Aviation influencer Sam Chui and aviation professional Fiona Pang got married inside a Boeing 747-400 aircraft. Photos and videos posted on Instagram on July 14th showed how the couple turned their shared passion for aviation into an unforgettable wedding experience. The event was one of the few private weddings ever held on a 747 in the region.
Nearly 100 seats were removed to make room for the dance floor, an aisle and a celebration space for the couple and their guests. This ended up creating a unique backdrop for the first dance, cake cutting and wedding pictures.
When the couple decided to have an unconventional wedding, celebrating their union on the Boeing 747, once known as the “Queen of the Skies”, became a symbolic choice, as Sam is known for his obsession with the aircraft, and Fiona started her career as an air hostess in a 747.
At the airport, the couple received a personalized welcome. Digital monitors displayed congratulatory messages and customised boarding passes were handed out. Arabic coffee was served, and a lounge was opened for around 60 guests, many of whom had flown in from across the world.
The wedding flight was chartered through Aquiline International, the only operator of a 747-400 passenger model in the UAE. Sam said how all the other 747 passenger planes are mostly retired, converted to cargo, or reserved for heads of state.
The flight departed from Fujairah International Airport, and lasted for 90 minutes. It cruised over the Gulf of Oman at 28,000 feet. Guests were encouraged to treat the plane like home and explore every corner of the aircraft, from the cockpit to the upper deck.
Fiona added a personal touch to the celebration, a song she originally wrote as a Valentine’s Day gift became the soundtrack for their first dance. The lyrics, written by Fiona herself, reflected their shared love for aviation. The couple had originally planned to marry in April but postponed due to personal reasons.
Though the total cost of the event is still being finalized, Sam noted that fuel alone for a 747 can cost around $20,000 per hour, excluding additional expenses like airport fees, catering, and décor.
And it might not be a one-time event for them. Sam mentioned how he and his wife are still open to doing it again, in maybe five or ten years as an anniversary flight.
