Best seat in the house!

It was a ‘ lightbulb’ moment which led Louth woman Lorraine McCarthy to a new career as a family celebrant.

The Ardee native is set to appear on RTE Nationwide next week as the lead celebrant at a wedding in the Woodside Chapel, Castlebellingham.

‘Nationwide came to film a ceremony in the beautiful surroundings at Woodside Chapel for a special programme they are broadcasting next week.’

The bride and groom just happened to be Lorraine’s sister Eimear and her new husband Kieran, who had already had a church wedding in Spain.

‘I always had an interest in the wedding world, and even thought about working as a wedding planner,’ Lorraine told the Argus.

‘But our son was still very young, and needed help with his schooling, so I put my dream job on hold for years.

‘My light bulb moment happened whilst on a road trip with my husband when I heard a guy on the radio mention that he was a wedding celebrant,’ she recalls.

‘It just happened that the timing was perfect - our son was in his final year at school, and I would have the opportunity to go for it.’

‘I researched the different options available and enrolled the following week to do an interview for the course in Dublin and the rest as they say is history!’

Now fully accredited as a commendation civil celebrant and a member of the Irish Celebrants Association, Lorraine says her work takes her to the ‘very heart of a couple’s special day.’

‘I always says that I have the best seat in the house! There is so much joy and love, as each couple can design their day exactly the way they want it.’

Lorraine also works as a celebrant for funerals and cremation ceremonies, and life landmarks such as ‘coming of age’ events, and other family gatherings.

For further information and bookings contact Lorraine through her website www.celebrantireland.ie or her facebook page ‘Celebrant Ireland’

Lorraine will appear on RTE 1 Nationwide on Wednesday next, January 3rd at 7pm.