Terry and I met the way all great love stories should begin—on a group tour to South Africa.

A Wedding Unlike Any Other

Lemme tell ya – I fell hard! Terry is an amazing man. He loves working hard, being physically fit and most importantly, like me, loves Jesus. Alas, he was in Chicago, and I was in Atlanta. We burned up the travel miles for sure for the first couple of years.  Fast forward, and Terry asked me to marry him. Imagine that – I said “Yes, please!”

This wasn’t going to be just any wedding. In true Adventures For Solos fashion, our vows would take place exactly where we met: onboard a South African Airways flight, midair, while escorting another AFS group back to South Africa.

No pressure.

H2: Packing a Wedding Into a Carry-On

Somehow, I managed to pack an entire wedding—gown, full-tiered veil, shoes, accessories, and even a floral bouquet—into a single small bag. I consider this one of my life’s greatest engineering achievements. My real fear, however, wasn’t turbulence or timing. It was wrinkles. I loathe wrinkles. Add newly tightened TSA rules on cosmetics and toiletries, and suddenly I was playing a high-stakes game of bridal contraband. Let’s just say everything was… strategically dispersed. I prayed no one would suggest a pat-down. Thankfully, I boarded our 17-hour flight from Washington, DC to Johannesburg without incident.

Once we leveled off, the flight crew quietly escorted me to the back of the plane and told me to change into my bridal attire while they handled beverage service. If you’ve ever tried to put on stockings in an aircraft lavatory, you know this required yoga poses I didn’t even know I could do.

Then—everything stopped.

H2: Can you get married on an Airplaine? Yes! Vows at 35,000 Feet

The purser’s voice came over the PA asking all passengers to remain seated. As I stepped into the aisle and began walking forward, he read:

“Since ships first sailed the seven seas, captains have enjoyed the privilege of joining two people in matrimony. As world travelers, Terry and Suzy spend half their lives inflight. Four years ago today, they met on South African Airways, and we are honored to share their vows here today.”

There stood Terry, sooo handsome in his tux, beside Captain Richard Holdengarde. I joined them, heart pounding, fairly certain the captain was just as nervous as I was as he read our vows. It was beautiful. I cried—happy tears, of course.

H2: When the Cabin Became a Celebration

When we finished, Terry and I walked back down the aisle to thunderous applause. Little did we know the media was onboard—this was the first wedding of its kind in aviation history, and not an easy thing to pull off. We were whisked up to first class for interviews and photos while meals were served, showered with thoughtful South African gifts, and wedding favors were handed out to every passenger on the plane.

H2: Touchdown as Newlyweds

Upon landing, airline management greeted us on the tarmac for more photos. In baggage claim, strangers stopped and stared—after all, how often do you see a bride and groom roll in from customs?

Still in full wedding mode, I gathered my group, loaded the coach, and headed to the Cape Sun Hotel. The manager surprised us by assigning Terry and me the penthouse suite on the 32nd floor—five rooms, a jacuzzi, roses everywhere, chocolates, champagne, and local wines. We shared the bounty with our group and, completely exhausted, collapsed into our king-sized bed for the most blissful sleep imaginable.

H2: A Moment That Traveled the World

Later, we learned from locals that our little wedding in the sky had been broadcast on the news and announced in newspapers across the country. For a brief moment, we were famous—in the land of the Zulu, no less.

South African Airways did this for us not as a publicity stunt, but as a kindness. Adventures For Solos had brought them years of group business, and this was their gift in return. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience—one we will always cherish, and for which we remain forever grateful.