Beating the royals

YOUR wedding day is supposed to be one of the biggest days of your life.

Many brides readily admit that they have been planning every detail of it since they were a little girl. But what happens if you have to share your special date — Friday, April 29, — with Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton?

Are you worried that your special day might be overshadowed by the royal festivities? That your guests may prefer to watch the “other” couple walk down the aisle? Do you try to compete with them, ignore it, or laugh at it? Three couples talk about their plans and their determination not to allow that royal wedding detract from the happiest day of their lives.

Niamh Smith and Hamish Gillespie

When Niamh Smith heard that Prince William and Kate Middleton had “copied” them and chosen the same wedding date, she was initially unhappy, worried that many of her guests might want to stay in London to enjoy the royal festivities.

“But they all said they were dying to get out of London, that it would be crazy,” she says. “The fact that now everyone has a bank holiday and can make a long weekend of it at our wedding is just brilliant.”

So will Niamh watch that “other couple” on her big day? “I might have it on in the background as I get ready, just to have a look, but hey, no pressure,” she laughs.

“I am sure it will be mentioned in the speeches, there must be a few easy jokes, especially as Hamish used to be a bit of a Prince William look-a-like, so its quite ironic we are getting married on the same day.”

When Niamh’s boyfriend Hamish Gillespie suggested that they spend their third anniversary together climbing Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain, to fulfil his lifetime’s dream, she reluctantly agreed.

After a long and tiring four-hour climb, they finally reached the summit, and at the very top, Hamish went down on one-knee, held out his signet ring and proposed to Niamh.

“I was so surprised, it was just so lovely. I told him I had never been so sure about anything in my life,” she says. “We celebrated with a little bottle of Ben Nevis whisky, that we had in our packed lunch.”

Niamh, 30, a textile designer from Kingscourt, Co. Cavan, met Hamish, 31, a financial controller from Hazelmere Surrey, in June 2007 through his best friend, whom she had met whilst travelling around South America.

“It was love at first sight, that’s what he says, but we had had a few drinks,” she says, laughing. Hamish agrees, adding that he was attracted by Niamh’s “amazing red hair”. Their wedding is at Clonabreany House, Crossakiel, County Meath.

“The only downside is that we are not able to make the street party being held in our road in London, but I would not change it for anything in the world,” she adds.

Maria Gunn and Brian Kelleher

Maria Gunn’s fiancée Brian Kelleher is delighted that they are sharing the same wedding date with the royals, as he knows now he will never, ever forget their anniversary — thanks to Prince William.

“Brian says it’s great, he’ll always be reminded by Prince William and the media when it’s our anniversary. No excuses,” she says, laughing.

Although Maria says she won’t be watching the royal wedding as she will be too busy getting ready, she is sure there will be plenty of jokes about it on the day.

“I am sure there will be a few jokes in the speeches about the royals, but I don’t mind,” she says. “I think every bride feels like a princess on their wedding day and every groom feels like a prince.”

Purely by chance Maria’s colour theme is a royal blue, the same shade as Kate Middleton’s engagement dress, so she is confident the royals’ will be different.

“Everything was organised, long before they even announced their engagement, but I am happy that they won’t have the same colour theme as me,” she adds.

After 11 years together, Brian, 31, a construction engineer from Rooskey, Co. Mayo, proposed to Maria, 30, an architect from Lucan, Co. Dublin, last February as they walked down the Corniche Broadwalk in Abu Dhabi.

Back home, on the way to tell Brian’s family, they stopped off at Kilronan Castle in Co. Roscommon and fell in love with it, agreeing it was their perfect wedding venue. Then they chose Friday, April 29, as their wedding date because they hoped the weather would be good.

“When William and Kate announced their engagement, I joked with Brian saying I bet they get married on the same day as us, not thinking that they would,” she says.

“But I certainly don’t feel that my thunder has been stolen, or overshadowed by them.”

Leah Daly and Niall Garry

When Leah Daly and her fiance Niall Garry heard that they were sharing their wedding date with Prince William and Kate Middleton, they thought it was “great’ and would make it an unforgettable day.

“I think it is great that we are sharing it with the Royal family,” says Leah. “It’s a nice little pun, that there will be more than one princess on that day.

“People will never forget our day and I am sure my Mam will have china made with our faces on it, just like William and Kate. She can be the Queen Mam for the day.”

Although several elderly relatives have suggested they might try and watch some of the royal festivies, Leah, 25, says the television at her reception in the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore, will definitely be switched off.

“I’d say our wedding might go on a bit longer than theirs, it will probably be a bit wilder and definitely it will be better craic,” she says.

Leah, a trainee teacher, met Niall, 27, a construction civil engineer, both from Tullamore, Co. Offaly, four years ago when he drove her and her sister home and she was very critical of his driving.

“I gave out to him for driving too fast,” she recalls. “Then a couple of weeks later, on my birthday, he came over and apologised. I had sworn off men for the rest of my life, but we just got chatting, he’s very down to earth and we just clicked. We have never been apart since.”

On Christmas Eve 2009, Niall met her after work and insisted that they returned to his house because he wanted to check he had set the burglar alarm.

“I was giving out as I wanted to go back to my house and change, but when we got to his house he had it all set up like a restaurant, there were candles and flowers everywhere,” she says.

Niall went down on one knee and proposed. He had already asked her parents’ permission and had bought the engagement ring he knew Leah wanted.

“It was very romantic,” she says.

“We are a very good team and we are so happy.

“I can’t believe the day has come round so quickly.”