Princeton, WV (WOAY)-For three decades, Todd Gray has been in the business of “I do’s.” From traditional church vows to quick courthouse unions, the veteran wedding officiant has helped couples tie the knot in nearly every setting imaginable.
But this October, he’s taking his work to new heights literally by offering wedding ceremonies on the New River Gorge Bridge during Bridge Day.
Gray’s journey began over 30 years ago when, as an associate pastor in Roanoke, he performed his very first wedding.
“I was so nervous,” he recalled. “I had dry mouth so bad, I could hardly talk. I never dreamed it would become what I do now.”
In 2014, Gray officially launched his wedding business, and for the past six years, he’s officiated more than 200 ceremonies each year, many of them in front of the Mercer County Courthouse.
But it was an unusual venue last year that sparked his next big idea.
“I was doing a wedding at the Boy Scout Summit, and the guests had gone down to watch Bridge Day activities,” Gray said. “A little light bulb went off in my head, and I thought, how cool would it be if I could get permission to do open ceremonies on the bridge?”
That idea is now a reality.
With official approval secured, Gray is offering 20 elopement slots on Bridge Day 2025.
Half of them are already booked.
Couples must register in advance and bring a valid West Virginia marriage license and photo ID.
“Bridge Day is a once-a-year thing,” Gray explained. “You just can’t walk out onto the bridge most days and do something like this. People take a leap off the bridge, and weddings are often called a leap of love. So I thought, let’s put it together.”
The package costs $150, which is slightly more than his standard elopement fee.
It includes the ceremony, a keepsake certificate, a special Bridge Day certificate, and the official filing of marriage paperwork with the courthouse.
Gray says it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, stating, “I think it’s a pretty good deal to take a leap of love on the bridge.”
And for those couples looking for an even bigger thrill, Gray is sweetening the offer.
If someone marries on the bridge and then takes the literal plunge during Bridge Day Base jumping festivities, they could earn themselves a free wedding.
For more details or to reserve a spot, couples can visit toddagrayweddingofficiant.com.
Love will soar to new heights on Bridge Day, but it will be all about the landing for the couples taking the leap of a lifetime together.
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