Wedding of the Week: Jetting off pays off for Nicola and Ben

“My nan, Phil McCarthy, who was 91, and has since sadly passed away, made it to the church to see us get married, which had been one of her wishes. This was very special to us.”

Nicola Allen and Ben Warren. Pictures: Seán Sharpe

A pal’s idea to buy a plane ticket and set off on an adventure led Nicola Allen to the other side of the world — and to the love of her life.

Seven years ago, Nicola, from Fenit, Co Kerry, was working as a teacher in London. “But when my childhood friend Laura O’Sullivan suggested I come with her to New Zealand, I made the decision to jet off travelling with her,” she says.