But she did have to trek all the way up to the top of Ben Nevis to join him.

And then their colourful wedding on the mountain summit in the afternoon certainly stopped hundreds of walkers, locals and tourists, in their tracks.

In a high-level humanist marriage ceremony, Samantha Hobbs, in a below-the-knee pink and white dress and white walking boots, and tartan-clad Stewart Campbell, both from Lancaster, tied the knot on top of Britain's highest mountain.

Although both bride and groom are keen walkers, they hadn't been up the Ben before.

In fact, the only member of the wedding party who had previously scaled the 4,406 feet mountain was kilted Ken McMillan, an Edinburgh driving instructor who was conducting the service.

Lancashire lass Samantha, an art teacher, and welder/fabricator Stewart, whose parents are Scottish, made a Highland weekend of it, holding their reception at Glengarry Castle Hotel near Invergarry.

Everyone had been eagerly looking forward to the wedding at this exalted mountain venue.

And at 9am, the groom, his best man Henry – Stewart's 16-year-old son from a previous marriage – pageboy Kyle and humanist celebrant Ken, set off from the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre to start the trek up the Ben.

Following in their footsteps half an hour later, in order not to meet her fiance en route, was the bride with her dad David and good friend Glynn, who was a wedding witness, along with Henry.

They all allowed three-and-a-half hours for the ascent but the bride's group took nearly twice that time to reach the summit.

However, Stewart was kept in touch with Samantha's whereabouts on the Ben, thanks to the scores of walkers and climbers who reached the summit before him and who gave him a progress report.

The weather at the top of the Ben was cloudy but warm, with not much wind.

After everyone got their breath back on the summit plateau, the ceremony started at 4pm. Ken McMillan gave an introduction and welcomed everybody to the unique location.

Stewart and Samantha tie the knot on top of Ben Nevis. Iain Ferguson, The Write Image

Samantha and Stewart had asked for a "hand-fasting" as part of the ceremony. So their hands were bound with two cords and a loose knot formed to symbolise the coming together of the bride and groom.

The couple then exchanged symbolic gifts as personal statements that they wish to look after one another and respect one another's interests and hobbies.

Then came the marriage vows and the exchange of rings, followed by Ken declaring the couple to be husband and wife.

After the hugs and handshakes and cheering and applause had subsided a little, Samantha and Stewart, Ken, Henry and Glynn signed the marriage schedule.

This was followed by the toasts to the happiness of the newlyweds, with malt whisky quaffed from a large silver quaich.

To close the ceremony, Ken read a short poem, and said a few congratulatory words and then a wee drop more whisky was dispensed.

Ken said: "This was a splendid occasion, and there were so many people of every nationality watching the wedding at the top of Ben Nevis that it was busier than Princes Street, Edinburgh."

And the happy couple?

When she had got her breath back, Samantha said: "It has been a really great day. We were a wee bit slower coming up the track than we intended. So I was a little afraid Stewart might be worried about the delay."

But Stewart was delighted.

"It has been an absolutely beautiful day," he said. "I'm really glad we chose to get wed on Ben Nevis. It's been brilliant.

"And Ken McMillan was absolutely great, so patient, and he carried out a wonderful service."

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