Humanist Wedding Ceremony Northern Ireland | Lauren + Daniel

Lauren & Daniel got married on the 3rd of August. The ceremony took place at Belfast Castle with the wedding reception being held at the Leighinmohr House Hotel in Ballymena.

We first met Lauren & Daniel some time ago when we met up with them to discuss their wedding plans. We remember it well because it was a very cold winters day with heavy snow. As we were leaving, our car got stuck in the ice and snow and Lauren & Daniel kindly help us dig it back out again, so we could get home.

Unknown to us at the time Lauren & Daniel didn’t see each other an awful lot over the following year as Lauren was away working in the U.S.A. Off course, being apart for that long was difficult for them both, although Daniel was able to get to the states for a visit.

On the morning of the wedding we met up with Lauren, her bridesmaids and both her and Daniel’s Mum’s at Laurens favourite Hair & Beauty Salon, Luminous Tones in Belfast. The ladies all had a lovely morning getting pampered and afterword’s we left for Lauren’s Mum & Dad’s for everyone to finish getting ready.

We met up with an excited Daniel and his groomsmen at Belfast Castle, with just enough time to grab a few quick photographs before the ceremony. Lauren & Daniel opted for a Humanist wedding ceremony which is a growing trend here after they were made legal in Northern Ireland a year ago. A Humanist wedding involves a non-religious ceremony tailored around what the couple want. Unlike a registrar, rather than the celebrant speaking just about the law around getting married the celebrant shares the couple’s story and it’s a lot more personal. It’s also allows the couple to choose any location they want for the ceremony venue.

After the ceremony Lauren & Daniel had planned for us to shoot the majority of the portraits at Belfast Castle but unfortunately it just wasn’t meant to be. We got about 5-10 minutes with Lauren & Daniel before it started to rain heavily. As the guys only had the use of the Castle for a short time, we couldn’t wait out the rain, although we did manage to get out for a further 5 minutes just before leaving along with the bridesmaid’s and groomsmen. They all did very well, not one one them complained that it was still raining a little.

If this wedding had been a year ago it may have been a little more difficult to get the photographs that Lauren & Daniel had wanted. We have photographed quite a few weddings at the Leighinmohr House Hotel which until recent recently didn’t really have an area that could be used for wedding photography. They now do have a small area which works quite well though, and we where able to make use of it to get the rest of the photographs Lauren & Daniel wanted after waiting out the rain at the hotel.

There was a lot about this wedding we really loved. This was the first time we have photographed a Humanist wedding ceremony and we found it a lot more emotional than a ceremony performed by a registrar. The amazingly real looking road signs Lauren & Daniel got made for decorating the hotel where a big hit with everyone as was the iPad used in place of a signing book.

If you are reading this because you are trying to find a photographer for a wedding at Belfast Castle or the Leighinmohr House Hotel please check out these other amazing weddings we have photographed at these venues as well. Belfast Castle Wedding. Leighinmohr Wedding.