Daring couple gets married on Mount Everest
Every couple feels on top of the world on their wedding day. But one California couple made that metaphor a reality by literally exchanging vows on top of the world. On March 16, 2017, Ashley Schmieder and her husband, James, became the first couple to ever get married at Mount Everest Base Camp in a tux and wedding gown.
Here, they look out of their windows en route from Kathmandu to the base of the mountain.
Into the Himalayas
It's a 35-minute flight from Kathmandu to the base of the mountain with a view of the Himalayan mountain range if you get clear skies. The couple's photographer, Charleton Churchill, says it's a nice flight, unless the wind picks up. Then your small plane gets whipped around, which is apparently what happened to the newly married couple on their return flight home.
On their way
James and Ashley cross one of the infamous bridges across the canyon on their way to Namche Bazar.
High altitude love
James and Ashley embrace en route to Everest Base Camp.
An embrace on the trail
It's a grueling three week trek to Everest Base Camp. Here, James and Ashley embrace on the trail, during the blissful first days before it started snowing and temperatures dipped.
Hiking for hours
Each day of the journey, the couple and their photographer hiked between four and eight hours.
Through the snow
"It started snowing hard a few days into the journey," says Charleton Churchill, the couple's wedding photographer who joined them on the epic journey. "According to our Sherpa guide, it dumped more snow on us than it had all winter."
"Epic and amazing"
"Saying this was an epic and amazing trip is true," Churchill writes on his website, "but I would be remiss if I didn't share it came with some suffering, doubt, fear, anxiety, and physical pain. Often times when striving for something great, there's usually a cost. There's no glory without suffering."
Altitude hazards
At moments, it looked as if the couple might not be able to follow through with the wedding because of the toll the altitude was taking on their bodies. James, in particular, developed a bad case of "Khumbu cough," which worsened and became deeper the higher they ascended.
A traditional wedding gown
Despite the frigid temperatures, Ashley donned a traditional wedding gown for her very non-traditional wedding photos.
Last-minute adjustments
Here, the couple's guide, Naga, helps James get dressed into a tux for his wedding.
Great trail partners
"Both James and Ashley made for great trail partners," says Churchill. "We were like family. Ashley is tough girl, who crushed it on the mountain trail and maintained a great pace. James is a great man who took care of Ashley, always looking after her needs. Plus he's a comedian who made us laugh often. It can be difficult after a few days on a long mountain trek with all the pressure and lack of resources to maintain a smile, but we did well."
Tux and hiking boots
James poses for a few solo shots on his wedding day in a tuxedo accenting with hiking boots and a wool beanie.
Wedding on Everest
Ashley poses for photos on her wedding day.
Everest bride
Ashley became the first bride to ever get married in a wedding dress on Everest.
Wedding day
After reaching Everest Base Camp, James and Ashley had a 90-minute window in which to eat, drink, get changed and get married.
Couple gets married on Everest
James and Ashley embrace after exchanging vows on Everest.
Couple gets married on Everest
James and Ashley exchange vows on the tallest mountain in the world.
Couple gets married on Everest
The rugged hiking boots James wore along with his tux and Ashley hid under her wedding gown.
Couple gets married on Everest
James and Ashley pose near their tents at Everest Base Camp.
Couple gets married on Everest
It was important to keep moving during the photo session, especially for Ashley, whose arms were bare in the below-zero temperatures.
Couple gets married on Everest
James smiles lovingly at his wife, who wears a winter hat along with her wedding dress for both warmth and flair.
Couple gets married on Everest
The couple kisses candidly during their photo shoot with adventure photographer Charleton Churchill.
Couple gets married on Everest
James and Ashley exchanged vows at Mount Everest Base Camp, right in front of the famous Khumbu ice-fall where people use ladders to maneuver over crevasses, and with the beautifully carved Nuptse Face in the backdrop.
Couple gets married on Everest
Ironically, when Ashley first contacted photographer Charleton Churchill about planning an adventure wedding, she had a tropical location in mind.
Couple gets married on Everest
When Churchill brought up the idea of Everest, Ashley and her fiancé, James, daringly did a 360 on their planning and rose to the challenge.
Couple gets married on Everest
The couple was married in March 2017, surrounded by the epic scenery seen here.
Couple gets married on Everest
Adventure wedding photographer Charleton Churchill orchestrates a speedy session of post-vow photos at Everest Base Camp.
"There's no glory without suffering," Churchill says. "We worked hard for these images with much less time to photograph a short wedding than we planned."
Couple gets married on Everest
"The temperatures ranged from -8 degrees to 10 degrees Fahrenheit," Churchill writes on his website. "So, your hands would quickly freeze if left out of the gloves, like when I tried to film and take photos. I actually had to turn a live Facebook filming off because my hands were burning cold... Also, James and Ashley married in the -5 degrees to 5 degrees Fahrenheit range, and in her wedding dress. We especially had to keep her warm... downing soup, food, drinking hot liquids, and moving, all vital."
Couple gets married on Everest
The morning after their wedding, James and Ashley boarded a helicopter back to the base of the great mountain.
Couple gets married on Everest
"The faint but ascending juddering sound of the helicopter in the distance was a beautiful sound," recalls Churchill. "I saw the look on James and Ashley's face, and they were relieved. We all were excited. The pilot, hooked up to oxygen, took James and Ashley first because the air was too thin at base camp to take all four of us and our bags. They dropped James and Ashley off at a lower altitude, and then returned to get me and Naga, our guide... Within a few hours, we were back to Kathmandu on a bus, warmed up, and back to our hotel with some of the creature comforts we missed while on the mountain."
Not to mention, with the coolest wedding photos around.