Above Photo by Leah Haydock Photography

Will You Marry Me?

Hillary & Ben, Madbury, NH

Hillary and I had once seen the Muddy Paw sled dog team tracing long, curving lines in the snowy fields that spread out in front of the Mount Washington Hotel and commented that dog sledding was something we would someday give a try. I arranged a surprise getaway and called the activities desk at the hotel a few days in advance to make a dog sled reservation—and I asked if they could provide me with a brief stop midway through the ride where I would make a certain proposition, to which they wholeheartedly agreed. When the time came for us to go, I ran back to the car, hid the ring in my pocket, and gave an inconspicuous quick nod to Chris, our Musher. As our team of dogs pulled the sled around a bend and into full view of the stately hotel, Chris pulled the brake, I hopped out of the sled and onto one knee, and presented the ring. She said yes.