Monday morning Jim, of the Blue Ridge Balloon Company, and I got to fly away with our wonderful couple Keith and Faye for an in-flight wedding. It was the most perfect day for flying and from what I could tell every balloon in the area went up that morning! We gathered at the Boar’s Head Inn at 6 AM where we, along with 2 other balloons, took off. Here are some photos to tell the story of Keith & Faye’s Hot Air Balloon Wedding. Congratulations you guys!

Getting ready to go early in the morning at the Boar's Head Inn

By th time we were ready to go the sky had gotten a lot lighter.

Keith and Faye are getting in the basket while Jim makes sure everything is safe for flying.

Up-up and away!

A truly spectacular morning for flying with almost perfect conditions.

Keith and Faye just before we started their ceremony.

Faye reading her vow to Keith

They're married... congratulations to Faye & Keith!!

Here you can see the other Blue Ridge Balloon Co. balloon in the distance.

Keith & Faye's beautiful rings.

Albemarle County is really so lovely from the air! Our pilot, Jim's wife Liana is piloting the other balloon out ahead of us.

The reflection in the water is kind of magical!

We landed in Forest Lakes and here are Keith & Faye hopping out onto solid ground.

Taking the balloon down and stuffing it back in it's sack is a fun part of the whole experience.

Back at the Boar's Head Jim & Liana laid out a little celebration for our couple.

Congratulations Faye & Keith!

Contact Information for Blue Ridge Balloon Company:
~ website: www.blueridgeballoon.com
~ e-mail: office@blueridgeballoon.com
~ phone: 434-589-6213

Yesterday evening I had the privilege of marrying Brittany & Keith high above beautiful Albemarle County with Jim of Blue Ridge Balloon Co. flying their beautiful rainbow-colored balloon. After a lot of waiting to see if the wind would subside enough for a safe flight we finally flew away from a small field right near the Boar’s Head Inn. Once we got up to a cruising altitude of about 1500 ft. we did their little ceremony and then enjoyed the rest of the flight viewing the peak autumn foliage below and a magnificent sunset. Congratulations to Keith & Brittany and thanks so much to Jim & Liana of Blue Ridge Balloon Company for a flawless flight!

While waiting for our pilot to determine whether the winds would allow us to take off I took Brittany & Keith over by the lake to take a few photos.

Our pilot, Jim, gave Keith and Brittany the scoop on what to expect during the flight and how to prepare for landing.

An arial view of the Boar's Head Inn and surrounding area.

Beautiful Albemarle County autumn sunset.

Our Pilot, Jim.

Just married!

More Albemarle beauty.

Smooth landing in a beautiful field just at sunset.

A little reception in the field provided by Liana & Jim of Blue Ridge Balloon Co.

Congratulations Brittany & Keith!

Contact Information for Blue Ridge Balloon Company:
~ website: www.blueridgeballoon.com
~ e-mail: office@blueridgeballoon.com
~ phone: 434-589-6213

I couldn’t wait to share with you how I spent my morning today… so here it is!  This morning I had the joy of flying high over Charlottesville with Liana of the Blue Ridge Balloon Company and Kevin & Lei Lei who decided they’d like to get married in a hot air balloon.  We took off from Chris Greene Lake, eventually reaching an altitude of about 2000 feet, where we held their ceremony, and then floating gently down into a field off of Profitt Rd.  It was an absolutely spectacular morning for a flight… soft breeze, perfect temperatures and Liana set our balloon down without so much as a bump!

Getting ready to take off... we were one of 3 balloons leaving from Chris Greene Lake this morning.

A few photos while waiting for Kevin & Lei Lei's first flight!

Hovering over the lake.

We hovered for quite a while 'til the breeze picked us up.

See our shadow on the trees?

Looking back at one of the other balloons

Beautiful view with the early morning mist still lingering.

Our happy couple: Kevin & Lei Lei.

Just married!

Just landed... getting out of a balloon basket isn't easy in a wedding dress!

Taking the balloon down and packing it up... hard to believe it fits in that little canvas bag!

Afterwards a little reception for Kevin & Lei Lei.

A special memento of the day.

Thanks Liana... I'll fly with you any day!!

Contact Information for Blue Ridge Balloon Company:
~ website: www.blueridgeballoon.com
~ e-mail: office@blueridgeballoon.com
~ phone: 434-589-6213

Charlottesville is a great place to get married in a hot air balloon. I’ve had the privilege of performing two balloon weddings in my career and loved every minute of them both. The entire process is fun: from determining if the conditions are right, figuring out where the balloon should take off from and then unpacking them, filling them with warmed air to floating away into the sky… seeing Central Virginia from that vantage point is an absolutely spectacular experience.

Some couples choose to have their wedding with the balloon tethered but both of the couples that I’ve gone up with have chosen to enjoy a wonderful balloon ride and landing (another adventure!).

Holding a ceremony in a hot air balloon has a couple of unique challenges the biggest of which is simply the roar of the burner that keeps the balloon aloft requires that we pause every so often throughout so that everyone can hear what’s being said.

Here in the Charlottesville area I’ve worked with Liana and Jim, both FAA licensed pilots, at the Blue Ridge Balloon Company. Give them a call at 434-589-6213 to discuss the possibilities for your wedding. It will be a wonderful adventure!