Hayley & Alan

1. The Décor  

Northern Ireland’s most iconic wedding venue, The Loft is an exclusive-use venue offering an environment of unabridged luxury. Come see for yourself! 

2. Social Dining Experience

Enjoy your first meal as newlyweds with up to 140 of your family and friends gathered in this one-of-a-kind setting. A unique feasting menu celebrates the joining of two families through a social dining experience.

3. Personal and Heartfelt Service

The Loft’s team of wedding planning experts are proud to do things differently, with all the character and charm of a luxurious wedding setting, couples can expect heartfelt personal service paired with a relaxed, easy-going atmosphere. 

4. The Food

Enjoy a unique twist on a traditional wedding feast. Think sharing boards, dinner served from the pantry and delicious desserts. 

5. On-site Ceremonies

Walking down the aisle is one of the most important moments of your big day. Our beautifully intimate Boathouse Ceremony room sits lakeside and reflects the rustic charm and natural warmth of the Loft. Hosting your nearest and dearest, this elegant setting is the perfect space to say your I Do’s. Licensed for civil ceremonies, partnerships, blessings, and renewals of vows. 

6. Unique Enhancements  

The Loft’s enhancement features are perfect for those wishing to step it up a notch. From a grazing table and canapes to a candy, gin, or cigar & whiskey cart and more, make the day yours. 

7. The Showstopping Spa at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat

Exuding a mix of sophisticated luxury and Bohemian glam, The Spa promises luxurious facilities, laid-back Balearic vibes and a chilled party playlist to match, making it the perfect spot for post-wedding celebrations. If you want to celebrate day two in style, enjoy a dinner in the cosy surrounds of The Restaurant, or BBQ after a day of lounging around The Spa or pool party for an unforgettable night– keep the good times going with endless options available.

THE HAPPY COUPLE

Tell us a little about how you met & talk us through the proposal

Connor and I met in April 2012. I was living in Australia at the time, and I came home for a friend’s wedding. Connor had become friends with all our mutual friends while I had been living away. We met on Good Friday in Filthy McNasty’s. Connor hadn’t intended on being out as he had been out the night before and had a football match the next morning. However, upon getting to know me he decided to stay and later that night we had our first cheeky kiss. Unfortunately, I went back to Australia, but we kept in contact while I was away. Fast forward to August 2012 and I booked Connor a one way ticket to Melbourne to come join me. We then moved back home to Belfast in 2013. Connor took me to NYC in Jan 2017 as a 30th Birthday present. One night he decided to take me on a midnight walk in Central Park. When we got there, it was -4 degrees the ground was covered in snow and ice. We came to a bank by the lake in central park, the water was completely frozen over. Connor asked me to grab a stone to break the ice and as I turned round there was the big eejit on his knee with a ring and asked me to marry him. I initially laughed until he said “Hurry up my knees cold” and of course I said yes!!

YOUR DAY, YOUR WAY

Ceremony

We had a beautiful Humanist Ceremony with our amazing Celebrant Ciara Turley in the stunning Boat House ceremony room in the grounds of The Rabbit Hotel. We couldn’t recommend our celebrant enough Ciara is truly one beautiful lady and she made the whole ceremony so special and personalised. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. The Boat House was just the most stunning location for our ceremony too, so cosy and beautifully decorated.

What made you choose The Loft to host your day?

When we finally decided to book our wedding and search for the perfect venue The Loft was top of our list. From initial contact the staff couldn’t be more accommodating from trying to schedule in a viewing time that would suit us and even on our first visit to The Loft. When we seen the space we just knew it was the perfect space for us. The room was so beautifully decorated that we didn’t need to do anything to it, this took that whole stress away from us. The wedding package they offered just had everything that we wanted to be included. The location of the venue was also perfect as it was close enough to Belfast and the airport for our guests to easily travel to and from. The whole place was just completely our vibe.

Favourite memory of your Wedding

The ceremony was highlight for us it was such an emotional and special moment that we got to share with all our closest friends and family. Also the food at the reception was absolutely outstanding, we’ve had so many comments from our guests about how good the food was. We also loved the attention to detail and help the staff gave us on our day from start to finish. Our hands were never empty without a drink! Special mention to Claire and Chloe who literally couldn’t have done anymore for us thank you so so much you girls are complete angels!

