When the laws changed in Northern Ireland for LGBT weddings, Stephanie immediately proposed to Sandra. They wanted to be wife and wife. I have known Stehanie for many years and Have never seen her so happy and relaxed as she was on her wedding day. Weddings are a time of celebration normally but during this strange time we are living in, everyone took the opportunity to celebrate and it was a day of fun, laughter and the odd emotional tear for everyone.

Ribbons from the Humanist Hand Fasting Ceremony as the girls dance down the aisle after saying I do.

The girls chose Orangtree House to hold their Humanist wedding ceremony. Award winning Orange Tree House is a beautiful, private venue nestled on the shores of Strangford Lough in the pretty, historical village of Greyabbey.

Created from a church dating back to the 1820’s, the stone barn style main room, with its original exposed beams, is the perfect setting for a romantic wedding ceremony. The front of the venue is relaxed with amazing views of the water and the Mourne Mountains. The girls stayed in the little quaint cottages in Greyabbey the evening before and got ready there and that is where we met up that morning.

Girls getting ready in the Quaint Rose Cottages in Greyabbley

Stephanie got ready early and left to go to Orangtree House to meet and greet guests as they arrived. She did not want to see the dress before the aisle. Stephanie wore a T-shirt while getting ready that said “Not the Groom” She said every vendor she went to asked them to fill out their details as bride and groom and it was frustrating as she is not a groom. She did not want to wear a wedding dress but also did not want to wear a mans suit. She went for a beutiful ruffle blouse which was feminine and soft. She got her outfit and the two boys suits from Freddie Hatchetts . The girls hairs were styled by Stephanies sister Hilary Muir and Make Up by her niece Clarice Cudden. Sandra is Lithuanian and the girls met at work at SB Chemicals in Lisburn about 11 years ago. They have been together ever since. They were never interested in going for a civil partnership, so were ready to celebrate when the laws changed earlier this year for LGBT weddings. The stunning Sandra chose her vintage styled wedding dress from Divinity Bridal in Lisburn.

Sandra getting ready and leaving from Rose Cottage in Greystone

Sandra completed her delicate look with a posy of flowers from Littlebuds. The posy was a bright and colourful as the day. Filled with sunflowers , fuschia and gyp. It was a wedding bouquet with lots of fragrant flowers included. We were all collected by a luxury White Land Rover from Logybear Car Hire and brought to Orangtree House. All the guests were seated and Sandra was greeted by her son, who walked her down tha aisle. The cermony was celebrated by Humanist Celebrant Sheena Bradley. It was so intimate, emotional and full of joy.

Wedding photography around Orangtree House is filled with photo opportunities. With the water, beautiful stonework, iron gates, all around the front of the building, we popped off or a few minutes for a few shots of the girls before returning to the party to check out room for the reception. Room design was created by Mandalay Weddings. and all of the signs were designed and printed by Rustic Revamps

Wedding photography around Orangetree House

While we were taking some wedding photographs, the guests had so many things to keep them entertained. The atmosphere was created with the melodies of the talented Deborah Bradley of Songbird Wedding Music. The guests had their charicatures drawn by Nuff inc - Northen Irelands most famous charicaturist. We had nuff inc cover our studio opening many years ago and all the family got their portraits framed and they still hang as a happy memory. Its amazing how quickly he can capture your character on paper. What a talent. To keep the sugars as high as the laughs, there was a S;mores table from Rustic Events.

Sunny bright colourful wedding photography at Orangetree House at Stephanie and Sandra’s wedding.

Steph has a very dry sense of humour and I knew she had to be the one to design the menu cards that stated - You will have what Sandra picked for you. The table favours were made by Stephanie as she works in the Chemical Industry and appropriately gave everyone a little bottle of hand sanitiser as a gift as well as a hessian bag filled with hangover cures from plasters, headache tablets, haribos, chocolate, vodka shots. So much detail and love shown to each guest.

The wedding cake was baked by Yummy Mummy Cakes. It was a naked cake which really suited the styling at the event. After the cake cutting and while the room was turned around for the dancing, we made our way outside for some fun with smoke bombs and sparklers. The music was playing, the vodka shots flowing and it was the biggest celebration I have felt part of in a very long time. Congratulations girls on putting on an amazing wedding day for all your family and friends share in your love and celebration.

Creating colourful drama with smoke bombs at the wedding

Sparklers and Sunset Wedding Photography at Orangtree House Wedding

Capturing the video on the day was Purplebox Productions. Check out their highlights video from the day below:

Orangetree House Wedding

Wedding at The Devenish

Family Portraits at Home