True Love Tuesdays Taylor-Rae and John Falconer.... - Getting Married in Northern Ireland Magazine

When Love Finds You!

Love isn’t finding someone you can live with, it is finding someone you can’t live without

When Social Media Vlogger and Business Owner Taylor-Rae found Business Owner John online after using a dating app like a lot of couples in this day and age, she didn’t know that her life was about to change. After sending a couple of messages back and forth and then chatting for over 3 hours, the couple just knew there was something there so they arranged a date for the next day and that was it, a love match had definitely been made.

The very romantic proposal took place at home during the first lockdown when during one of their monthly date nights where they get dressed up and take turns cooking. Keeping the romance alive is so much easier when you love being in each others company. The date night in question then took a twist when John dropped to one knee, bringing out a beautiful bespoke engagement ring from Murray & Co saying “covid made me realise that tomorrow is not promised and to live in the moment, right now in this moment I want to marry you”

Wedding plans soon started to take shape and Taylor-Rae knew that she wanted a very glamourous dress that brought drama and knew the exact person to help her would be Roisin McAleenan, a friend who owns Angelica Rose Bridal. Roisin is a true professional and as she has been working with brides for years, Taylor-Rae trusted her implicitly to find her the perfect dress “I felt so at ease trying on different styles of wedding dresses. The dress I had chosen was not my first choice, however Roisin had suggested trying it on and that is when I fell in love, I knew all my dreams were coming true” Taylor-Rae said.

Bridesmaids dresses for best friend Laura Gorman and sister Raegan Hamilton were also from Angelica Rose.

Suits for John and his groomsmen Best Friends Lee Creighton and Chris Martin and Johns son Harry Falconer were all from Freddy Hatchett in Cookstown.

Wanting to have a wedding day that represented the loving couple and was personal to them was made easier when sister in law Carol, John, Harry and Taylor-Rae all put their heads together to come up with ideas. Deciding they wanted the wedding to be about their guests, endless cocktails, prosecco, canapes and food was arranged to be enjoyed in the sun while a saxophonist played, ensuring that their guests were waited on hand and foot.

Having the day at Ballyscullion Park proved to be a great choice when they stepped in to help after the couple were let down by their wedding event company. Admitting that the only part of the day that Taylor-Rae was nervous about was the wedding being streamed live on Facebook. The couple share so much of their lives online they wanted to ensure their followers were able to join them, saying “Our LIVE video was a huge success and received so many positive comments. Our relationship has always been displayed online, we are so proud to have now finally made it as husband and wife”

With a guest list of 100 attending their August 6^th wedding Taylor-Rae and John made sure that all of the guests were treated like Royalty, with their theme and invites featuring the couples very own Royal Crest. Taylor-Rae said “our day began with a sense of magic in the air, as always every bride feels bitten by the bug of love, anticipation and excitement. With our team of hair and make-up artists arriving, I knew I was in safe hands. When ready in my wedding dress, our personal dresser Janine from Attention to Detail chatted me through my final moments which really calmed my nerves. Surrounded by family and my two gorgeous bridesmaids I was ready to take my walk towards my husband to be. Our ceremony was extremely moving, with hundreds tuning in live on Facebook to watch. I could not hold back the tears, with a glance at my husband and step son who both were emotional, I felt my heart racing”. With such a beautiful bride and handsome groom the only way to match them was to have an absolutely amazing wedding with no detail left untouched. Guests enjoyed a Pimp My Ride Prosecco reception with hand served canapes in the strawberry garden, a saxophonist serenaded the group while a cocktail expert created bespoke cocktails along with setting up a beer bath which went down a treat in the summer sun.

A 5 course meal was served in a marquee which was exceptional and had everyone chatting about it. Then when a large pink chocolate fountain arrived with a pop corn machine, nachos, slushie, pick and mix and candy floss stand the guests were transported into a sweet filled blissful state. Following on from their sugar and romance high a firework display started which surprised the guests, even more so when the gourmet pork sliders along with pizza and chip cones were served around a fire pit while the band played classic tunes, sweet treats were supplied by the newly arrived ice cream van. “The energy was electric and everyone enjoyed the full day” Taylor-Rae and John said.

Planning and implementing a day beyond everyones expectations put the couple over their budget, but when so much thought and love has gone into making the day perfect it was money well spent.

Taylor-Rae said that “the best of my day was not only about John and I, it was also about me becoming Harry’s official step-mum, my highlight was when he asked to say a speech when no-one expected him to. At 14 years of age, he makes me so proud every single day and in that moment when he said ‘Thank you for making my dad happy’ I realised that I now have a chosen family that I can love forever. Our home is filled with nothing but love and two crazy pet monkeys!” John said his “highlight was seeing Taylor-Rae for the first time, there was that locked eye moment as she walked towards me, surrounded by the people we love the most, with the sun shining, it was like a scene from a movie”.

The couple agreed that the only thing they would do differently would be to not worry so much. “I am an over thinker, however everything worked itself out! It always does” Taylor-Rae said. Before heading of on a minimoon to Tenerife the couple gave this advice to couples planning their own day “take your time, do your research and love every minute of it! You are together for a reason and that reason is love. Embrace the memories that you make along the way”

Finding married life comforting, they said “it is great to know that we made it, with the age gap we were both doubted and judged, however, we always knew what we had and I feel like our song ‘still the one’ was very fitting for our first dance”

The blissfully happy married couple plan to travel to Florida in November for a honeymoon and off course taking a trip to Disneyworld for Star Wars loving John.