Best Place Ever To Propose Skiing In Chamonix
The snow was aptly falling outside the Chalet Ski Holidays offices when keen skier James Mathews nervously phoned his girlfriend Sara’s Uncle, our very own Mark Leyshon in December 2013. Visiting Chamonix for the New Year Ski Holidays, James explained that he had chosen to pop the question to his beautiful girlfriend, Sara Hackling and now he was in search of the perfect place to propose. Mark had just that place!
After a significant investment, Europe’s highest lift station, l’Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix was about to open the Chamonix Void Skywalk. An all glass Sky Station, it sits at an altitude of 3,842m, with a drop of over 1,000m below the reinforced glass floor. Being only a week old, the Compagnignie du Mont Blanc confirmed no one had yet proposed on it. All agreed it was therefore made for James’ proposal to Sara. Designed by architect Pierre-Yves Chays to withstand 125mph winds, and provided Sara said yes, what could possibly go wrong! Mark picks up the story:
“It seemed the perfect place as it opened just 3 days before Christmas, and James’ proposal was going to be the first on this multi-million pound attraction. I say perfect, that was until someone aptly pointed out – what if Sara said no with a 1,000m drop next to a broken man! In all seriousness, they were the perfect couple, and it was never really in doubt, well that is at least what we tried to tell ourselves”!
The place and time was set and Mark went about contacting the very helpful team at the Compagnie du Mont Blanc in Chamonix. Two VIP tickets later and everything was set to go.
Like all good stories, there is a of course happy ever after ending and we are pleased to say Sara did of course say yes.
20 Months Later
Moving on 20 months from the proposal the wedding day arrived. Attended by one hundred wedding guests, Sara and James we are pleased to advise were married at the Llanfrynach Church in the Brecons on the 1st August 2015.
Dressed in a stunningly beautiful white, Fifties retro dress, her hair fabulously styled by Cassie, Sara was attended by three stunning bridesmaids, Sophia Rayworth and Alix Lloyd dressed in light mint green dresses:
And ten year old Annie Mathews (James’ niece) as Sara’s flower girl who wore a gorgeous white bridesmaid dress and also performed a beautiful poem reading in the church. Clearly another star for the future (photoed below outside the church and below right with U12 Chamonix Ski Alpin Racer Joshua).
Sara’s father, Paul Hackling had the privilege and pleasure of giving Sara away. James was supported by his best-man Ryland Kenvyn and ushers Joseph Hackling (Sara’s brother) and Tim Mathews (James’ brother).
The guests returned to Buckland Hall in the afternoon for speeches and dinner, before Katya, James’ cousin, performed an outstanding rendition of Mountain in the Clouds, written specifically for them both as a tribute to their love, both on the ground and up in the clouds, here in the beautiful Alps.
Revellers continued to party well into the night, entertained by a local Welsh band
Congratulations to both, we wish them every happiness for the years to come together.
And we couldn’t leave this story without sharing the video of this wonderful event and Katya’s beautiful tribute to them both:
