Gay marriage under the spotlight

BBC News UK

A young couple embarked on the most romantic day of their lives as they entered Belfast City Hall to 'tie the knot' on Monday 19 December 2005.

However, when this couple stepped into their wedding venue they stepped into history, becoming the first gay couple in the UK to get 'married' in a civil partnership ceremony.

Instead of a wedding photographer, Ahoghill-born Grainne Close and New Yorker Shannon Sickels had to deal with the world's press and instead of a few confetti-throwing family and friends, they had to deal with a sea of supporters, not to mention a throng of protestors with placards.

Northern Ireland was the last place in the UK to decriminalise homosexuality and while many people welcomed it becoming the first place in the UK to welcome same sex civil partnership, others objected very strongly to the move.

In the new one-off documentary, The Wedding, BBC Northern Ireland is granted exclusive access into the lives of gay couple Grainne and Shannon as they prepare for their momentous day.

The Wedding captures all those pre-nuptial nerves, media attention and on-the-day excitement as the couple lead up to what will be both their 'wedding' day and a historic event.

Producer Natalie Maynes says: "I was absolutely amazed when I first heard that civil partnership was going to be introduced to Northern Ireland, given that homosexuality is such a contentious issue here...

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