Aquatics venues hear wedding bells.

When people talk about taking the plunge on their wedding day, they don't usually mean racing down a giant water slide or leaping into a pool. But as couples look for ways to make their weddings stand apart from traditional, ho-hum ceremonies, that's exactly what some are doing.

It's lovers' leap for a new generation--and aquatics venues can cash in on the craze simply by marketing facilities for the occasion.

Six Flags Elitch Gardens in Denver has done exactly that for the past five years in conjunction with a local radio station. Each year, five couples are chosen for the "Taking the Plunge" event. Brides wear white swimsuits and grooms wear black trunks. The local DJ, who is also licensed to marry couples, presides over the ceremony at the top of the water slide steps before sending the happy couple down the slide in their double-tubes. The maid-of-honor and best man follow suit, said Tara Tongco, park spokesperson.

After the ride, the newly-weds celebrate their nuptials with a guest-filled reception. This year's cake, flowers and a weekend getaway at Steamboat Springs were all donated by local businesses. The rings, too, were given by a local jewelry store.

The Beach Waterpark in Mason, Ohio, also hosts a "Take the Plunge" event. Ten couples stand knee-deep in the heated spa at "The Pearl" section of the park, while an ordained minister unites them for eternity. Afterward, families and guests join them for appetizers and cake, and the tossing of bouquets and garters.

"The people who were involved thought it was a really neat event and something they would always remember," said Tara Nahrup, marketing manager at the Beach. In a separate promotion at the Pearl, it also threw a dry wedding for a couple where the groom was being sent to Iraq.

Both parks worked in conjunction with local radio stations to select the lucky couples from a large applicant list.