This is the special moment a couple got married at a popular city centre venue in the first wedding post lockdown.

Siobhan Gleeson from Ireland and Chris McGarvie from Wirral, tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at Hope Street Hotel on Saturday, July 11.

They were the first couple to get married at the city centre venue since lockdown restrictions were eased by the government earlier this month.

The pair who had initially invited around 50 guests to attend the ceremony and 100 guests in the evening, celebrated the day with a total of eight family members and friends.

Despite the restrictions caused by coronavirus, Siobhan who walked herself down the aisle, said it did not take away from the day, and if anything made it "even more special."

Siobhan told the ECHO: "Lockdown started in March and we had planned to get married in July. Everything was so uncertain and we anticipated that it wasn't going to go ahead so we were feeling upset about that.

"The closer it came to the wedding myself and my husband spoke about it and he's ever the optimist.

"He said 'I just want to marry you' and that melted my heart, so we decided that's what we would do."

Siobhan said: "When we rang the hotel they said we'd given them something to look forward to, which I thought was really nice.

"My husband's brother was his best man and his parents were able to assist and for myself my best friend was my maid of honour and my sister and her partner flew over from Ireland, so that was really lovely.

"I think it was more special. It was so intimate and the hotel were fantastic.

"They made everything so easy, I can't order highly enough of them."


On the day itself, the couple and their guests had to abide by social distancing and Siobhan walked herself down the aisle.

Other rules included washing their hands before the ceremony, while the rings were sanitised and placed in a dish at the alter.

Siobhan said: "We had to abide by social distancing at the ceremony which was in a beautiful room in the hotel.

"I had to walk myself down the aisle. It was something that was important to me to do.

"It was a bit scary not having anyone walk in front of me but it felt quite empowering like a feminist move."


She added: "The rings were sanitised prior to being put on our fingers and no one was allowed to touch them. They were placed in a dish.

"We couldn't have a DJ so the hotel told make a playlist on our Spotify to give to them. I didn't have to worry about a thing, they made everything so easy.

Siobhan said: "What I would say to other people is 'what is the most important thing?'

"Before lockdown I was getting really het up about invitations and other superfluous things, when actually when it came down to it, it was marrying the person that I love - that is ultimately what it's about.

"The wedding business can be materialistic and it was nice that our day was stripping back from that and it was still really special."

Hope Street Hotel are reopening on July 22, but reopened the fifth floor two weeks early to accommodate the couple's special day.