So that is surreal. The New York Occasions simply printed a chunk about my wedding ceremony drone present.
I’ve spent 13 years masking drones. I’ve written 1000’s of articles critiques, and business 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 friends left early as a result of we didn’t warn them concerning the finale?
That hits completely different.
How we bought right here (and the place we’re headed)
For these simply tuning in: I bought married to Hamilton Nguyen (you dronies could know him because the enterprise and tech man, in addition to the cameraman for The Drone Lady — sure, a real renaissance man!) in September 2025. Sure, we had a 200-drone gentle present as our sendoff. It was 11 minutes of personalised animations synced to music and voiceover narration. Our wedding ceremony drone present featured every little thing from the fortress the place Hamilton proposed to a girl doing a snatch carry (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 group 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 nearly or in-person, they usually selected nearly). And identical 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 Lady. I figured a few of you is likely to be inquisitive about 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 excellent 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 assume).
- Venue concerns (airspace classifications! buffer zones! pickleball negotiations!).
- Climate contingencies (we virtually needed to do paper airplane throws as an alternative).
However my favourite half? They included my greatest remorse: not telling our friends concerning the drone present upfront.
About 80 individuals left earlier than the present began. They didn’t understand it was coming as a result of I believed it might have been manner cooler as a shock. In hindsight, I understand that if we’d hyped it up — put it on the timeline, talked about it throughout toasts, something — they’d’ve stayed.
The friends who did keep stated it felt like a ticketed occasion, including that it was positively well worth the “value” of admission. Dwell 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 business
Right here’s the factor: The New York Occasions masking 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 principally unparalleled. Electrical Sky Drone Exhibits — the corporate we labored with — advised The New York Occasions they did seven wedding ceremony exhibits the yr earlier than ours. This previous yr? Seventeen.
That’s greater than a 2x enhance. And as prices come down and extra venues optimize for drone exhibits, I anticipate that quantity to maintain climbing.
The truth that the Occasions is masking this pattern 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 gentle exhibits are breaking into the broader wedding ceremony business 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 may learn the Occasions piece right here.
It’s behind a paywall (as a result of, you understand, journalism prices cash and we must always assist it), however in the event you’re even remotely enthusiastic about wedding ceremony drone exhibits or simply wish to see how the Occasions covers drone business developments, it’s well worth the learn.
I’m planning extra content material right here on The Drone Lady masking:
- Detailed price breakdowns
- How to decide on a drone present firm
- Venue choice information
- Animation design suggestions
- The complete behind-the-scenes logistics
If there’s one thing particular you wish to know, drop a remark or electronic mail me at sally@thedronegirl.com. I’m apparently an professional now (or at the least the Occasions thinks so).
13 years in the past, I began The Drone Lady after taking a school course on drones. I used to be fascinated by the expertise and needed to share that fascination with others.
I do know that is most likely cliche to say, but it surely’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 in the event you’re planning a marriage and contemplating a drone present? Do it. Simply perhaps inform your friends first.
Learn the total New York Occasions article right here.
And then you definitely wish to watch the total drone present too, proper? You may’t try this as nicely, through the YouTube video shared under:
Completely happy flying!
— Sally, The Drone Lady
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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