It sounded ideal. Anna Rickards, 64, and Alan Coates, 75, who fell in love the second time around after losing their respective partners, were to recreate their first date and tie the knot on a hot air balloon flight.
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But then, in a dramatic turn of events, the balloon was partially destroyed on Saturday morning when it became entangled in a nearby light post while landing in a Canberra playing field.
Ms Rickards said the day had started off perfect. "We had a 16 person balloon, a celebrant and family and friends and we floated across the lake and had the ceremony up there and it was lovely," she said.
The couple had chosen an early morning ceremony aboard one of the capital's iconic aerial creatures after it had altered the course of their lives five years ago in January 2010.
"We both had lost our respective spouses, Alan in 2001 and me in 2007," she said.
"We had planned to get married in a hot air balloon, because that was our first outing together when we committed to each other."
They then said 'I do' in front of their children, and a handful of friends.
"We could see all around, we could see Parliament House, the foreshore, the Museum where the hospital used to be and then we went alongside Black Mountain towards Belconnen. Since I used to live there, it was very nice drifting in that direction."
"The certificate says 'in hot air balloon above Canberra' and so that is the location, we were actually above the lake but I think [the celebrant] was limited in what he could write."
But then, as the wind picked up on their descent, things went astray. "We came down ... and the balloon drifted right at the edge of the playing fields as we landed and then because we landed close to the light pole, the light pole actually snagged the canopy of the balloon and ripped it," she said.
Luckily, Ms Rickards and Mr Coates were too high up on cloud nine to notice.
"No we didn't realise the balloon was actually caught," she said, "the pictures after it were quite impressive!"
The couple, who met playing table tennis at a seniors club in Kingston two years ago, said the incident failed to ruin their romantic day.
"It is very fortunate when two less young people meet and feel they are compatible enough to have a wonderful time together. And we are having that," Ms Rickards said.
