How a Russian cosmonaut became the first human to say 'I do' in space

Global Events News

How a Russian cosmonaut became the first human to say 'I do' in space

Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko became the first person to get married while in space on August 10, 2003. Orbiting Earth on the International Space Station (ISS), he exchanged vows via satellite with his bride, Ekaterina Dmitrieva. She stood on solid ground at Nasa’s Johnson Space Centre in Texas.

The wedding was a blend of tradition and cosmic novelty. Dmitrieva wore a classic white wedding gown, processed down the aisle to David Bowie’s ‘Absolute Beginners,’ and posed beside a life-size cardboard cutout of her groom. Up in orbit, Malenchenko donned a bow tie atop his flight suit, and astronaut Ed Lu, acting as best man, played the wedding march on a small keyboard aboard the ISS.

Texas law allowed the ceremony to proceed despite one party’s physical absence, with a proxy standing in for Malenchenko during the legal process. The ceremony was emotionally resonant, which Dmitrieva later described as “celestial, soulful,” while guests exchanged smiles and kisses through the video link.

Yet the wedding wasn’t without controversy. Russian authorities initially objected, citing rules that barred active officers from marrying foreign nationals while in space. They were ultimately overruled, but the event prompted Roscosmos to ban space marriages in future mission contracts.