True Love Tuesday: Clare & Brian- It's All In The Chemistry

Good evening brides-to-be! Hopefully you’re week is going well and you’re ready for a lovely hit of stylish wedding inspiration! Thanks to Photography by Marc Lawson for sharing this chic city centre wedding with us.

It was thanks to a mutual friend setting up a blind date in Cutter Wharf that our chemistry loving couple, Clare and Brian first met.

“From our first meeting we were very comfortable with each other with a great deal in common including a love of sport and craic. Ironically we both studied at QUB together in the 90s but never met so it may have been destiny that we didn’t meet until 20yrs later!” said Clare.

Two years into their relationship, during a holiday in Rome, Brian popped the question beside the Trevi Fountain. On their return to Belfast they visited their good friends at Gardiner Brothers who helped design and make the engagement ring, which featured a stunning oval diamond between two pear diamonds.

When it came to planning their day, Clare and Brian were keep to inject their personality and a little fun into the formalities of the day, so went with a chemistry theme, as Brian is a chemistry teacher.

The couple had a first look in the grounds of Queens University, a special place to both of them as they had studied here, whilst their ceremony took place in Belfast City Hall, before heading to The Merchant Hotel for their blessing and reception.

Clare wore a stunning bridal gown by Lebanese couturier Gemy Maalouf which she found in Forever Bridal, Finaghy.

“I fell in love with the simplicity of the silk design which had a cut away back framed with Swarovski crystals,” added Clare.

“Our reception tables at the Merchant Hotel were given a chemical symbol each as their names, we used conical flasks for water jugs and beakers for glasses along with mints in test tubes as our wedding favours. Brian also carried out a chemical experiment during our wedding blessing where he fused two chemicals together that cannot be separated. Brian also wore chemical symbol cufflinks on the big day too,” explained Clare.

“Looking back I’m not sure how I managed to plan the wedding for June when our little baby Matthew was only born in March! But, Clare Coyle, our wedding planner at the hotel was amazing. She took our ideas onboard and ensured everything went smoothly on the day,” said Clare.

The day was full of memorable moments including their very personal wedding blessing in the Merchant, enjoying canapés on the hotel’s rooftop, meeting Robbie Williams band and having their photos taken around the grounds of Queens University.

After their amazing day, Clare and Brian headed to Lough Eske Hotel in Donegal for a minimoon and are planning a trip further a field for the autumn, when baby Matthew is a little older.