Our wedding story: In a New York state of mind

Emer Lupton & Stephen Harrington

Emer, from Greystones, Co Wicklow, and Stephen, from Galway, met in November 2008 through friends in Dublin. They have two children, Bobby (3) and Pia (2), and got engaged in September 2014 in Portugal on their first holiday abroad as a family.

Stephen proposed on the balcony of their apartment while “the kids were down having their nap – the first quiet moment of the week”.

Emer explains "after exploring a couple of wedding options in Ireland, we both felt they just did not get us excited enough. While planning a trip to New York, we came across stories of other couples who had tied the knot there and suddenly we were both very interested. We decided to travel alone and enjoy this wonderful moment as just Emer and Stephen again – away from the hectic day-to-day of being busy parents."

They booked their flights in April and flew to New York on July 4th. The day after arriving they went to the city clerk’s office and applied for their marriage license.

At 9.30am, on July 6th, a car collected them from the Distrikt Hotel and brought them back to the office where they completed the paperwork, before the "I do's" were declared. The newlyweds walked outside (into 33 degree heat) and "cars were beeping and people were shouting congratulations", says Stephen.

After four nights, they flew home to their children and say, “Our family just feels more complete now that we’re married”.

Photographs: Jasmine Photo, jasminephoto.com