It was a Saturday afternoon when two motorbikes sped into an empty church car park in Antrim, writes Nicole Murray.  The two riders, Steve and Mel, saw a sign for a ‘prayer room’ and entered.  Kattie was there.  She welcomed them and listened to their story; how they were over from England on holiday for a week, were going to bike around Northern Ireland and then return to Antrim to be married.  The thing was they needed two witnesses to be present at their ceremony in Antrim Civic Centre…

While Steve and Mel set off to tour ‘our wee country’, we got busy with plans!  Shirley and Leslie were going to the official witnesses, aka ‘the bridesmaids’!  So Shirley set about cleaning her silver mini and putting ribbons on it, while Leslie sorted the flowers. Shirley’s daughter Katie was tasked with getting confetti and Ben had the role of photographer. The five of us were so excited to be a part of a wedding for two strangers, who suddenly felt like friends…

Then came the highlight of the story - the Wedding Day!! The bride and groom arrived in the mini and Ben snapped away with his camera. They looked lovely and the ceremony was beautiful. Steve’s poem brought a tear to the eye of all the girls who were there and we celebrated together as the Registrar announced them as man and wife. Then outside for more photos and confetti. Everyone was filled with joy; such a sunny day and such a joyful occasion.

The seven of us then went to a nearby hotel to toast the happy couple and find out a little bit more about them. It was hard to believe that four days ago we had never met. They told us how they met while Steve taught Mel advanced motor-cycling and how they shared a McDonalds coffee after each lesson. From this their relationship grew.

As we sat in the hotel the manager came over and wished Steve and Mel well. He asked them if they had come to Antrim to get married to be with us - their family and friends. He was shocked when we told him that  five days ago we had never met. I think he thought we were joking…

This story fills me with hope.