Married on top of the world! Australian couple tie the knot on Mount Everest in full wedding attire after gruelling nine-day trek during which they battled freezing temperatures and altitude sickness

  • An Australian couple have tied the knot on Mount Everest after taking their love to new heights
  • Heidi Turunen, 32, originally from Finland, and Tom Rein, 31, from Queensland, embarked on a nine-day trek
  • The couple braved freezing temperatures and altitude sickness on their way to Everest Base Camp
  • They exchanged vows against the backdrop of the tallest mountain in the world at 5380m above sea level

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Every couple dreams of a wedding day to remember but one adventurous Australian pair took their love to new heights by tying the knot on Mount Everest.

Business owner Heidi Turunen, 32, originally from Finland, and carpenter Tom Rein, 31, from Queensland's Bundaberg, embarked on a gruelling nine-day trek through the snow to get married on Mount Everest.

The couple braved freezing temperatures and altitude sickness on their way to Everest Base Camp, where they exchanged their vows against the breathtaking backdrop of the tallest mountain in the world.

Standing 5380m above sea level, the pair added a touch of tradition to the special occasion, with the bride wearing white while the groom looked dapper in a suit.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the newlyweds shared details about their spectacular mountain wedding.

Married on top of the world: Heidi Turunen, 32,  and Tom Rein, 31, exchanged vows on Mount Everest after a nine-day trek

Married on top of the world: Heidi Turunen, 32, and Tom Rein, 31, exchanged vows on Mount Everest after a nine-day trek

Going above and beyond: The newlyweds got married against the stunning backdrop of the world's tallest mountain

Going above and beyond: The newlyweds got married against the stunning backdrop of the world's tallest mountain

After tying the knot against the backdrop of the tallest mountain in the world, the newlyweds travelled to Thailand for their wedding reception where they were joined by their families (pictured in Koh Samui)

After tying the knot against the backdrop of the tallest mountain in the world, the newlyweds travelled to Thailand for their wedding reception where they were joined by their families (pictured in Koh Samui)

Heidi Turunen, 32, originally from Finland, met her now-husband when she was travelling around Australia in 2013

Heidi Turunen, 32, originally from Finland, met her now-husband when she was travelling around Australia in 2013

'We wanted to do the trek completely independently, so we decided to go just two of us, without any trekking group, guides or porter,' she said. 

'We trekked nine days before reaching Everest Base Camp. We didn't have anywhere to get changed into our wedding clothes, so we just had to go behind a big icy rock.

'Tom was covering me with his jacket while I got changed into my dress. I wore a skin colored long thermal underwear - shirt and pants - under my dress and hiking boots.

'After we exchanged our vows, we felt so ecstatic and so proud and relieved that we were able to make it.'

And trekking up the mountain wasn't without its challenges.

'We wholeheartedly enjoyed the whole trek but it was very challenging at times, especially a few days on the way up, we had bad altitude sickness symptoms and we were worried we wouldn't make it to the top,' Heidi said.

'Weather was beautiful every day, except the day we exchanged our vows on Everest Base Camp was very cloudy, cold and it was snowing.

'Most days were pleasant and sunny during the day, but nights were always freezing. After 5000m above sea level the days were quite cold and it was minus degrees.'

The couple who completed the nine-day trek without any  guides, groups or porter  mapped out on their own route for the hike. Heidi said the hearts scribbled on the map shows Mount Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar where they trekked to

The couple who completed the nine-day trek without any guides, groups or porter mapped out on their own route for the hike. Heidi said the hearts scribbled on the map shows Mount Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar where they trekked to

The couple, from Queensland, embarked on a gruelling nine-day trek through the snow to get married on Mount Everest

The couple, from Queensland, embarked on a gruelling nine-day trek through the snow to get married on Mount Everest

The couple initially booked a trip to Nepal after getting engaged. But after joking about getting married on Mount Everest, they decided to turn it into a reality

The couple initially booked a trip to Nepal after getting engaged. But after joking about getting married on Mount Everest, they decided to turn it into a reality

As the couple powered through the extreme weather conditions, they were determined to say 'I do' on top of the world

As the couple powered through the extreme weather conditions, they were determined to say 'I do' on top of the world

Enjoying the moment: The couple were captured in their dream wedding on the top of the world's tallest mountain

Enjoying the moment: The couple were captured in their dream wedding on the top of the world's tallest mountain

As the couple powered through the extreme weather conditions, they were determined to say 'I do' on top of the world.

But as they reached higher altitudes, the pair suffered severe altitude sickness and excruciating headaches.

'Everything felt like a massive effort, even just rolling up our sleeping bags,' Tom said.

'Once we reached over 5000m altitude, Heidi had really bad altitude sickness symptoms and we were told by the locals that if she didn't get better within an hour, we must start trekking back down to lower altitude.

Heidi said: 'I must admit I was worried at this point, I felt so weak, sick and tired, but also there was no way I was going to turn back and not get married. We were so close too, only one day away from reaching the Base Camp.

'So we paid for a "hot" shower, which what was not hot at all, and a hot bowl of garlic soup - a local remedy for altitude sickness - and I began improving almost immediately. So we could push on.'

The couple were freezing from head to toe as they made their way to the top.

'Our whole bodies, hands and faces were freezing off,' she said.

