Laura and Bridie stood next to cream VW camper van in Belfast city centre. Laura leaving her house the morning of the wedding.

Laura and Bridget (Bridie) first met at the gym in 2014. “We got chatting and there was some flirting,” says Laura. “Then one night, in a bar on a gym night out, Bridie planted a first kiss. That was it from then on. Not long later, we were staying in a hotel for my birthday and we were talking about our future. We decided to prove people wrong and we got engaged after five months together!”

Shopping for the dream dress

Laura bought her dress at WED2B’s Belfast store. “The store had literally just reopened after lockdown and I was a little stressed, as the wedding was in less than six months,” she says.

“But Hannah instore was such a lovely girl and she put me at ease. Her customer service was first class and she knew her stuff."

Laura with her dad in the wedding car. Laura being walked down the aisle with her dad.

"The last dress I tried on was Florian and I was so relieved when I found it. I also felt so confident wearing it. The internal corset meant I didn’t need to wear a bra either. I'm large chested, so I was delighted that ‘the girls’ stayed in place the whole day, due to that internal corset and fit!” (For similar styles try Marissa, Rosana or Kayla)

A stylish local venue

The couple chose the Devenish Complex, in Belfast. “We always wanted an informal atmosphere and the venue’s grand ballroom ticked all our boxes for both the ceremony and a party for 140 people,” says Laura.

Laura and Bridie sharing a kiss sat on silver and white chairs

A Belfast humanist wedding 

"We had a humanist ceremony and we had it all in the one room, so guests didn’t have to move rooms or seats,” says Laura.

“It was everyone's first time at a humanist ceremony and it was very relaxed. We decorated the room with candle lanterns and white blossom trees. There was also a white carpet aisle and a birch arch with white drapes and more blossom trees on the stage where we got married.”

Laura and Bridie holding hands smiling and leaving wedding venue

“During the ceremony we had so many laughs and tears about us as a family unit,” says Laura. “Bridie, my wife, sang me down the aisle to a Ronan Keating song, accompanied by Run for Cover, who are two guys on the guitar. It was September and the weather was just perfect. We had a little rain shower but that was that.” 

Drinks, crisps and dancing...

“Straight after the ceremony we left to have some photographs taken in Belfast City centre, while the guests had drinks and Tayto crisp sandwiches,” says Laura. “Then, when we came back, we literally partied!”

Laura and Bridie in Belfast city centre streets

“Favours were macarons in boxes with 'Love is Sweet' written on them, made by the one and only Laura Downie who has won ‘Belfast Wedding Cake Designer of the Year’ many times,” says Laura.

“We also had three separate cakes - carrot, red velvet and lemon and raspberry - also by Laura. Our invites were mini retro vinyl record sleeves with a list of all our entertainment for the day.”

Stood in front of flower wall with words It was always you lit up

“Later, String Ninjas, an electric guitar and violin duo, played for two hours while guests mingled and had a buffet,” says Laura. “It was all informal and relaxed, which is what we wanted. We then had the Collective Wedding Band for a few hours before a DJ played for the reminder of the night.”

Laura and Bridie holding Mrs and Mrs balloons smiling

“The dance floor was packed from start to finish,” says Laura. “This was perfect, as the dance restrictions had just been lifted the day before. After lockdown, everyone let their hair down!”

My top tips…

“Have an open mind and talk to your bridal consultant about your dress,” says Laura.

“I bought a dress I never imagined I would wear and everyone commented, saying that the style was just me. Relax and make the day yours!”

Laura and Bridie cutting the wedding cake smiling at each other

Laura and Bridie’s Dream Team

Photography: Shauna McCullough 

Venue: The Devenish Complex

Wedding dresses Belfast: WED2B

Faux Flowers: Let’s Face It Creations

Crisp sandwich wall: Odds & Vends 

Cakes: Downie's Brownies and Cupcakes

Entertainment: Run for Cover, String Ninjas, The Collective Wedding Band

Stationery: Be Our Guest Designs

Decor: Altered Images.

If you would like your big day to be one of our real weddings like this Belfast humanist wedding please click here to share your story and photos with us and we’ll be in touch. Or click here for more details about WED2B’s bridal shops Belfast