So this is surreal. The New York Times just published a piece about my wedding drone show.
I’ve spent 13 years covering drones. I’ve written thousands of articles reviews, and industry analyses. I’ve been quoted in publications before. But seeing my own wedding featured in The New York Times? With asides about pickleball courts and weightlifter animations — and how 80 of our guests left early because we didn’t warn them about the finale?
That hits different.
How we got here (and where we’re headed)
For those just tuning in: I got married to Hamilton Nguyen (you dronies may know him as the business and tech guy, as well as the cameraman for The Drone Girl — yes, a true renaissance man!) in September 2025. Yes, we had a 200-drone light show as our sendoff. It was 11 minutes of personalized animations synced to music and voiceover narration. Our wedding drone show featured everything from the castle where Hamilton proposed to a woman doing a snatch lift (because we’re both competitive weightlifters).
The whole thing was beautiful, chaotic, personality driven — oh and it required evicting part of a pickleball community for an evening.
I pitched an editor at the The New York Times as to what would be happening. I invited them to be a part of it (either virtually or in-person, and they chose virtually). And just like that, the New York Times was on it.
Now that The New York Times printed their story (I promised them an exclusive), I’ll be writing more extensively about the experience here on The Drone Girl. I figured some of you might be curious about what goes into planning a wedding drone show — the logistics, the costs, the “oh god it’s raining two days before the wedding” moments. That’ll arrive in the coming days.
What The New York Times article covers
If it’s been a while since you’ve purchased a printed newspaper, perhaps tomorrow (that’s Sunday, Nov. 16) is your day to grab a copy. It’s on page 17
Their piece (read the print version here) does a great job breaking down the practical side of wedding drone shows:
- Why we chose a drone show (spoiler: sparklers felt boring and fire-risky).
- How much it costs ($15,000-$25,000 range).
- What goes into planning (hint: way more than you’d think).
- Venue considerations (airspace classifications! buffer zones! pickleball negotiations!).
- Weather contingencies (we almost had to do paper airplane throws instead).
But my favorite part? They included my biggest regret: not telling our guests about the drone show in advance.
About 80 people left before the show started. They didn’t know it was coming because I thought it would have been way cooler as a surprise. In hindsight, I realize that if we’d hyped it up — put it on the timeline, mentioned it during toasts, anything — they would’ve stayed.
The guests who did stay said it felt like a ticketed event, adding that it was definitely worth the “price” of admission. Live and learn, right? Alas, there won’t be a wedding number two!
Why the New York Times wedding drone show article matters for the drone industry
Here’s the thing: The New York Times covering a wedding drone show isn’t just cool for me personally (though it absolutely is). It’s a signal that drone shows are entering mainstream wedding culture.
A few years ago, wedding drone shows were basically unheard of. Electric Sky Drone Shows — the company we worked with — told The New York Times they did seven wedding shows the year before ours. This past year? Seventeen.
That’s more than a 2x increase. And as costs come down and more venues optimize for drone shows, I expect that number to keep climbing.
The fact that the Times is covering this trend means it’s not just niche tech enthusiast territory anymore. Hey, I love some good “New York Times Is On It” jokes. But in all seriousness, this story is proof drone light shows are breaking into the broader wedding industry conversation.
Read the full New York Times article
If you want the full breakdown, including more details on costs, logistics and my advice for couples considering drone shows, you can read the Times piece here.
It’s behind a paywall (because, you know, journalism costs money and we should support it), but if you’re even remotely interested in wedding drone shows or just want to see how the Times covers drone industry trends, it’s worth the read.
I’m planning more content here on The Drone Girl covering:
- Detailed cost breakdowns
- How to choose a drone show company
- Venue selection guide
- Animation design tips
- The full behind-the-scenes logistics
If there’s something specific you want to know, drop a comment or email me at sally@thedronegirl.com. I’m apparently an expert now (or at least the Times thinks so).
Thirteen years ago, I started The Drone Girl after taking a college course on drones. I was fascinated by the technology and wanted to share that fascination with others.
I know this is probably cliche to say, but it’s true: I never imagined that a decade later, I’d be planning a drone show for my own wedding and then talking to The New York Times about it.
Thanks for being part of this weird, wonderful journey with me. And if you’re planning a wedding and considering a drone show? Do it. Just maybe tell your guests first.
Read the full New York Times article here.
And then you want to watch the full drone show too, right? You can’t do that as well, via the YouTube video shared below:
Happy flying!
— Sally, The Drone Girl
P.S. Yes, I’m absolutely framing this and hanging this on my wall. Hamilton already knows.
Want more from our wedding day? We also have a complete video of that, too:
The post The New York Times just featured my wedding drone show appeared first on The Drone Girl.