After tying the knot on top of the world's tallest mountain, the couple celebrated their special day with loved ones in Thailand

After tying the knot on top of the world's tallest mountain, the couple celebrated their special day with loved ones in Thailand

The couple shared a tender kiss in Thailand shortly after embarking on a gruelling nine-day trek on Mount Everest

The couple shared a tender kiss in Thailand shortly after embarking on a gruelling nine-day trek on Mount Everest

The bride looked radiant in a stunning white lace wedding gown, finishing her look with a beautiful flower crown
The bride looked radiant in a stunning white lace wedding gown, finishing her look with a beautiful flower crown

The bride looked radiant in a stunning white lace wedding gown, finishing her look with a beautiful flower crown

The couple initially wanted to tie the knot on the summit of Kala Patthar at 6543m.

'But because we were suffering from altitude sickness quite a bit and the day we trekked to Everest Base Camp was snowing the entire day, we were worried we wouldn't make it to Kala Patthar at all,' she said. 

'So we decided to get married on Everest Base Camp instead. However, the following morning after our wedding, we woke up at 3am to see the sky was open and lit with millions of stars. 

'We decided to soldier on and climb to Kala Patthar anyway, to take some more photos with beautiful mountain views and clear sky.'

All of the spectacular photographs were taken by other climbers who got to be a part of the couple's special day.

'There ended up being a lot of other trekkers in our wedding, who happened to be there the same time with us. They were humming the wedding march and cheering us along,' Heidi said.

'Photos on Everest were taken by locals and other climbers with our camera, it was kinda passed around so we could get photos of the event.'

The couple reached the summit of Kala Patthar (pictured) after they exchanged their vows at Everest Base Camp

The couple reached the summit of Kala Patthar (pictured) after they exchanged their vows at Everest Base Camp

Sealed with a kiss: The pair added a touch of tradition to the occasion, with the bride wearing white while the groom looked dapper in a suit

Sealed with a kiss: The pair added a touch of tradition to the occasion, with the bride wearing white while the groom looked dapper in a suit

The pair - who met in 2013 when Heidi was travelling around Australia - got engaged over Christmas in 2014

The pair - who met in 2013 when Heidi was travelling around Australia - got engaged over Christmas in 2014

The pair - who met in 2013 when Heidi was travelling around Australia - got engaged over Christmas in 2014.

'It took us a few more years to actually get married after our engagement [because] we couldn't decide where to get married,' she said.

'We ended up booking a trip to Nepal and wanted to do the Everest Base Camp trek. After booking our trek, we kind of joked about getting married on Mount Everest.

'We [thought we] are quite private people and that would definitely be intimate. The joke turned into serious planning pretty quick and we love it.

'We thought what would be better than to get married on top of the world.'

The pair, who spent nine months preparing for the trip, packed 37 kilograms worth of trekking gear and clothing, including the white wedding gown, veil and suit.

'We packed all the necessary trekking gear and clothes, first aid kit, water purification tablets, cameras and sleeping bags. We also had wedding dress, veil and Tom's suit to carry up,' Heidi said.

'We wanted to make the trip feel extra special and like a bigger achievement, so we decided to carry our own backpacks. Which was the reason we tried to pack as light as possible.'

Despite tying the knot alone on Mount Everest, the couple were able to celebrate their day with family in Thailand

Despite tying the knot alone on Mount Everest, the couple were able to celebrate their day with family in Thailand

The pair packed 37 kilograms worth of their trekking gear and clothing, including the white wedding gown, veil and suit

The pair packed 37 kilograms worth of their trekking gear and clothing, including the white wedding gown, veil and suit

 A wedding day to remember: The couple added a touch of tradition to their special day by wearing their wedding attire

 A wedding day to remember: The couple added a touch of tradition to their special day by wearing their wedding attire

Heidi's backpack weighed around 12 kilograms and Tom's was 25 kilograms.

'12kg didn't sound heavy, but it gets heavy when you carry it six to eight hours a day,' Heidi said.

Before embarking on their trip of a lifetime, the couple trained nine months ahead of the trek.

'We climbed a little hill close to our home, which is only a few hundred metres high, so we did a couple of laps up and down wearing weight vests,' she said.

'We also did running, cycling and weight training. We trained hard five to seven days a week for nine months prior our trip. However, we are very active people and always exercising.'

After exchanging their vows on the world's tallest mountain on October 11, the newlyweds travelled to Koh Samui in Thailand for their wedding reception.

'Our families joined us to celebrate. We had a beautiful reception and a dinner set up on the beach,' she said.

'My dad had the chance to "walk me down the aisle".'

After exchanging their vows on the world's tallest mountain, the newlyweds travelled to Koh Samui (pictured in Thailand)

After exchanging their vows on the world's tallest mountain, the newlyweds travelled to Koh Samui (pictured in Thailand)

Heidi's father had the special opportunity to walk her down the aisle in Thailand after she embarked on her gruelling trek

Heidi's father had the special opportunity to walk her down the aisle in Thailand after she embarked on her gruelling trek

The pair said they were met with shock when they told their loved ones about their mountain wedding trek.

'There was plenty of shock and disbelief and confusion why would we do something like that,' said Heidi, who has lived in Australia for five years and runs her own raw vegan dessert wholesale business Rawlicious Delicious.

'But the ones who really knew us, were excited and said "that is so you". After we got married, lots of people were impressed.'

After fulfilling their dream wedding, the couple are now planning another trip to Nepal for their honeymoon.

'We had our honeymoon before the ceremony in a way, we didn't really have a separate honeymoon after this wedding trip yet,' she said.

'We are already planning our next trip and we are hoping to go back to Nepal and climb another summit and a little bit higher in October. Perhaps that will be our honeymoon.

'We definitely caught a mountain fever and we can't wait to go back.'

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