The New York Occasions simply featured my wedding ceremony drone present

So that is surreal. The New York Occasions simply revealed a bit about my wedding ceremony drone present.

I’ve spent 13 years protecting drones. I’ve written 1000’s of articles opinions, and trade analyses. I’ve been quoted in publications earlier than. However seeing my very own wedding ceremony featured in The New York Occasions? With asides about pickleball courts and weightlifter animations — and the way 80 of our visitors left early as a result of we didn’t warn them concerning the finale?

That hits completely different.

How we acquired right here (and the place we’re headed)

For these simply tuning in: I acquired married to Hamilton Nguyen (you dronies might know him because the enterprise and tech man, in addition to the cameraman for The Drone Woman — sure, a real renaissance man!) in September 2025. Sure, we had a 200-drone mild present as our sendoff. It was 11 minutes of customized animations synced to music and voiceover narration. Our wedding ceremony drone present featured all the things from the citadel the place Hamilton proposed to a girl doing a snatch raise (as a result of we’re each aggressive weightlifters).

The entire thing was lovely, chaotic, persona pushed — oh and it required evicting a part of a pickleball neighborhood for a night.

I pitched an editor on the The New York Occasions as to what can be occurring. I invited them to be part of it (both just about or in-person, they usually selected just about). And similar to that, the New York Occasions was on it.

Now that The New York Occasions printed their story (I promised them an unique), I’ll be writing extra extensively concerning the expertise right here on The Drone Woman. I figured a few of you may be interested by what goes into planning a marriage drone present — the logistics, the prices, the “oh god it’s raining two days earlier than the marriage” moments. That’ll arrive within the coming days.

What The New York Occasions article covers

If it’s been some time because you’ve bought a printed newspaper, maybe tomorrow (that’s Sunday, Nov. 16) is your day to seize a duplicate. It’s on web page 17

Their piece (learn the print model right here) does an awesome job breaking down the sensible facet of wedding ceremony drone exhibits:

• Why we selected a drone present (spoiler: sparklers felt boring and fire-risky).
• How a lot it prices ($15,000-$25,000 vary).
• What goes into planning (trace: far more than you’d suppose).
• Venue issues (airspace classifications! buffer zones! pickleball negotiations!).
• Climate contingencies (we nearly needed to do paper airplane throws as an alternative).

However my favourite half? They included my greatest remorse: not telling our visitors concerning the drone present upfront.

About 80 individuals left earlier than the present began. They didn’t realize it was coming as a result of I assumed it will have been means cooler as a shock. In hindsight, I notice that if we’d hyped it up — put it on the timeline, talked about it throughout toasts, something — they’d’ve stayed.

The visitors who did keep mentioned it felt like a ticketed occasion, including that it was undoubtedly well worth the “value” of admission. Reside and be taught, proper? Alas, there received’t be a marriage quantity two!

Why the New York Occasions wedding ceremony drone present article issues for the drone trade

Right here’s the factor: The New York Occasions protecting a marriage drone present isn’t simply cool for me personally (although it completely is). It’s a sign that drone exhibits are coming into mainstream wedding ceremony tradition.

Just a few years in the past, wedding ceremony drone exhibits have been mainly remarkable. Electrical Sky Drone Exhibits — the corporate we labored with — instructed The New York Occasions they did seven wedding ceremony exhibits the 12 months earlier than ours. This previous 12 months? Seventeen.

That’s greater than a 2x improve. And as prices come down and extra venues optimize for drone exhibits, I count on that quantity to maintain climbing.

The truth that the Occasions is protecting this development means it’s not simply area of interest tech fanatic territory anymore. Hey, I really like some good “New York Occasions Is On It” jokes. However in all seriousness, this story is proof drone mild exhibits are breaking into the broader wedding ceremony trade dialog.

Learn the total New York Occasions article

If you would like the total breakdown, together with extra particulars on prices, logistics and my recommendation for {couples} contemplating drone exhibits, you possibly can learn the Occasions piece right here.

It’s behind a paywall (as a result of, you recognize, journalism prices cash and we should always help it), however should you’re even remotely excited by wedding ceremony drone exhibits or simply need to see how the Occasions covers drone trade tendencies, it’s well worth the learn.

I’m planning extra content material right here on The Drone Woman protecting:

• Detailed value breakdowns
• How to decide on a drone present firm
• Venue choice information
• Animation design suggestions
• The total behind-the-scenes logistics

If there’s one thing particular you need to know, drop a remark or e mail me at sally@thedronegirl.com. I’m apparently an knowledgeable now (or no less than the Occasions thinks so).

13 years in the past, I began The Drone Woman after taking a university course on drones. I used to be fascinated by the know-how and needed to share that fascination with others.

I do know that is in all probability cliche to say, however it’s true: I by no means imagined {that a} decade later, I’d be planning a drone present for my very own wedding ceremony after which speaking to The New York Occasions about it.

Thanks for being a part of this bizarre, great journey with me. And should you’re planning a marriage and contemplating a drone present? Do it. Simply perhaps inform your visitors first.

Learn the total New York Occasions article right here.

And then you definitely need to watch the total drone present too, proper? You possibly can’t try this as nicely, through the YouTube video shared under:

Completely happy flying!

— Sally, The Drone Woman

P.S. Sure, I’m completely framing this and hanging this on my wall. Hamilton already is aware of.

Need extra from our wedding ceremony day? We even have a whole video of that, too:

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