Washington, Jan 9 (IANS/RIA Novosti): The term "wedding crasher" took on a whole new meaning in the US city of San Diego, when a couple's dream of exchanging their vows onboard a hot air balloon ended abruptly as a gust of wind sent the balloon crashing to the ground.

"Fortunately we didn't end our marriage the day we began it," Jonathan Narcisse said about the memorable wedding he experienced with his new wife Kerin.

The bride and groom, who were onboard the hot air balloon with 12 friends and family members, had just said "I do" when the windy conditions swung the balloon's basket like a pendulum and brought them crashing down onto the ground near a home.

"It was so much cooler than just landing on a field and rolling out of a balloon and getting into a van," Narcisse said. "It just sort of ended the fairy tale."

The harrowing scene was caught on video by one of the passengers, showing those in the basket bracing for the landing. The basket bounced three times and tore through a fence before coming to a stop.

No one was seriously hurt in the crash, and one person was taken to a hospital and treated for mild back pain.

Although their wedding did not end quite like they thought it would, the groom said the adventurous couple still "had a blast".

"It was fun... On our anniversary next year we have to skydive," he said.