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Just married: Ruth and Stuart Bonsall

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The Marriage of Ruth McKegneyand Stuart Bonsall. The Wedding took place in St. Mark's Parish Church, Armagh.
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By Patrice Dougan
Monday Nov 21 2011

Her father wasn’t available to walk her down the aisle — but far from missing the most important day of his daughter’s life, he conducted the service instead.

Ruth McKegney (29) celebrated her wedding day with a very personal marriage service with four clergy in attendance, led by her father John.

The wedding — which took place on August 15 at St Mark’s Rectory, Armagh — saw Ruth walk down the aisle with her brother Patrick, watched by their family and friends, many of whom had travelled from England to be there.

Ruth now lives in Suffolk, where new husband Stuart Bonsall (30) was brought up. The pair met four years ago at a conference in Yorkshire after Ruth moved to England.

They both work in marketing — Ruth for a higher education college and Stuart in software sales.

She said she wasn’t expecting to find love at a conference, but three years later, on a beach in France, Stuart proposed.

“We were on holiday in Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy and he got down on one knee and gave me a ring, which was spot on,” she said.

“He had everyone thinking he was going to do it in Ireland in October, but surprised everyone by doing it in August instead.” And almost a year to the day later they were married.

With only a year to organise, it was lucky that Ruth’s dad, Canon McKegney, was on hand to officiate.

“We had him already signed up, so that was nice. It was good for him to do that for us,” she said.

“My brother Patrick gave me away, because my mother Carol died 20 years ago.”

Joining the ceremony was Ruth’s godfather Ven Gregor McCamley, family friend Lord Eames and Stuart’s vicar, Rector Andrew Dotchin, who travelled over from England to be there.

“It was a very emotional service, but it was lovely, very personal,” said Ruth.

The party moved to Corick House in Augher for the reception and danced their first dance to Michael Bublé’s Hold On.

She let slip the significance behind their chosen tune.

“My husband will kill me for saying this, but he says it’s the song that made him decide to propose,” she said.

“It’s just a special song to us, the words are quite appropriate, really.”

The pair have postponed their honeymoon until May when they will spend two weeks in Italy, visiting Lake Garda and Tuscany.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” she said.

“I think I would have been sad if we had everything over and done with and nothing to look forward to.”

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