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Oklahoma couple wed aboard airplane after Vegas flight cancellation

An Oklahoma couple were married aboard a Southwest Airlines flight after their original flight to Las Vegas for their wedding was canceled. Photo courtesy of Southwest Airlines/Facebook
An Oklahoma couple were married aboard a Southwest Airlines flight after their original flight to Las Vegas for their wedding was canceled. Photo courtesy of Southwest Airlines/Facebook

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April 29 (UPI) -- An Oklahoma City couple's canceled flight on their way to elope in Las Vegas led to their holding their wedding aboard a Southwest Airlines plane.

Southwest Airlines said in a Facebook post that Pam Patterson and Jeremy Salda booked a Sunday flight to Las Vegas, and decided to travel in their wedding attire to be ready for their wedding chapel appointment at 9 p.m.

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The couple arrived at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to catch their connecting flight to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, but after multiple delays they were told their flight was canceled.

A fellow passenger named Chris, who was also attempting to travel from Dallas to Las Vegas, overheard them discussing their predicament and revealed he was an ordained minister and would be willing to personally preside over their wedding in Las Vegas.

The trio booked the last three remaining seats on a Southwest flight from Dallas Love Field Airport to Las Vegas and took a ride-sharing car to get from one Dallas airport to the other.

While boarding the new flight, the pilot, Capt. Gil, noticed Patterson was wearing a wedding gown and asked her about it.

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"Pam explained their story and joked with Captain Gil they should just get married on the flight. For the second time that week, Pam was surprised to hear the words, 'Let's do it,'" the Facebook post said.

The crew decorated the passenger area with toilet paper streamers and used snack mix to create a sash for the minister. A flight attendant named Julie stood in as maid of honor and a professional photographer who happened to be on the same flight took out her camera to document the ceremony.

"Another passenger passed around an old notebook for the whole cabin to sign with well wishes and their seat numbers, which was given to the bride and groom as a makeshift guestbook," Southwest said.

The post congratulated the couple "on a memorable in-flight wedding neither our employees nor passengers are likely to forget!"

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