We're Taking the Plunge!
Our Love Story
Michael and Megan’s story began with a single jump... In the summer of 2021, high above the Finger Lakes, they were paired together for a tandem skydive. Michael was in town for the season, working as a tandem instructor. Megan was an aspiring solo skydiver there to make her thirteenth tandem. From the moment they met, something just clicked. What started as one skydive quickly turned into a friendship — and before long, Michael was training Megan to earn her skydiving license. When the season ended and the drop zone where they fell in love closed its doors, their story didn’t. Instead, they took to the road — chasing blue skies across the country, jumping wherever they could, building community, sharing endless laughter, and falling deeper in love along the way. Eventually, Megan followed in Michael’s footsteps and became a skydiving instructor herself. Their bond grew not only through their shared passion for the sky, but also through quiet moments at home with their three beloved cats, Chef, Kenny, and Callie,. and, most of all, through their unwavering love for each other. When they discovered that Ovid Airport was sitting vacant, they saw more than an empty airfield, they saw possibility. They poured their hearts into turning that space into their dream: owning and operating a skydiving business of their own. So many of you have helped this couple along their journey over the last five years, and they want nothing more than your presence to help them celebrate their love in the only style they know how: Extreme sports style. They met in the skies above the Finger Lakes. They got engaged there. And now, they plan to quite literally jump into their wedding ceremony in the landing area, surrounded by family and friends at the very place where it all began.
Do I need to formally RSVP? Can't I just text the couple and let them know I'm coming?
Please RSVP by June 30, 2026. You can do so by using the return address envelope included with your invitation, and/or by digitally responding at the bottom of this page. Please, for our sanity, do not informally send us a message to RSVP. If you want to really help us out, please send back your stamped RSVP envelope AND digitally RSVP to the google drive doc link on this page.
What should I wear to the wedding?
It is a summer wedding in late July, so it will be hot! Please dress in semi-formal wear. The wedding party will be in various shades of sky blue, to represent our favorite thing...blue skies! But, you can wear whatever colors you'd like. (The color white is already taken though!) Sun dresses, dress pants or a nice button up shirt are all acceptable. Please do not wear an inappropriate graphic t-shirt or a white wedding gown. Otherwise, it's our one shot to dress up the drop zone all fancy... so let's have fun with it!
Is there a registry?
Michael and Megan are registered here. But, they are also accepting cash gifts here, as they are in the process of moving out of Ithaca and into a new home in Ovid, only four minutes from the drop zone! Any cash gifts will be put towards renovating, remodeling, refinishing and decking out their new digs. They will also be putting additional funds towards a much needed honeymoon vacay for two at the end of the skydiving season in November.
How do I get to the venue?
We are located at the Ovid Airport, in Ovid, NY at 2562 Parish Rd. Directions on your GPS can be found by typing in "Skydive Seneca Lake" or "Ovid Airport". When you arrive to the venue, parking will be available in the grass field across from the landing area.
If coming from the Ithaca area, follow route 96 until you see the "Happy Landing Sandwich Shop" and make a lefthand turn onto route 139. Continue straight merging slightly left onto Parish Rd. Follow signs for "Ovid Airport", turn left into the airport.
The reception is located only eleven minutes from the Ovid Airport, at The Ginny Lee Cafe at Wagner Winery in Lodi at 9322 NY-414, Lodi, NY 14860. This is one of the oldest and most well known wineries in the Finger Lakes. They have great signage along the route to direct guests.
When should I arrive for the ceremony?
We are asking that everyone arrive around 2pm, as the ceremony is a little unorthodox and may require us to pray to the skydiving weather gods. You will be able to spectate as Michael and Megan (and 12 of their closest friends) skydive into their ceremony in the landing zone of their home drop zone.
So far, three plane loads of skydivers have committed to join them in the sky. This takeoff to landing sequence will require about one hour. The couple hopes to be fully hitched by 4:30 though, so that it will still be no longer than a Catholic wedding!
What if the weather is bad?
The couple has expressed tremendous desire to skydive into their wedding, and hopes that this will not be the case. If for some reason a historically sunny weekend in late July happens to show an unfriendly weather forecast, they will still be getting married at the Ovid Airport!
Are kids and pets allowed?
Children are welcome, this wedding is NOT child free! But, we do ask that you keep your children under seamless supervision during your time at the airport, especially near the landing zone. Skydiving is a dangerous and extreme sport. All children must be supervised.
Although SSL is normally a pet-friendly establishment, pets will not be permitted on the day of the wedding. It will be hot, chaotic and full of people. We ask that you please keep your dogs at home. But, tell them we said hi and that we will see them the following weekend! The reception venue also does not allow dogs.
What time will the reception begin?
There will be a short break between the ceremony at the airport and the start of the reception at Wagner Vineyard. We have use of the Ginny Lee Cafe from 5:30pm until the end of the night. This will give guests a chance to stop by the lake, change into their dancin' clothes or grab a quick coffee etc.
We still ask that you dress semi-formal to the reception. We hope to have these photos on our walls for years to come.
Can I RSVP to attend just the reception?
Yes! Please specify on your RSVP if you will only be attending the reception at the winery so that we have a proper head count for dinner.
