Our wedding story: "I fell in love sitting on the handlebars of his bike"

Níall (31), a content manager for Red Bull, was born in Dublin, grew up in Miami and met Julie, from Los Angeles, eight years ago when they worked together in a restaurant in Colorado.

“One night he gave me a lift home on his bike,” said Julie, a photographer. “I sat on his handle bars, he cycled me almost five miles to my house. I fell in love.”

Níall proposed three years ago during a night swim in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with a ring he'd kept safe on his little finger. He warned his new fiancée: "Now, don't drop this or my mother will kill me."

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 3

They moved from Wyoming to Ireland in 2013.

On July 23rd Níall and Julie – joined by 18 family members and close friends – were married on the cliff walk in Howth. Matron of honour was Julie’s friend of 26 years, Jamyra Siek.

The bride – who found her dress from US-based BHLDN six months into the engagement – wore navy Tom’s shoes on the cliff and changed into LK Bennett heels for the reception in Cobalt Café on North Great George’ Street.

Níall and Julie did most of the wedding planning on a tight budget but say they couldn’t have pulled it off without the help of friend, stylist Jette Virdi.

Andrew Holmes Catering provided the food and Gypsy Rebel Rabble played at the after-party.

During a trip to Florence in July, the couple had a spontaneous dance on the street to When I Get My Hands on You by the New Basement Tapes, playing off a phone.

Deciding that romantic moment couldn’t be topped, they skipped a first dance on their wedding day.

Their honeymoon was spent in Clare with friends at Deelin Mor Lodge and a trip to the Aran Islands. Photographs: Marta Miklinska, theloafstory.com Sarah Geraghty