The preparation list for most brides doesn't include a first-aid kit and spare socks.

However bride-to-be Emma-Lily Chubb and her friends were climbing Ben Nevis rather than walking down the aisle.

The group of 18 women and two men climbed the 1,344m-high mountain – the highest in the UK – in bridal dresses, raising more than �3,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Emma-Lily, 24, who took up the challenge with her fianc�, Tomasz Pendleton, 25, and her sister, Eleanor, said: 'One of our honorary men, Richard, lost his mum to motor neurone disease (MND) earlier this year so we were doing this in her memory. The money we raise will go towards providing care and research for other sufferers.

'Walking up Ben Nevis seemed like too easy a challenge, so we thought it would be novel to do it in wedding dresses. But the weather was the worst it's been for weeks and we were being hit by 60mph wind, rain, hail and a wind-chill factor of minus 20C.

'It was much harder than any of us thought it would be, mostly because of the weather. We were all soaked through despite wearing full waterproofs under our dresses. But we're all really pleased with how much we've raised. It was well worth it.'

Tomasz, who lives with Emma-Lily in Connaught Road, Norwich, said the challenge took the group more than eight hours to complete.

'We couldn't stop much because you got so cold,' he said.

'Everyone did really well in awful conditions. It wasn't an easy walk and everybody made it up and down safely, if a bit cold.

'I just hope this is the only case of cold feet Emma-Lily will be getting while in a wedding dress!'

MND is a disease that attacks the brain, leading to a loss of mobility in the limbs and difficulty with speech, swallowing and breathing. About two people in every 100,000 develop MND each year.

To support Emma-Lily and her co-walkers, visit www.justgiving.com and search for 'Ben Nevis in a Wedding Dress'.

Are you doing something unusual for charity? Contact Local Life editor David Freezer on 01603 772418 or email david.freezer@archant.co.uk