60-year history of underground weddings to end

HELLERTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The owners of an eastern Pennsylvania cave say they can no longer offer couples the chance to say their “I dos” underground after 60 years of subterranean ceremonies.

The Lost River Caverns in Hellertown hosted its first wedding in June 1949. Since then, more than 100 couples have been married in the 250,000-year-old underground complex.

But co-owner Robert Gilman says due to financial, logistical and ecological concerns, the last wedding will be in August.

During the ceremonies, the lights are dimmed and the vows are said by the light of about 50 candles. But Gilman says the carbon from the candles can settle on the growing rock formations. In addition, he says weddings could be held only before and after normal opening hours, and the operation did not even pay for itself.