(Left)Bridegroom Richard Miller is seen putting a
wedding ring to Sara Lee's finger,his bride,on of top of Mountain
Kilimanjaro on Sunday
This came a day after the two American nationals -- Richard Miller
and Sara Lee -- exchanged vows on Mount Kilimanjaro, located in the
northern part of Tanzania to fulfill their long-time dream.
Pascal Shelutete, a spokesperson of Tanzania National Parks
(Tanapa), described the event as unique that needs to be emulated by
other stakeholders in tourism industry and ordinary people in and
outside the East African nation.
"We have never experienced such wedding held on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro," Shelutete said.
Cyril Akko, executive officer of the Tanzania Association of Tour
Operators (TATO), also hailed the move which he said is unique in the
Tanzania's history.
He said: "The event is going to be catalyst that would promote Tanzania's tourist destinations across the globe."
"Sometimes back during the last Christmas in Minnesota, United
States of America, we had an engagement event with my hubby Richard
Miller and committed ourselves that the wedding event must be done on
the roof top of Africa and this is none other than Kilimanjaro
Mountain," Lee said.
"Thereafter, we started planning for this historic and unique event
by raising money for our trip to Tanzania and in particular Mount
Kilimanjaro," she said, noting that their parents and other relatives
were aware of the wedding plan.
Miller and Lee arrived in Tanzania last week and started their
seven-day Kilimanjaro expedition through Machame route on September 20,
spending an overnight at Machame Hut waiting eagerly for their wedding
on the following day.
On Monday, Richard and Lee proceeded with their Kilimanjaro climb
up to Baranco point and they are expected to summit on the rooftop of
Mount Kilimanjaro today, and to descend through Mweka Gate tomorrow.
This is not the first time couples are exchanging their vows on the roof of Africa.
In 2011, having not wanted to organise a traditional wedding
ceremony, a happy couple, Larry Holt and Victoria, climbed to the summit
of Mount Kilimanjaro where they exchanged their vows as the sun rose
over the famous 19,000 ft peak.
They were joined by a party of 30 guides and daring friends and relatives as they officially became man and wife on December 1.
Instead of a big white dress and a dapper morning suit, the bride
and groom kept wrapped up in warm climbing gear – only donning a veil
and a top hat to mark the special occasion.
The couple, from Redgrave, near Diss, then spent the first night of
their married life huddled together in a tiny tent with two thick
sleeping bags before heading down the slope and back home.
Holt, 34, a business advisor, first met her future husband through
work about 16 years ago. They got back in contact about three years ago
and Holt, 51, an automotive engineer from Canada, proposed in the
spring.
“One day, right out of the blue, Larry popped the big question and
asked if I’d marry him and then uttered the immortal words of ‘I thought
we could do it on top of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania’,” said Holt.
“He swapped his suit and me my wedding dress for climbing boots
and gaiters for what must have been the most challenging and arguably
the most romantic exchanging of vows at 5,895 metres.”
She said 300 guests, plus their partners, were invited to join them
on the climb, but most – somewhat understandably – decided to
graciously decline the offer.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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