SHOUT OUT TO THE DREAM TEAM

Wedding Stationery

Wedding Sign by Courtney Rush, Crush Art

Cake

Claire @ Lily Pink Bakery

Flowers

All Seasons Belfast

Entertainment

Rachel Toman, Band was The Hallions, DJ was Conor Harding

Photographer

Laura Curran

Videographer

Bobkin Film

Favours

Glowsticks and mini disco balls

Wedding Dress & Accessories

Archive 12 designer Bonbride Veil and earrings Blue Meadow Bridal

Bridesmaid’s Dresses

Silk Fred

Groomswear

Red Groomswear Belfast

THE GLAM SQUAD

Makeup

Hunibex

Hair

Judith McKay (Andrew Mulvenna)

The Happy Couple

We met in a nightclub in Belfast back in 2014 through our friends. After months of dating Nathan asked me to be his girlfriend and I panicked and said no, then changed my mind a week later and said yes (lol)! Who would have thought we would be married 9 years later. We went to Finnlough for an overnight in September 2021 and Nathan proposed that evening after dinner with candles, rose petals, bubbly and lots of photos of us and our daughter displayed. It was just perfect!

Favourite memory of your wedding day

It’s hard to choose one specific memory as the whole day was literally just amazing, which was mainly down to The Loft wedding planners and the staff who were so attentive. The food was also out of this world! Walking up the aisle surrounded by our nearest and dearest with Nathan waiting at the top was a big highlight for me. Also my first dance with my dad, he made a slideshow of photos from I was a child and went to a recording studio and sang a song which got recorded to play over the slideshow, it had everyone in tears!

SHOUT OUT TO THE DREAM TEAM

Wedding stationary

Ryan Patrick design

Cake 

Connie Thompson Cake Design

Flowers

Blooming Events NI

Entertainment

Matty Rea

DJ Magiggs

Cars

Star Car Hire

Photographer

Pop Photography NI

Videographer

Take Two Studio

Favours

Debra & Nathan did bookie dockets for the races & a donation to  sands charity

Wedding dress

Eden bridal

Bridesmaids dresses

Eden bridal

Groomswear

Red Belfast

THE GLAM SQUAD

Makeup

Emma swift @ Studio 8

Hair

Lynda Crawford @ Looloos Cabin

The Happy Couple

Tell us a little about how you met & talk us through the proposal

We met at work in 2015 and officially started “going out” in February 2016. We bought our house together in Portrush in 2018, survived a pandemic and got a puppy (Jax, a Soft Coated Irish Wheaten Terrier) before getting engaged in June 2021. It was the evening before my 28th birthday and we went for a walk with Jax as we normally do, although Roo said we were going for a picnic for my birthday which was the reason for the large backpack he was carrying. We walked along Whiterocks beach and up to the bench that overlooks the coast alongside the fifth green at Royal Portrush Golf Club (Roo has been a member since he was child and I have followed many rounds of golf here)! Roo set out an M&S picnic and a bottle of champagne (which I thought was a bit much as it wasn’t a big birthday, but I wasn’t complaining)! When I was mid breadstick and hummus, I looked round to see Roo down on one knee as the sun started to set, Jax was sitting beside him totally oblivious as to what was going on! Restaurants and bars had only just opened again after lockdown the weekend prior so we were able to celebrate properly in the weeks after!

Your Day, Your Way

Ceremony

We had our ceremony onsite in The Boat House, very fitting as Roo is a volunteer RNLI crew member. A friend of ours conducted the ceremony which added a lovely personal touch and put us at ease. We knew we wanted a short ceremony as we were keen to make the most of the day with all our guests.

What made you choose The Loft to host your day?

The venue is just stunning, we were already sold on the venue before viewing it just from pictures alone, but the team were also so helpful and lovely which was a bonus. We knew we wanted a venue with accommodation onsite but didn’t want a typical hotel or function room style wedding. The Loft was just perfect, and the banquet tables and décor of the room sold it for us, everything was just so easy too. Shoutout to our lovely wedding planner, Claire Graham, for her help on the lead up!

Favourite memory of your Wedding

Spending time with our friends and family! We also loved to be able to stay at the venue for 3 nights, getting ready there that morning and having a day two BBQ with some time to relax in the Spa too. We can’t wait to go back again.

Shout Out to the Dream Team 

Wedding Stationery

We did online wedding invites through Greenvelope

Cake

Angel Cake Bakery

Flowers

Pixie and Piper Flowers NI

Entertainment

Aria String Quartet for ceremony and drinks reception, Anna’s Number were our band & Darran Wallace from Northern Lights Event Hire was our DJ. Take 3 performed at our day two.

Photographer

LIT Photography NI

Videographer

Forever Endeavour Films

Wedding Dress & Accessories

Pippa Bridal, Rainbow Club, Lily & Roo and Astrid and Miu

Bridesmaid’s Dresses

Six Stories

Groomswear

McCalls of Lisburn

THE GLAM SQUAD

Makeup

Sian Sutherland

Nails

Holly from The Beauty Bar, Coleraine

Hair

My friend Chloe and her colleague (also Chloe!) from Chloe’s Hair Studio, Coleraine