True Love Tuesday Rebecca and Gerard McElroy... - Getting Married in Northern Ireland Magazine

For childhood sweethearts Rebecca and Gerard, their wedding day was a decade in the making.Getting together when they were just 15, the pair filled their day with family and had a perfect day in August 2018. Rebecca told us, “We got together when we were at high school in St. Joseph’s Grammar School in Donaghmore. Gerard choose my 21st birthday to propose and when I woke up that Saturday morning I was greeted with flowers, Moet champagne and a build-a-bear wearing a tuxedo in the kitchen. Gerard then produced a square shaped ring encrusted with diamonds that he had chosen from Beaverbrooks in Belfast.” First on Rebecca’s list was dress shopping, which she also found to be the best part of the planning process. “Creative Ideas in Cookstown had a ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ event where they had Dando London dresses on display. They were amazing and I found it very difficult to choose bwteeen two. But in the end, the detachable train, sold my dress to me.” Rebecca’s dress was indeed amazing, with a slim column shape with an illusion neckline and back. To match in with her stunning gown, Rebecca enlisted the help of seamstress Ellen Lambert in Coalisland to design and make, not just her bridesmaids and flower girl dresses, but the mother-of-the-bride outfit too. As a result, the colours all tie in perfectly, and each of the three bridesmaid dresses were custom made with different necklines and simple lace capped sleeves.

Not to be outdone the groom also had his suit tailormade by Dee Graham in Dungannon. His bespoke lightly checked three-piece suit set him apart from his groomsmen who all wore navy suits from Dapper Dudes in Randalstown.
The ties were also custom made by Dee, again keeping the pink colour matching prefectly. With no specific theme the couple allowed the flowers to do the talking, with stunning pastel toned bouquets and table displays from Cottage Flowers in Cookstown. They also had a magnificent four-tiered cake from Gemma’s Cakes in Randalstown which featured a marble tier and beautiful lace icing work on two other tiers. Adding a few special touches however, they splashed out on huge light up initial letters – R&G – as well as a table top sweet cart. Adding a personal touch they had cute ‘Mint to be’ wedding favours in mini mason jars and arranged for the groomsmen to have personalised socks. Their marriage, which was so long in the making, was celebrated in the Holy Trinity Chapel in Cookstown in front of 110 of their nearest and dearest before they hosted a reception at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena. Rebecca reflects, “It was a brilliant day from start to finish but it was over before we knew it! That would be my advice to other couples – don’t stress and enjoy every minute because it goes in so fast.
“We did have a budget but we didn’t stick to it! I say, ‘you only do it once’! “And it was such a wonderful day to have all of our family and friends together to celebrate our day. Evening reception was also great craic with plenty of drinks and dancing!” And now the pair are married a few months, does it feel any different?
“It’s great but takes a while getting used to signing McElroy instead of Maguire! Force of habit. It’s also strange calling other husband/wife, it definitely takes a while to adjust to.”