True Love Tuesday Laura and Stephen... - Getting Married in Northern Ireland Magazine

When the Sands of Time Stood Still

It would take them 11 years to say, ‘I Do’ on their favourite beach but Laura Wilson knew she would marry Stephen Kelly after their very first date…

“It took him a little longer than I thought it would,” laughs Laura, 30. “We were together for five years before he proposed. It may have taken him a little while but Stephen proposed two days before Christmas in the most romantic way and with a little help of the couple’s adorable daughter Brooke. “We had just finished breakfast and I went to sit down when Brooke came into the living room holding a box with Stephen behind her. He got down on one knee and proposed. He said he couldn’t wait until Christmas Day and it was perfect, just the three of us, our wee family. The ring was white gold, princess cut diamond with diamonds along the band. It was perfect, it was me.”

Laura, who works as a bookkeeper, found her dream dress in the very first boutique she visited – Itsall A boutme. “It was the second dress I tried on,” she recalls. “I just knew it was my dress and I felt beautiful in it and it was also comfortable. It was important for me that the shop I went to had dresses for all shapes and sizes and the people were lovely. I went to a few wedding shows, picked up cards and met the people who owned them. I wanted my five bridesmaids, including our nine-year-old daughter, to try on dresses and enjoy the experience.” Laura found her bridesmaids’ dresses from Reflections in Lisburn. She said: “The girls were amazing and had dresses for every one of our bridesmaids to try on in different colours and styles, including Brooke. The flower girl dresses were bought from Peony Bridal in Hillsborough. “I loved this shop; it was so personal and the girl is fantastic,” said Laura.

Laura was accompanied by daughter Brooke, sisters Kelly Bagnall and Karen Portis, niece Shannon Bagnall and Stephen’s niece Gemma Kavanagh. The five maids were accompanied by flower girl nieces Erin Portis and Chloé Kavanagh. The groom, 50, and his two nephews – best man Christopher Kavanagh, groomsman Corey Kavanagh and two page boys – Kyle Portis and Caidyn Kavanagh, who are also nephews, were all kitted out from Debonair in Lisburn. Laura fondly remembers: “Our godson and great nephew, James Bagnall, aged one, gave us our horse shoe, which was from my horse Matilda, who had passed away. It was personalised and beautiful.”

So what makes a couple want to tie the knot on a beach? ”We always wanted to get married on Sandy Port on Ballintoy Beach (County Antrim). We stay up there in a cottage every year and go up at every opportunity as we just love it; it is a very special place for us so being the first ever people to be able to do that and follow our dreams was amazing.” Laura adds: “Everyone thought we were mad getting married on a beach in Northern Ireland as our summer weather isn’t exactly guaranteed.” Despite heavy rain the day before, Laura and Stephen were confident that their perfect beach would grant them their perfect day and they weren’t disappointed. “It was perfect,” cooed Laura. The couple did encounter a few difficulties along the way though, most notably because of their wedding destination. “The council were really helpful but they weren’t sure who had rights to the beach as no one had ever married there before, so it took a long time before we got confirmation that we could marry on it. We were beginning to think we wouldn’t get our dream wedding.”

After a meaningful ceremony at their favourite place, the new Mr and Mrs Kelly celebrated their new marital status at the Marine Hotel in Ballycastle in the company of 75 friends and family. Because of their unique wedding location, Laura and Stephen, a warehouse manager, wanted to merge the outside with the inside when it came to their theme and decor. “We wanted it rustic but elegant,” explained Laura. “We had tree trunk table centres with candles filled with sand and the cake stand to match. We had shells on our cake and the tables were named after beaches on the north coast. Our favours were donations to Macmillan Cancer and Chest, Heart and Stroke Foundation along with bar of rock sweets with, ‘Just Married’ through them.”

Like most brides, Laura was enamoured with how the day went despite suffering a dislocated knee on the morning of her wedding! “It got off to a rocky start, but apart from that, and not getting to wear my beautiful wedding shoes, it was the most amazing day and if I could do it all again I would enjoy every minute just a little bit more as it went by in the blink of an eye.” The couple loved a post box handmade by Laura’s father. “It was gorgeous and so much thought and love was put into it. We also had a photo booth for our guests to have fun with and sweetie cones for the kids.” Laura also has this advice for other brides: “Just relax and enjoy it. It all comes together in the end and if you stress and panic it takes away the fun and excitement. We were so happy. We couldn’t wait to say, ‘I do’.”

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