affaire, watched the Portland, Ore., couple pledge their love and lives to each other as the balloon, caught in a breeze, gently bobbed to about 30 feet off the ground.
The couple took turns pulling the balloon burner’s lever to punctuate each vow with a blast of fire, keeping the balloon aloft
“It was everything I hoped. It was amazing,” the bride said after the ceremony..
Collard, 33 wore an ivory 1920s-style flapper gown made from antique lace she collected, and Adcox, 36, wore a linen vest and trousers.
“I felt like a hot air balloon reminded me of the 1920s,” Collard said.
The balloon was captained by Crystal Stout, who also served as officiant for the airborne ceremony.
Stout, of Sequim, said she has officiated for about six ceremonies in her balloon.
“There aren’t a lot of us who do this,” she said.
The balloon was anchored during the ceremony at Sequim Valley Airport, but once the ceremony was over, the flower girl, ring bearer and two other children in the wedding party climbed aboard the balloon, and Stout released the anchor, allowing the newlyweds and the children to take flight with her.
As they flew south over the airport, they unfurled a “just married” banner from the basket, and after landing they traveled to Fort Worden, in Port Townsend, for their reception.
The couple planned to honeymoon in Victoria, B.C.
“I think it’s a very nice experience, and probably one of those memorable experiences,” said Man Nguic, brother-in-law of the groom.
The unusual wedding was fit the couple’s four-year romance that was punctuated with big events, Nguic said.
The couple met while on separate vacations in Las Vegas, parted ways and later bumped into each other four years ago in a Portland, Ore., elevator.
“There is an element of risk [to the balloon wedding] that has a lot of rewards,” Nguic said.
Misty Collard is the daughter of Mary and Garry Collard of Grand Junction, Colo. Adcox is the son of Linda and Craig Adcox of Vancouver, Wash.
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
