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Ireland is an incredible place to get married. The scenery, the history, the venues, the food, the hospitality, the craic. It is no surprise that couples from Canada, the US and further afield are looking towards Ireland for destination weddings. But if you are planning your wedding here from overseas, there is one thing I would encourage you to think about before you fall in love with a castle, country house or exclusive wedding venue. Do not just plan the wedding day. Plan

There is a strange thing that can happen when you are planning a wedding. You can be absolutely delighted with everything. You have chosen your venue. You have booked suppliers you trust. The plans are coming together. You have made decisions carefully and, for the most part, you are excited about what you are creating. And then something happens. You see another wedding. Someone tells you what they paid. Another bride talks about the incredible deal she got. You discover som

Beech Hill Country House is one of those wedding venues I know from a slightly different perspective. I first walked through its doors as General Manager in the summer of 2021, just as hospitality was beginning to find its feet again after Covid. I left in autumn 2024, after more than three years and hundreds of weddings. Today, I walk through those same doors in a completely different role: as a Humanist wedding celebrant and one of Beech Hill's recommended wedding partners.

How many songs do we actually need for the wedding ceremony? The simple answer is a minimum of three: Your entrance music A piece of music while you sign the marriage schedule Your recessional music as you leave the ceremony But music can add so much more than simply filling those three moments. After more than twenty years working in weddings, first within hospitality and now conducting wedding ceremonies across Northern Ireland, I have seen music completely change the atmos

Every so often you discover somewhere that makes you wonder how on earth you have never been there before. For me this week, that place was Glenlough Bay in Donegal. I had seen photographs, but they really do not prepare you for the scale of the place. The cliffs, the Atlantic stretching out in front of you, the colour of the water and that incredible Donegal landscape all around you. It is absolutely spectacular. The hike itself added considerably to the experience! Quite a

One of the questions I hear most often is: "Who should walk me down the aisle?" The traditional answer is usually, "Your father." But today's weddings are wonderfully different. For some people, that tradition feels exactly right. For others, it simply doesn't reflect their life or their relationships. Perhaps your mum has been your biggest supporter. Maybe a grandparent, an uncle or a sibling has played that role. Perhaps you'd like both parents to walk with you. Or perhaps

One of the questions I am asked most often is, "How do you write a wedding ceremony?" People imagine I sit down with a blank page and begin writing. The truth is, I rarely begin with words. I begin by listening. Every couple has a story. How you met. The first impressions that turned out to be completely wrong. The holidays you'll never forget. The moments that made you laugh until you cried. The difficult chapters that brought you even closer together. None of those stories

People often ask me what I do as a wedding celebrant. The simplest answer is that I write and deliver wedding ceremonies. But that is not how I see it. I see myself as the narrator of your story. When we meet, I am not looking for perfect answers or beautifully rehearsed memories. I am listening for the little moments. The way you met. The stories that still make you laugh. The challenges you've overcome together. The tiny details that only the two of you understand. Those mo

One of the biggest misconceptions I come across is that there is a "correct" way to get married. There isn't. After spending more than two decades in the wedding industry and being involved in over 2,000 weddings, I have learned that every couple starts their wedding planning with one simple question: "What are we supposed to do?" Should we invite everyone? Should we write our own vows? Should we have speeches? Should we get married in a church? Should we elope? Should we fol

There is a common misconception that eloping means running away in secret. Today's elopements are very different. For many couples, they are a conscious choice to celebrate their marriage in a way that feels authentic, relaxed and meaningful. If you're wondering whether an elopement might be the right fit, here are ten signs to look out for. 1. The thought of planning a big wedding feels overwhelming. Not because you cannot organise it, but because it simply does not excite y

When most couples first get in touch, they think they are booking someone to write a ceremony. And yes, that is exactly what I do. I take the time to get to know you, learn your story and create a ceremony that reflects your relationship in a way that feels authentic, personal and completely unique to you. But after being involved in more than 2,000 weddings over the past two decades, I know that my role goes far beyond the words I write. Planning a wedding is exciting, but i

When couples first get in touch, they often think they are booking someone to write a ceremony and stand at the front on the day. Of course, that is part of what I do. But it is only a small part of the journey. Before becoming a wedding celebrant, I spent more than twenty years working behind the scenes in the wedding industry. In total, I have now been involved in well over 2,000 weddings. That experience means that when you book me, you are not simply getting someone to co

If you have never attended a humanist wedding before, you are certainly not alone. One of the questions I am asked most often is, "What actually happens during the ceremony?" The simple answer is that no two ceremonies are ever the same. You may also come across the term belief wedding ceremony. This is the official term used in Northern Ireland's marriage statistics to describe legal ceremonies conducted by accredited belief celebrants, including humanist celebrants. Most co

One of the questions I am asked most often is: "What actually happens on a wedding day?" If you have never been married before, it can feel like a complete mystery. Everyone talks about the ceremony and the first dance, but there are so many little moments in between that make the day flow effortlessly. After spending years working behind the scenes at weddings, and now standing alongside couples as their celebrant, here is a realistic guide to how your day might unfold. 7.00

Most couples have never planned a wedding before. There is no degree in wedding planning. There is no handbook. Yet suddenly you're expected to make decisions about venues, suppliers, guest lists, budgets and family expectations, often whilst continuing with normal life and work. Feeling overwhelmed does not mean you're doing it wrong. In fact, it probably means you're perfectly normal. Wedding planning is emotional, not simply organisational. There are hopes, expectations an

After more than twenty years working in weddings, and having overseen thousands of celebrations in hospitality before becoming a celebrant, I have learned something interesting. Couples rarely remember every detail. They might not remember exactly what colour the napkins were or whether the centrepieces matched the bridesmaids' dresses. What they do remember is how they felt. They remember feeling relaxed. They remember feeling supported. They remember suppliers who made the

Many couples spend months choosing a venue, photographer, florist and dress, but surprisingly few know exactly what a wedding celebrant does. Some assume a celebrant simply turns up and reads a script. In reality, a good celebrant is much more than that. Think of them as part writer, part host, part storyteller and part stage manager. Their role is to make your ceremony feel effortless, enjoyable and deeply personal, while removing as much stress as possible from your shoulde

One of the things I have learned after more than twenty years working in the wedding industry is that couples rarely need more pressure. What they need is reassurance. Planning a wedding is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. Suddenly you are expected to become an event planner, project manager, stylist, diplomat and weather forecaster, all while trying to enjoy being engaged. It is no wonder so many couples tell me they do not know where to start. That is one of the

There is something wonderfully romantic about an elopement. Perhaps it is the sense of adventure, the freedom to do things your own way, or simply the opportunity to focus entirely on each other without the pressure of a large guest list. Over the past few years, intimate weddings and elopements have become increasingly popular. Couples are choosing experiences over expectations and creating days that reflect who they are, rather than trying to please everyone else. One thing

When planning a wedding, couples are often handed lengthy contracts covering everything from timings and payments to cancellation policies and menu choices. On paper, this makes perfect sense. Clear information protects everyone involved and helps avoid misunderstandings. Yet after spending more than twenty years working in weddings, I have learned that information alone is not always enough. Most couples are planning a wedding for the first time. They are balancing work, fam