James Sissom, 35, and Ashley Schmieder, 32, from California, travelled thousands of miles and spent days trekking through the snow to tie the knot on Mount Everest.

The adventurous newlyweds, who spent a year planning the trip, braved freezing temperatures, gruelling terrain and altitude sickness on their way to Everest Base Camp, where they exchanged vows at 17,000ft above sea level.

Ashley said: ‘After much deliberation, we decided a traditional wedding was not the right fit for us. As much as we would have loved to share our special day with our family and friends, we were both drawn to the idea of eloping during an incredible vacation.

‘We both are avid lovers of the outdoors and had experience at altitude up to 14,000 feet, but we knew the three week Everest Base Camp trek would be far more physically and mentally demanding than anything we’ve experienced.’

While the ceremony was certainly unconventional, the couple brought a touch of tradition to the occasion with their outfits. Ashley looked radiant in a figure-hugging embellished gown while James looked dashing in a suit.
The day was documented by specialist adventure wedding photographer Charleton Churchill, from California, who accompanied the couple to document the incredible journey.

He said: ‘I wanted to document a real couple getting married, the journey along the way, the pain, the happiness, the tiredness, the struggles, as well as the romantic chemistry of the couple.

‘More than that, I wanted to portray the contrast that exists between the intimidatingly majestic mountains and the small, fragile love between two humans.’

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