The world’s first-ever inflight wedding was solemnized in Indian skies. Held on an Air India flight from Mumbai to Ahmadabad in 1994, it was the grand Indian wedding of the 20th century before Asia’s richest business tycoon Mukesh Ambani stunned the entire world with sheer extravagance of band, baaja, baraat for his younger son’s Rs-5000cr wedding in June 2024.
Air India, the then national carrier, made it possible what was unimaginable in October 1994 before its fame and fortune turned for a descent. “The Sky is the limit” was Air India’s response to Laxman Popley, the owner of Popley & Sons (a high-end jewelry brand), who wished a most unconventional wedding for his son and heir, Dilip Popley. And, the first such historic event in the world of aviation was more than a destination wedding in those days.
It was out and out challenging for Air India, in terms of operations and logistics. With approval from the Director General of Civil Aviation and other regulatory bodies, an A310 from the airline’s fleet was chosen as the venue of not only India’s but also the world’s first wedding in the air. A two-hour round trip from Mumbai to Ahmedabad and then back to Mumbai was scheduled for the Popleys to solemnize the wedding on board.
The wedding on Air India went down in history as Hawai Bandhan. There was music and mirth, food and fun, rituals and revelry from ground to the air. Floral decorations, from check-in counters in the domestic terminal to the boarding area and the aircraft, set the ambience of a traditional Indian wedding at Mumbai Airport. A sculpture of Air India’s mascot, the Maharajah, and a huge banner featuring the would-be couple’s names were installed near the check-in counters.
A special boarding pass was designed for the guests to the Popley wedding in the sky, and it had the greeting, “Air India proudly welcomes you to a historic wedding in the air; a marriage that’s truly made in heaven. We hope you enjoy the world’s first airborne wedding.” D.S. Mathur, the Managing Director of Air India back then, was in attendance to greet the bride and the groom at the airport.
The cabin crew sprinkled rose water on the guests and greeted them with a rose bud while onboarding them. The melody of Shehnai transformed the inside of the aircraft into a setup of traditional Indian weddings. Eight rows of seats were removed to make space for the priest and the couple on the floor of the plane. The wedding ceremony started with the exchange of nuptial garlands between the groom and the bride after the plane took off.
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The priest went on to perform the rituals amidst a recitation of mantras and hymns, except the sacred fire for Saat Phere (seven vows). On the other hand, beverages and snacks were served to the guests aboard the flight. The Popley family and Air India left no stone unturned to make the first inflight wedding a lavish affair. None other than celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor curated the signature meal that was served on Royal Doulton crockery to the guests. Even the huge wedding cake was baked and designed by him.
“1994 saw the release of Hum Apke Hai Kaun, the rise of Madhuri Dixit, and the emergence of big fat Indian weddings. The Popley wedding in the sky followed the release of Hum Apke Hain Kaun in August 1994. The movie became the biggest blockbuster of the year and set a precedent for meticulous wedding planning for picture-perfect ceremonies and romanticized union of couples. If the movie had released later, filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya might have shown inflight wedding in his magnum opus, Hum Apke Hain Kaun,” said Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats.
Air India not only hosted Hawai Bandhan at 30,000 feet but also presented the newlywed couple with a honeymoon gift – air tickets to Switzerland. The guests in attendance also received a souvenir from the airline. Dilip Popley, who tied the knot above the clouds in 1994, made it a family tradition by marrying off his daughter in the same style in November 2023. The second Popley wedding in the sky was also held on a flight with 350 guests, from Dubai to Oman.