Wendy Hughes

Jake and I had already been together for 7 years and I'd given up on him ever proposing! In 2007, we travelled to the Falkland Islands (a remote group of islands off the coast of South America) as he'd accepted a 2 year contract working for the tourist board there. Soon after we arrived, we were enjoying a weekend break at Sea Lion Lodge, an amazing hotel on a very remote island (population 4 humans and approximately ten thousand penguins!).
 
We were wandering along the beach at sunset with our 2 year old daughter Molly, when suddenly Jake dropped to his knees and Molly handed me a shell which was shaped like a ring. Jake had found it in New Zealand months before, and carried it all the way to the Falklands with him, waiting for the right moment. I hadn't realised but Customs had stopped him on arrival and grilled him about importing a shell - luckily they had let him bring it through!
 
My main concern as he popped the question was that he was kneeling in a huge amount of penguin droppings and there was a great big Elephant Seal right behind Molly - but I still said yes of course!
 
Living in such a remote place meant that it was hard for friends and family to make the journey, so we made the decision to wait until the 2 year contract ended so that we could get married back home.
 
We have just moved to Alice Springs and are finally starting to make preparations for the wedding - almost 10 years after we first got together!  - Wendy Hughes and Jake Downing (Alice Springs, NT)