When Matthew and Lorna Lilburn set out to plan their special day, they had a perfect vision in mind that complemented their rural roots and love of the great outdoors. The couple saw this dream wedding realised on the 7th of July 2018 with a beautiful rustic wedding day starting in Killymurris Presbyterian Church in Glarryford, Ballymena and ending with guests dancing the night away at Dufferin Hall in Killyleagh.

Lorna, formerly Coleman from Ballymena, first met Ballinderry-born Matthew at a Scripture Union Camp for teenagers where they were both leading in the summer of 2014. Soon discovering their shared passion for outdoor activities including wakeboarding, mountain biking, hiking and camping, Lorna and Matthew fell for one another and four years later found themselves exchanging vows in front of their closest friends and family.

With Matthew running his own business as a landscape gardener and Lorna, a farmer’s daughter who is now a solicitor based in Belfast, both sharing a love for nature and the outdoors, a rustic wedding with a bohemian feel was a must. Matthew and Lorna carefully selected every detail for the day keeping this dream in mind, from having a small intimate ceremony at the beautiful rural Killymurris Presbyterian Church and selecting a delicious natural naked cake from Rowan Tree Cakes, to capturing picture perfect memories in Delamont Country Park, located just a short drive from their wedding reception at Dufferin Hall.

Helping them weave this theme right through to the very end of the big day, Dufferin Hall gave Matthew and Lorna free rein when it came to decorating the Hall and with that, the venue was transformed into a bohemian den filled with hessian, twinkling fairy lights and soft candlelight. Lorna recalls, “We chose Dufferin because we wanted to go for something a bit different and more relaxed than a formal hotel wedding package.”

After their midday ceremony in Glarryford, the couple captured some breath-taking photographs on the picturesque grounds of Delamont Country Park – made more magical with the stunning views of Strangford Lough serving as the backdrop. Following their wedding photo pictures, the couple travelled a short distance to Dufferin Hall at 4pm to mingle with their guests and enjoy a round of laughter-inducing speeches followed by a delicious dinner catered by the Fatted Calf along with the smooth jazz acoustics of Johnny & the Riviera.

Dufferin’s intimate setting saw the wedding reception in full swing, helping to form one of the couple’s most memorable moments of the day at the top table watching their loved ones celebrate and laugh with one another, making them “very glad we chose to have our wedding the way we did!”

Looking back at her celebrations at Dufferin Hall, Lorna says, “We would definitely recommend Dufferin Hall to other couples looking for something special for their wedding day. It was a very quirky setting (undiscovered as far as our guests were concerned!) and we feel that we wouldn’t have been able to achieve the relaxed vibe we had for our wedding in many other locations in Northern Ireland.”

The team at Dufferin Coaching Inn & Hall would like to extend our best wishes to Matthew and Lorna for a wonderful future together!

Credits:

Ceremony Location: Killymurris Presbyterian Church Glarryford

Photographer: Paul Quinn, Signature Photography

Caterer: The Fatted Calf

Band: Johnny & the Riviera

Flowers: Flowers by Mee

Cake: Rowan Tree Cakes

Hair: Sam Surgenor, Tops Hair & Beauty Studio

Bridal dress: Archive 12

Alterations: Strawberry Lane Designs

Bridesmaid dresses: Chantilly Lace