Why I'm climbing Snowdon in a wedding dress for marriage request that never was

Maxine Beech will set off up Snowdon tomorrow with a group of friends. There’s nothing unusual in that. But the party are guaranteed to turn heads, given they will be adorned in wedding dresses.

And there’s a bittersweet reason behind why the group will be in gowns they wore on the happiest days of their lives – a marriage request that never was.

Maxine, 31, lost her father suddenly one Christmas Eve as she and her partner travelled to stay with her family for the festive season.

What Maxine’s father George Hinks never got to know was that Maxine’s then boyfriend – now husband – Richard was planning to ask him for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

He’d planned to ask George several times, but couldn’t pluck up the courage.

Tragically, George didn’t live to proudly give his blessing to their marriage.

So, in memory of her beloved dad, Maxine and a group of her friends will climb Snowdon in their wedding dresses to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. in memory of the 59-year-old.

Maxine and her family spent many happy holidays in North Wales, so it seemed the perfect place to do something in honour of George, who passed away in 2009.

Maxine said: “We knew my dad had complicated heart problems, he’d had two heart attacks and underwent a triple heart bypass but it was still so sudden and unexpected.

“He was at work at the time, it’s thought that a cholesterol clot moved and blocked the pathway to his heart.

“I was always really close to my dad.

“I hadn’t seen him for a few months before he died, but we used to talk on the phone all the time.

“I never imagined I would lose my dad at the age of 24, I was in total disbelief and shock when it happened.

“It’s very sad because he died before Richard got the chance to ask him for his blessing to marry me.

“When we got married in 2011 I decided to walk down the aisle by myself, something I never thought I would have to do.”

Her husband also has Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome which causes problems with the electrical system of the heart.

He had to have his heart stopped by doctors three months before they were due to get married to correct his irregular heart beat.

“This is why the BHF is so close to our hearts,” she said, “it’s important for me to to support them and raise what I can after everything we’ve experienced as a family.”

Maxine is now a Humanist Wedding Celebrant, which means she organises and conducts bespoke ceremonies for couples who want their special day to be fun, unique and personal.

Maxine, who lives in Shropshire, said: “Many of my brides and grooms have also lost loved ones to heart disease.

“I felt it was high time I did something to raise money for the BHF, and I’m actually taking some of the brides I’ve married, or will be marrying, with me.

“As well as wedding dresses, which will also be worn by some of the men, some of the ladies are coming in hen night attire.

“Richard is coming with me and he’s in charge of carrying my water and chocolate supply.

“I’ll be wearing a floor length dress with a train, which causes challenges in itself as I’ll probably have to carry it!

“My dad would probably roll his eyes if he knew what I was doing, he was used to my harebrained ideas, but I think he’d be really proud.”