Franco and Graeme’s Engagement Shoot

We just love engagement shoots. They’re a great way for you to relax in front of the camera and get used to having your photos taken so you’ll look picture perfect when it comes to your wedding day. Franco and Graeme took this opportunity to return to the spot where they first met, and Aindréas Lynch from ATL Photography put them at ease and captured their love beautifully. Graeme and Franco shared their story of how they met, their engagement shoot experience, and their wedding plans so far. We’re especially excited because this the first same-sex engagement shoot to be featured on mrs2be.ie.

How we met:

We met almost 7 years ago through our best friend, his 21st. We met outside Break for the Border it had a LGBT night on Tuesdays called Glitz.

First impressions:

We had both spotted each other on two different occasions before this but on that night we were introduced.
Franco: I taught he was very cute and had a lovely smile, quite shy though.
Graeme: Quite skinny but had nice eyes and seemed very genuine and caring.

Our first date:

Apart from the first weekend we saw each other every day but our first proper date alone as we’d always gone out with friends was around eight weeks later when Franco took Graeme out on a surprise meal to the Clarence Hotel after Graeme graduation from NCAD.

The Proposal

This same evening I produced a ring after we had a surprise bottle of champagne brought to table Graeme asked is this a proposal to which I replied what would you say if it was.  I don’t know ask me in a few years he said. Later that evening Graeme brought it up again and we decided we would in a few years. The next time we said it we agreed only if we could have it in Ireland that we would do it in 5years literally 5 years to the day it was passed as law!!!

The Engagement Photo Session

Where and when:

A couple of months ago outside Break for the Border the exact spot where we met officially for the first time. We had wanted a photo of the spot after that the Aindréas directed us, lovely guy to deal with and put us at ease.

Why you chose to have one:

To get to know the our photographer Aindréas and personally (Franco) get used to camera as I’m not very photogenic. I usually end up looking drunk when sober and sober when drunk! We’ve just got the shots back and are really happy with them so we’ll be recommending him. Aindréas will also be photographing our wedding.

Plans for your wedding day so far:

The ceremony will be in the Clarion Hotel Sligo.

Graeme: I’m having my best friend Liam (who introduced us) as bestman and my sister Hazel as bestmaid.

Franco: I’ll be having brother Paraic as my best man and my cousin Sinead as bestmaid.

We’ve been given the outline for the ceremony but we’re tweaking parts like writing our own vows. Graemes cousin is providing a reading or poem and the rest to be finalised. Our DJ Martin Keogh from Discocops is providing music in the venue and we are also having two of my cousins sing as we sign the register.  Martin is a lovely guy to deal with – very professional. We saw him at our friends’ Karen and Suzie’s Civil Partnership and he had the crowd on the floor for the day & late night!!! It was a beautiful day.

Our wedding reception is in the Landmark Hotel Carrick on Shannon. All of the staff and the owner Ciaran there have been exceptional especially Tricia & Emma, the two coordinators – you can see why they’ve won awards. They are very aware that we have a tight budget yet were still inviting 220 people.

It’s a first for the Landmark as they haven’t had a civil partnership before but we really feel it’s just like any other wedding to them, in that everything MUST and WILL be perfect. I come from a very large extended family and infact both myself and Graeme are quite blessed with all love and support we have received from our families. Without them we couldn’t do it. I feel the seven years has also helped them get used to the idea.

Aindréas from ATL photography as previously mentioned puts you at ease and pleasant to deal with also a bit a crack, not uptight like some guys where they make you so nervous.

We are still trying to source our wedding bands/rings. We’re not looking for expensive or flashy, we’re seeking long lasting pieces that we both like.

Our budget is pretty much spent so were undecided about the cake yet or cupcakes haha.

We’ve the girls sorted with dresses and for the guys we have sourced suits – we just need to check fittings. For ourselves we’ve found our suits recently and it all became very real that day for me…… as it was also the day of the shoot with ATL Photography.

This day is a day we thought we may not see as citizens of this country and it’s a day we hope never to forget.

Graeme and Franco have since celebrated their civil partnership,  7 years to the day they met. See the full feature of Franco & Graeme’s Landmark Civil Partnership.