Umesh Kumar, 26, from Sarfabad village in Noida, hired the chopper from Delhi at a cost of Rs 1 lakh to fly in his bride from her village. The helicopter flew from Primary School in Sarfabad to the Shyamal Pehelwan temple near Hindon Bridge in Behlolpur Village in Sector 58, Noida.

Kumar’s friends said he always wanted to do something “unique” on his wedding, and here was the chance. “The family is wealthy. What could be a better occasion to flaunt their money than at their son’s wedding? Kumar himself is an international-level wrestler,” said Manoj Yadav, a friend.

“He told his family he wanted to do something unique on his wedding that his wife, Ruby, would remember all her life,” added another friend.

The groom said, “No one in our family has used a chopper to bring home a bride before — the journey will be special.”