Gay marriage under the spotlight

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.

Grainne Close and Shannon Sickles

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.

'Homophobia'

"I hoped that by following Grainne and Shannon's story, I would get an insight into what civil partnership would actually mean to them.

"As a heterosexual woman with relatively few gay friends or acquaintances, I wanted to understand what it's like to be gay in a place that has its fair share of homophobia.

"This film is first and foremost a document about what it was like to prepare for the first ever civil partnership in the UK, an emotional rollercoaster journey of setbacks and victories.

"But beyond that, The Wedding is essentially a powerful story about two people who happen to be gay.

"I hope that viewers, regardless of any preconceived notions, will appreciate that there is a universal truth to Grainne and Shannon's story - two people on their wedding day."

'Reward'

Grainne Close says: "The visibility of gay and lesbian people is very important to us.

"It's the only way to change negative attitudes in society. We feel our story is important, and needs to be told.

"If this documentary gives one person the hope or courage to be themselves, then that will be the reward for me."

Shannon Sickels says: "We're very proud of who we are and we feel strongly that there is not enough accurate representation of lesbian and gay people in the media.

"Being part of this documentary is our way of changing that.

"The Wedding' captures a piece of living history for not only the queer community, but Northern Ireland as a whole."