THE wedding of a Co Derry couple, which saw the bride sing in Swahili during the Mass, is to be featured in a new programme on RTE One.
The Irish Wedding, which is due to be broadcast on Monday night, features a diverse range of weddings from counties around Ireland.
Directed by Alex Fegan, it captures everything from the pre-wedding nerves and affection of the first kiss to the humour of the speeches.
Among the couples featured is Aileen and Liam Kerrigan.
Aileen (34), a sales executive for The Irish News, who is from Bellaghy, married bricklayer, Liam (37), from Moneyglass, on December 12, 2020.
Family and friends of the couple came together for the Mass at St Mary's Chapel in Bellaghy before the reception took place at the bride's family home on the Drumlamph Road.
During the Mass, Aileen performed a duet in Swahili with Fr Kevin Mulhern, who married the couple, in tribute to missionary work they had undertaken in Zambia and South Africa.
Aileen and Liam then enjoyed a honeymoon in Killarney and then Co Clare.
Speaking to The Irish News, Aileen said she and Liam's big day ended up being recorded for RTE after she saw an online advert last summer.
"He phoned me and said `Would you like to be involved in a programme about the Irish wedding?'
"He said there would be couples from all around Ireland taking part and therefore, we would be the Derry couple."
Aileen said the director came to the wedding and "filmed the whole day" and gave the couple a copy of the footage.
"It was brilliant," she said.
"You could hear us chatting and actual conversations we were having the whole day".
Aileen said as she hasn't seen the finished product yet, she feels "nervous" ahead of the show's premiere on Monday at 9.35pm.
"I am nervous but it was the best day," she said.
"The footage that he got was amazing so we were thankful. It will be exciting on Monday night."
