Air New Zealand May Host Nation's First Gay Marriage in Flight

Gay couples in New Zealand rejoiced in April when the country's House of Representatives voted to pass a bill legalizing marriage equality.

But one Kiwi couple may actually get to walk on cloud nine thanks to Air New Zealand, which announced in a statement that it plans to host the first same-sex marriage — 30,000 feet in the air.

On Wednesday, the national airline launched the “Love is in the Air” competition in search of the first pair of men or women looking to say “I do” in New Zealand. The ceremony is scheduled to occur on August 19, the date the bill becomes law, during a flight from Queenstown to Auckland.

The winners of the competition will also receive a honeymoon in Palm Springs, Calif.

Air New Zealand also announced that Jesse Tyler Ferguson, the out star of ABC’s Modern Family, would be a witness to the proceedings, along with his partner Justin Mikita.

"Justin and I are thrilled to be taking part in witnessing this historic moment for New Zealand," said Ferguson, who is planning to marry Mikita in New York this month. “After launching ‘Tie The Knot’, our bow tie campaign for marriage equality in the U.S., it is clear that the journey towards marriage, both in the U.S. & beyond, means so much to us. We cannot wait to celebrate this joyous occasion with Air New Zealand!”

Contestants must fill out a short form on the airline’s website and submit a 30-second YouTube describing their relationship before July 26.