What do you do when the Covid-19 crisis has forced the cancellation of your wedding - but the rings have already been bought and engraved with the date?
allygowan woman Fiona Solomon has the answer: fire up your laptop and log into video-conferencing app Zoom.
Former banker Fiona (58) is a qualified civil celebrant, leading non-religious weddings, baby naming ceremonies and vow renewals, and at the weekend she conducted Northern Ireland's first online commitment ceremony delivered over Zoom.
Like many others, Fiona's business has been decimated by Covid-19, so she was thrilled to be contacted out of the blue by London-based couple Edward and Jennifer. They had been forced to postpone their 'physical' wedding, but because they already had their wedding rings engraved with the date of June 6, groom-to-be Edward decided to mark the day with a virtual 'commitment ceremony'.
Fiona said she was very excited to be taking on such an important duty during the current uncertain climate.
"All of my summer weddings have been cancelled," she said.
"It's a really difficult time for couples during lockdown, having to cancel weddings or try to rearrange them."
Initially, Edward had planned to keep the whole thing a secret from his bride-to-be, but Fiona advised him it might be better to make her aware of the plans so she could make the most of the occasion with an appropriate dress and make-up.
She worked with Edward to design the ceremony's script and Jennifer heard it for the first time during the Zoom event, along with their 12 virtual guests.
"Saturday was the day they should have got married," said Fiona. "They had already had their wedding rings made and engraved with that date.
"So, rather than get up on Saturday and have a very sad day, they wanted to mark it in some way.
"They'd heard of these virtual commitment ceremonies, and they contacted me through a directory of civil celebrants.
"I worked with Edward to develop a ceremony script for the occasion around his and Jennifer's love story, and where they wanted to go in life.
"At 1.30 on Saturday I set my laptop up in my hall, the groom set up, and opened a Zoom call with his 12 guests. The 'groom' and his fiancee wore their specially made rings, and exchanged them during the ceremony."
"It was a lovely ceremony, full of love and laughter," Fiona said.
"I wished them good luck, and for the countdown to 2021 and their real wedding.
"They'd found each other - and then they found me!"
Edward and Jennifer will be formally married next year in Marylebone Town Hall in London.
Meanwhile, from today outdoor weddings can take place in Northern Ireland with up to 10 people present after Stormont relaxed restrictions that have hit the plans of couples here.
