Leap Of Faith - Skydive Wedding

Leap Of Faith

Skydive Wedding

Publication Date: August 1999

Most couples in love eventually decide to take the plunge and get married. However, when Elizabeth Pryse Ruggles and Murl M. Pitchford, Jr. decided to exchange their vows, their marriage would end up being more than just a leap of faith. When this Lexington, Kentucky couple made the plunge, it was from an airplane 15,000 feet in the airand you could say that everything went down from there.

Pitchford holds a USPA Pro Rating license as well as Tandem Instructor, Static-Line Instructor and Jump-Master ratings in skydiving. He has been in the sport over eight years and has made over 1,000 skydives, including tandems and demonstration jumps. Ruggles holds a USPA D license and Static-Line Jump-Master rating. She has been in the sport over three years and has made over 300 jumps. The two met at the Greene County Parachute Center, in Bardstown, KY, and started dating in 1996. Because of their love for skydiving, the couple decided that when they were to wed, it had to be in the sky with their friends. "Skydiving is what brought us together," said Ruggles, "it only seems fitting that we completed our union with a ceremony in the air."

Although a traditional church ceremony was held on June 12, the two wanted to exchange their vows again in the sport they both loved. The original jump was scheduled for Saturday, July 10, but was postponed until Sunday, July 11 due to rain. Sunday brought beautiful weather, with sunshine and a mild breeze. They planned the ceremony and dirt-dove (practiced the formation on ground) the exit and formation that was to take place in the sky. The groom and best man donned tux coats and bowties, while the bride dressed in a white pantsuit with a bouquet.

At 2:30 p.m., Pitchford and Ruggles, their best man - Larry Compton, maid-of-honor - Vicki Jarvis, the officiant - Bob Bruner, and 18 fellow skydivers boarded the Super Otter and took off from Greene County Sport Parachute Center. On the way up, Bruner gave a short service, a reading from Corinthians, and a briefing to everyone involved how the jump would progress.

At 15,000 feet, Bruner and the wedding party exited the plane followed by the congregation and videographers Paul Robards and Tom Lambert. With Bible in hand, Bob asked Murl and Elizabeth to say their "I do's" and then told Murl he could kiss his bride. After the kiss, Elizabeth tracked forward shortly and deployed her parachute, followed by Murl deploying his chute. The rest of the congregation broke formation, tracked off and deployed their parachutes.

Murl and Elizabeth flew their parachutes close together in the sky and then landed after everyone else. On the ground they were greeted by family and friends.

Because of the postponement, they held the reception the night before. Their reception coincided with the annual Hog Roast Boogie for Greene County, which was celebrating their 30th Anniversary as a drop zone. The celebration met with good food, spirits, and a bonfire; along with the typical bad jokes, tall tales, and a wonderful toast to the bride and groom from their friends.

Many people have asked the couple about children and whether they will be skydivers. The couple was quick to answer, "Well, if we are so blessed, there is no doubt they will be raised with skydiving in their lives. This sport allows us to truly enjoy freedom and experience life to its fullest. As you've heard us say before, skydivers know why the birds sing!"

Blue skies!