H.P. wrote:

you'll have a media friend for life. The added business from
all the ink you get will more than pay for the seats, and then some.
You could even become a quotable source for future aviation stories.

Exactly.

If you can't take them up together then take them up seperately.

If you can't take one up due to weight, then get a bigger plane.

Go out and find someone with a bigger airplane even if it's privately
owned. Explain your situation to the owner if necessary and make the
flight.

Simple problems need simple solutions, why are you making a mountain
out of a molehill.