Where can I stay the weekend of the wedding?
Unfortunately, the airport is not equipped to house 200 overnight weekend guests at this time. The Finger Lakes region is home to some of the best lodging the US though! We recommend checking out Single Island Shores for excellent lakeside cabin camping options, airbnb/vrbo or some of the local hotels like the Lakefront Hotel, Hampton Inn in Seneca Falls or Geneva or the Hilton Garden Inn in Ithaca..
Will there be a seating chart?
At the airport, there will be no seating chart for the ceremony. We again just ask that children be supervised and managed appropriately near skydiving operations. (Children are not permitted near skydiving gear, aircraft or in the landing zone even while accompanied by an adult.) We also ask that non-skydiver adults do not enter the packing room, landing zone or aircraft area. These areas will be clearly marked and roped off.
At the reception, there will be a seating chart. If you have any specific requests regarding seating, please include them on your mailed RSVP. We will try our best to accommodate everyone. If you do not like your seat, you are welcome to get up and dance! But, no moving tables together or filling tables you are not assigned to. This is going to be a large event, at a large venue. There will be plenty of other areas outside or on the dancefloor for you to gather with your friends & family!
Most importantly, when do we eat?!
Appetizer and cocktail hour will begin at 5:30 until 6:30. We will then do speeches and toasts and begin serving buffet style dinner around 6:45-7pm. The protein choices will include variations of chicken and beef, along with multiple sides. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know! Many folks in our inner circle are gluten free or vegan, so we understand the struggle of not being able to eat at a party! We will truly try our best to make sure everyone has tasty options available. But, we will need an accurate amount of food, so please make sure to let us know.
Gluten free and vegan safe dessert options will also be available.
Will alcohol be served?
No one may consume alcohol at the airport while jump operations are underway, period. This is not our rule, this is the FAA's rule. But we promise you can all get good and celebratorily tipsy at the reception if you so desire. This reception is at a famous Finger Lakes staple winery, The couple chose this winery because it is the same venue where their mentors, John King and Pat Fratangelo tied the knot with a skydiving wedding as well. It has a rich history and of course, great booze! So of course we will be serving wine and beer. The venue will also have a couple light beer options on tap. The bar will be open for a portion of the reception. They will also have liquor options available for purchase.
We understand that there are also a lot of folks on our guest list who are not big drinkers. Mocktail options will be available, along with typical fountain drinks and water.
Will there be music and dancing?
There will be a DJ at the reception. Although we cannot guarantee it'll be the prettiest and most eloquent dancing in the world, it'll definitely be a fun interpretation of dancing. The couple admits to not being world renowned dancers themselves, so they encourage everyone to get up and look silly together! We promise not to make you do the cha-cha slide though.
Will I be able to skydive on the day of the wedding? Should I bring my rig?
Our regular fun jumpers are welcome to still jump the morning of the wedding. HOWEVER, Megan will not be at manifest to help you if your rig is out of date, you have no ewaiver signed, you need to put money on your acount etc. Kiera will be present to assist with building loads, but she is also in the wedding party and will be busy getting ready. We will open up loads in burble for you to self manifest on. The pilot will keep track of who was on each load. Garrett and Ty will be managing ground ops in Megan's absence while she prepares for the big plunge that afternoon!
After the ceremony, the DZ will be closed for the day. If you were not invited to jump in for the ceremony, the couple truly wishes they could have invited you to. We would invite every skydiver we know to join us if we could, but we are very limited to only 14 jumpers between Blue Dick, Big Papa and Kinger's 182 we are leasing for the day. (But if any of you happen to have a few twin otters lying around that we could borrow, let us know!)
Will I be able to fly in for the ceremony?
We ask that any of our pilot friends who plan to fly in on the day of the wedding do so before 1:30pm. If you are running late around 2pm, we ask that you accept that you have missed the ceremony and stay in the air until you receive radio confirmation that your landing will not interfere with the skydive or distract from the ceremony. (The couple is literally getting married adjacent to the runway. Please do not show up in a loud rinky-dink Cessna 172 right as they are about to say "I do".)
You can fuel up at Finger Lakes Regional (Seneca Falls) or Penn Yan.
Reminder: Fuel is not commercially sold at the Ovid Airport
Will I be able to make a tandem skydive on your wedding day?
If you wish to make a tandem skydive while visiting us in the Finger Lakes, please book a jump on either the Saturday prior to the wedding or the Monday afterwards. You can do so by clicking here. Please try and understand that although skydiving is our passion, it is also our career. No one wishes to work on their wedding day! Therefore, we will not be conducting any tandem operations on 07/26/2026. The drop zone will be open for our regular licensed skydivers only.
We also cannot provide our services for free, despite wishing we could! Just like every business, we run on money. We will offer a discounted rate to any wedding guest who is visiting for the weekend who has not already made a skydive with us in the past, as we understand it is a life changing experience for most We love you all and truly hope you will sign up to let our team take you on the ride of a lifetime!
I have more questions!
As this is a much different wedding style than most folks are used to, we understand that you may have additional questions. To keep things simple, please contact us with additional questions only at info@skydivesenecalake.com with the subject line WEDDING. Click the link above and it will take you right to your email!