10/12/2026
Some stories on the road are good, but others are straight out of a movie, and Sandy and David’s wedding at the Balloon Fiesta HOP is one of those unforgettable moments that reminds us why the Escapees family is like no other.
Sandy and David’s journey actually began 30 years ago. They dated for a while back then, but life eventually took them in different directions. Decades passed, until David learned the heartbreaking news that Sandy had lost her son. He picked up the phone to reach out, and the moment they reconnected, the years melted away. It was as if no time had passed at all; they immediately clicked right back together.
Fast forward to this years Balloon Fiesta HOP. David showed up in Albuquerque, but Sandy was not by his side yet. She had just lost her job of 25 years with nothing to show for it and had to fly to New York just to collect unemployment. Money was tight, and the plan was simple: do a quick, low-key Justice of the Peace ceremony now, and save up for a real wedding somewhere down the road.
Enter the Escapees community.
When an employee heard their story, she teamed up with a pilot from Pilot Talk with one goal: make something happen. Word went out that David and Sandy were hoping to get married and needed an officiant. In true SKP fashion, an Escapees member who happened to be ordained stepped right up to marry them, and they already had the marriage license ready to go.
The plan was set: "Tuesday morning, be on the field. You're getting married inside a hot air balloon."
There was only one problem: Sandy had no idea any of this was being planned! She knew she was getting married that day, but David and the crew kept every single detail a complete surprise.
The scramble was on. David somehow had a suit in his rig, borrowed a tie from a fellow member, and the employee hand-crafted a bouquet and boutonniere. But then came the next hurdle: how were they actually getting to the field? There were no shuttle buses taking attendees directly out onto the launch site. Hearing about the surprise, Mr. Eddy, the man running the open-air shuttle, stepped in: "I'll give you a private shuttle and drop you off right next to the balloon."
On Tuesday morning, everything and everyone was perfectly on time. Mr. Eddy drove them around the back way onto the field. As the shuttle pulled up, the crowd of members standing around erupted into roaring applause. Sandy’s face said it all; she was completely blown away.
Right on the field, the employee motioned for the glowing bride to step inside the massive, inflated balloon canopy because that was their wedding venue. Surrounded by vibrant colors and the warmth of a community that rallied behind them, Sandy and David officially tied the knot.
Afterward, the celebration moved right back to the RV sites. Members brought out impromptu bottles of ch*****ne, raising a glass to the newlyweds for a pop-up reception in the desert sun.
From 30 years of history to a magical morning inside a balloon, Sandy and David proved that home isn't a place; it's the people you share the journey with.
