Westwind Balloon Company Takes Proposals to New Heights

Written by Julianne Pitcher 

Named one of America’s Most Romantic Companies by Business News Daily, Westwind Balloon Company of Plymouth gives men a creative way to pop the question, literally taking proposals to new heights.

With balloon rentals available in the Hartland area, the season takes place from May through the end of Oct. Each flight costs $695 for two people and lasts about an hour, depending on available landing sites and wind conditions.

Booking dozens of engagement flights each year, Scott Lorenz, president of Westwind Balloon Co., has seen engagement flights become more popular since he started flying in 1981.

“With the wedding industrial complex going on now, everything in weddings is just out of control, big engagement rings and big, high-priced weddings.  My daughter just got married last year, so believe me, I know all about weddings, and then some,” Lorenz said.

Jack Wilson of Plymouth took his wife, Jackie Madgy of Farmington Hills, on her first balloon ride last September, and during the ride, he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.

Madgy said, “I once told him that since I was a kid, I always wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride.  I just thought it would be a really neat experience.  Jack remembered that I said this, and he made it happen.” 

Most guys who book an engagement flight know exactly what they want to do, said Lorenz.

Lorenz said, “Sometimes, we have to help them with their vision because they will come up with stuff that we can’t do, like ‘fly in, pick me up at this party, and then take me away.’  No, that’s not going to happen.”

Madgy said, “I was nervous in the beginning because I'm not a fan of heights, but once we were up and flying for about ten minutes, I started to relax. Jack then asked if I wanted some snacks that he brought. He pulled out a box of Cracker Jacks, I love Cracker Jacks, and handed it to me. I opened the box and found a large candy ring inside.”

At first, Madgy thought that she had just gotten a special prize in her box, until Wilson explained that the candy ring was a substitute engagement ring until she picked out a real one for herself.

“I was shocked and very happy,” Madgy said.

Balloon Flight Patience and Tradition

Although balloon rides are a very fun way to get engaged or celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, they are not for everyone because ballooning requires patience, Lorenz said.

“If you and the soon-to-be bride come in for the weekend, and you have to get engaged this weekend, then a balloon flight is probably not for you because the weather has to be just right.  But if you and your family live in the area and you can be a little bit flexible on the engagement date, we’ll get you in as soon as the weather gets good,” said Lorenz.

Lorenz always makes engagements the company’s priority.  If weather delays a flight, as it did for Madgy and Wilson’s engagement, Lorenz usually manages to get the flight done in a two or three-day period.

“We have to because we have situations where the ring can only be returned in 30 days if they don’t like it, so we have to get it done before then.  I face pressures all of the time with weather, engagements, and people traveling,” Lorenz said.

Lorenz can fit two people and the pilot in his balloon, and flights take place two and a half hours before sunset or right at sunrise, when the sun is at the lowest point in the horizon. 

“We’re looking for winds less than 10 knots on the surface, no high winds upstairs, and no rain or thunderstorms within 50 miles,” Lorenz said.

Although water is only served during the ride, they drink champagne with the landowners after each landing.  This is a tradition that was started by the French in 1783 when the Montgolfier brothers, paper company owners, made a balloon out of paper. 

“They heated the balloon up with a fire on the ground and thought the smoke made it go up.  When they would land in a field in the countryside outside of Paris, peasants would come up thinking it was a beast or a god, stabbing it with a pitchfork.  This would be expensive, so the brothers decided to start bringing champagne and wine along to show that they were French like them,” Lorenz said.

Madgy said, “I would definitely recommend balloon rides for engagements to other couples.  It was a unique experience and a perfect day.  When I told people that Jack proposed in a hot air balloon, they were amazed.” 

Interested in booking a balloon flight? Contact Westwind Balloon Company.

Call 734-667-2098 or visitwww.WestwindCos.com/Balloon

scottlorenz@westwindcos.com