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Couple find themselves riding on air following exchange of vows
A McCook couple took their love to new heights Saturday, by getting married in a hot air balloon.
Rob Henry and Mary Richendifer, both of McCook, waved to family, friends and curious on-lookers as they gradually lifted off from the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. Minutes earlier, they had exchanged vows in the balloon's basket -- sans the balloon -- as Red Willow County Clerk Magistrate Kathy Jones pronounced them husband and wife.
Then a hectic 10 minutes followed as Steve and Elaine Lacross of Omaha and their crew hurriedly unrolled and inflated their balloon and strained to hold onto the basket so the couple could climb on board.
At the last minute, the bride was swiftly swept into the basket -- her long gown made it difficult to climb over by herself -- the crew jumped off and the balloon heaved upward, soaring southward.
After a sky high voyage above the city, the couple returned for their reception.
The wedding was fitting for Henry and Richendifer as it was St. Patrick's Day seven years ago they had their first date and, later, both became active as balloon chasers for Lacrosse.
Original plans called for the balloon to be inflated and ready to take off immediately after the "I do's," with the clerk magistrate in tow. But these plans were altered when Lacrosse estimated the currents were too strong to hold the balloon that long, much to Kathy Jones' relief.
She's not afraid of heights, she explained, but she thought the moment should be reserved for just for the bride and groom.
"It would be kind of like going on their honeymoon with them," she laughed.
The bride herself used to be afraid of heights, until her first trip in a hot air balloon several years ago.
"It was incredible -- so smooth and quiet," Richendifer said. "I could hear people talking on the ground."
John Kugler of McCook and his balloon lifted off just after the couple, carrying members of the wedding party.