History was made this week as the first ever same-sex marriage took place in Northern Ireland.
Robyn Peoples, 26, and Sharni Edwards, 27 were the first couple to tie the knot after the landmark ruling that took place last year was finally actioned, allowing partners of the same sex to wed.
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Robyn, a care worker, and Sharni, a waitress, were married on Tuesday on their six year anniversary. The couple originally applied for a civil ceremony, but applied for a wedding when it became clear they could take place in Northern Ireland this week.
On 22nd October 2019, the Irish nation decriminalised same sex marriage and abortion, in a poignant ruling after decades of tireless campaigning from supporters.
The law officially changed on 13th January 2020, but couples had to register 28 days before their wedding, making Robyn and Sharni's the first in history.
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Northern Ireland followed suit of the rest of the United Kingdom, with same sex marriage legalised in England, Scotland and Wales in 2014. Same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland has been legal since November 2015.
Robyn, who works in Belfast, said about the marriage: "Our love is personal, but the law which said we couldn't marry was political.
"We are delighted that with our wedding, we can now say that those days are over.
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"While this campaign ends with Sharni and I saying 'I do', it started with people saying 'No' to inequality. By standing together, we've made history."
Sharni, from Brighton, added: "We feel humbled that our wedding is a landmark moment for equal rights in Northern Ireland.
"We didn't set out to make history - we just fell in love."
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When asked why they thought it had taken so long for Northern Ireland to follow suit, Robyn said: "Our politicians. It's been a religious battle between them, and not really very human so they sort of battled between each other and it took Westminster to push it forward and here we are, it's happened."
Congratulations guys!
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