I pronounce you spaceman and wife: Branson to be the first man to marry a couple in space
By NATHAN KAY
Virgin Galactic boss Sir Richard Branson is planning to set yet another record – by becoming the first man to marry a couple in space.
The 58-year-old billionaire intends to conduct a ceremony 70 miles above the Earth on the first Galactic sub-orbital flight next year.
He has already officiated at one wedding in mid-air. Last year he was ordained for the day in an online church to marry Virgin America marketing director Dimitrios Papadognonas and Coco Jones on a Virgin flight from San Francisco to Las Vegas.
Record breaker: Sir Richard
He also helped officiate at the wedding of Google co-founder Larry Page on his private island, Necker, in the Caribbean.
A spokesman for Virgin Galactic told The Mail on Sunday: "We have had two bookings involving marriage, one to get married in space and the other for the couple to have their honeymoon in space.
"It is possible that Richard could obtain a licence to conduct the marriage."
The couple who have booked in for a honeymoon on the £100,000-a-ticket maiden flight are Virgin Galactic adviser George Whitesides and his new wife, Loretta Hidalgo.
The Virgin Galactic space project is progressing at a dramatic rate and customers will take part in the first test flights this summer.
In January, Branson unveiled a model of SpaceShipTwo, the vehicle he promises will turn space tourism into reality.
It is designed to hitch a lift on an aircraft to 50,000ft before blasting into the outer atmosphere. 
So far 200 people have paid for the sub-space experience. Princess Beatrice, whose partner Dave Clark works in the marketing department of Virgin Galactic, has said she plans to be the first Royal in space.
Former Dallas actress Victoria Principal, the designer Philippe Starck and wheelchair-bound Professor Stephen Hawking have also paid for trips.
The spokesman said: "Customers will have a two-hour flight, go up to 70 miles above the Earth and experience amazing views of the planet, G forces and weightlessness after a three-day training programme."
Branson has been involved in a number of world record-breaking attempts.
In 1986, he set a record for crossing the Atlantic in a powerboat. And in 1991 he crossed the Pacific in a balloon, breaking all existing records.
