Mark McKeown enlisted the help of his little boy when he proposed to LeAnne Hamill in a very original way. LeAnne said the proposal on November 29 2016 had been ‘very special.’ “Mark got up early and dressed our son in a vest that said ‘Mummy, will you marry my daddy?’ so when I opened his PJs I saw it!” LeAnn, 37, a Preschool Manager from Grange, near Toomebridge and Mark, 38, a joiner from Ballymena, were together for four years before their wedding on May 25th 2018. Although they had known each other through family and friends previously, they met properly on New Year’s Eve 2012 and had their first date a few short weeks later. LeAnne’s ring, a stunning square stone with diamond surround and double diamond band on the sides, came from Murray & Co, Belfast.
She bought her dress at The Wedding Centre, Randalstown, and said she loved every minute of dress shopping! “The dress I wore was actually the second one I tried on. I just fell in love with it the minute I put it on!” she said. Bridesmaids Leah, LeAnne’s daughter; LeAnne’s sister Kerri; and Mark’s sister Claire looked gorgeous in dresses from Lynburn Bridal, Ballymena, as did flowergirl Evie, LeAnne’s niece.
The gents were smartly attired in suits from The Wedding Centre, Randalstown, with the groom’s party made up of Mark’s brother Gary; LeAnne’s brother Denver and Mark’s brother-in-law Noel.
LeAnne is a very organised person, and said she just loved all the planning. The most stressful part was getting people to have things ready in time, she said.
LeAnne and Mark were wed at Phantom House, Galgorm Resort, and hosted a reception for their 95 guests in the resort’s Four Seasons room. There was a romantic/vintage feel to the day, in keeping with the setting of the Phantom House, with small items reflecting romantic/vintage on the guest signing table. In case they had not got their message across, LeAnne and Mark had the word LOVE in very large letters on display at the reception!
Guests enjoyed music from a harpist during both the service and reception. The couple danced their first dance to ‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeran, and this sums up their feelings on their entire wedding day. “It was all perfect!” said LeAnne. “It was one of the best days of our lives apart from our three children being born.”
They added: “It was just an amazing day all round and lovely to have our kids there with us, for both of us.” Their advice to couples planning their own big day: “Enjoy every minute of it, it all goes too fast. Also, take a short time during the day to send alone together!” LeAnne and Mark honeymooned in Benalmadena, Spain. “Life as a married couple is lovely as we feel our family is now complete!” they said.
WEDDING SUPPLIERS INFO
Reception location – Galgorm Resort & Spa
Wedding Dress from – Wedding Centre
Bridesmaids dresses from – Lynburn Bridal
Groomswear from – Wedding Centre
Make-up by – Andrea Hassan
Flowers by – Sally’s
Room Décor by – Galgorm Resort & Spa
Rings from – Murray & Co
Cake by – Gemmas Cakes
Stationery by – Diamond Occasions
Photography by – Michael McKay Photography
Videography by – Motion Media
Entertainment by – The Resolution
