A couple from a Co Antrim seaside town are mounting a landmark legal challenge to allow them to marry in a humanist ceremony on a Devon beach at the end of this month.
Jennifer McCalmont and Finbar Graham from Carrickfergus want the High Court in London to grant legal recognition to the non-religious service in England and Wales.
The couple want to marry at the beach on the south coast of England where they first went on holiday together, which is close to where Ms McCalmont's parents live.
The first legally-recognised humanist ceremony in Northern Ireland took place in 2017 when model and activist Laura Lacole married professional footballer Eunan O'Kane after they took a legal challenge to change the law.
No other couples were able to do so as then attorney general John Larkin appealed the decision, however, it was upheld in June 2018 by the Court of Appeal.
Ms McCalmont and Mr Graham said they want their wedding ceremony in Devon because it is the most meaningful location for them - an intrinsic part of humanist weddings is the creation of a ceremony `that best reflects who the couple is'.
In England and Wales, more than 1,000 couples a year have humanist weddings without legal recognition, with a separate civil marriage to allow their union to be legally recognised.
The couple said in a statement: "We fell in love with the beach and we want it to be part of our special day. Not being able to have the ceremony we want will undoubtedly undermine the significance of the day and devalue our beliefs. The current law discriminates against us as humanists."
They are the only Northern Ireland couple among six taking the legal challenge to compel the UK Government to bring the law in line with Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the full hearing to take place next week.
The couple said: "We come from two separate religious backgrounds which neither of us practices and so we didn’t want to be hypocritical in having a religious ceremony."
Their solicitor Ciaran Moynagh of Phoenix Law, said "the time for asking to be accommodated is over".
"The courts are now the only appropriate and realistic method of moving this issue on. Following a successful case in Northern Ireland momentum is on our side and I believe couples who look forward to a legally recognised humanist ceremony should take great heart and hope from that."
