Zara Lee McMullan, a Management Accountant, and Michael Brendan O’Gorman, a professional Irish dance teacher, celebrated their wedding on Valentine’s Day 2026, with Kelly McAllister Photography capturing their special day filled with beautiful music and plenty of dancing. After meeting in 2015, the couple brought family and friends from Ireland and Canada together for a memorable wedding week, with a meaningful church ceremony at St. Comgall’s in Bangor, followed by a spectacular reception at The Carriage Rooms at Montalto Estate.

Michael, originally from Canada, had toured the world as a professional Irish dancer before settling in Belfast, where he owned an Irish dance school. The pair first crossed paths thanks to Zara’s father, who was Head of Fundraising at their local Gaelic football club. He organised a Strictly Come Dancing event and asked Michael to participate, possibly persuading him by promising Zara would be his dance partner. The rest, as they say, is history!

The couple got engaged in October 2024, nine years after meeting, and once the question was popped, Zara knew she wanted to be married within the year. They agreed the timing felt right, and while window shopping in Montreal, Zara fell in love with the iconic Tiffany Setting. The pair spent a lovely afternoon at Tiffany’s choosing her ring, followed by dinner and cocktails at the Ritz. After resizing the ring, Zara returned to Ireland, with Michael following soon after. He proposed at her childhood home around the kitchen table, a place Zara’s dad insists is where everything happens! After asking her father’s permission earlier that day and arranging champagne, Michael made the moment even more special by having Zara’s parents and siblings there to share the excitement.

For her bridal look, Zara had a clear vision. “I knew I wanted a ball gown; when else do you get to wear one!” she explained. For a mid-winter church wedding, she wanted long sleeves, a high neckline, and timeless lace, inspired by Grace Kelly. Her search led her to celebrity wedding dress designer Monique Lhuillier, whose gowns were stocked near the couple’s home in Montreal. Zara found her Alexandra dress there before purchasing it from London, where her Maid of Honour and mum could join her for fittings. “It really was a dress of dreams; regal, yet soft, with a couture edge. It absolutely stole the show and is still having its moment!”

Zara paired the gown with an elegant high bun by Nicholas Graham and impeccable makeup by Olivia Muldoon. Having always taken good care of her skin, she continued her usual treatments at Jenny Flanagan Laser Aesthetics in Hillsborough in the run-up to the wedding. Fragrance also held a special place in the couple’s bridal preparations. During a fitting in London, Zara discovered that Monique Lhuillier had her own signature scent, describing it as floral and romantic. Michael wore Ombre Leather by Tom Ford, a fragrance Zara adores

Michael’s wedding-day look was equally considered. He had his tuxedo made by North on Howard Street in Belfast, choosing a luxurious velvet jacket, a self-tie bow, and personalised details, including the buttons, shirt texture, and pocket square. He paired it with his own Armani trousers and finished the look with a pin honouring his Norwegian great-grandfather, who founded skiing in North America.

The bridesmaids wore blush-pink satin dresses by Dessy, supplied by Jenny Lindop in Bangor. Zara’s Maid of Honour, Gemma, is one of her closest friends, while her other four bridesmaids are school friends she's known for 20 years. Despite living in different countries over the years, the group have remained close, and Zara loved having them involved throughout the planning process. The soft pink dresses complemented her romantic vision, while classic red roses brought a bold Valentine’s Day touch. Jenny Lindop also custom-made the flower girl dress for Zara’s niece, incorporating lace left over from Zara’s own Monique Lhuillier gown into the collar and sash. Zara’s mum looked spectacular in a champagne dress from Blush Bridal, finished with a custom hat by Grainne Maher Millinery.

For the ceremony, Zara knew there was only one place she wanted to marry. St. Comgall’s in Bangor was the chapel where she grew up, and its location beside her parents’ grocery store, which they had run for 40 years, added an extra layer of meaning to the occasion. Their parish priest and family friend, Deacon James McAllister, presided over the service, with music from soprano Marion Jordan and the McClean Family musicians on harp and uilleann pipes. Marion also performed with a string quartet at the cocktail reception.

Every musical choice carried a personal significance. The processional instrumental was Galway Bay, a tribute to Michael’s late father from Galway, while the recessional hymn was Lord of the Dance, a joyful nod to Michael’s career. For Zara, one of the most emotional moments was being reunited with Michael at the top of the aisle. Her father was also overcome with emotion as he gave her away, making the ceremony even more memorable.

The Carriage Rooms at Montalto Estate had always been Zara’s dream reception venue. Located in the County Down countryside, the estate sits where her father grew up and where much of her close family still lives, making it feel like home. From the first visit, the dining room made a lasting impression. Zara recalled tearing up every time she walked in, captivated by its romantic atmosphere and grandeur. Their Best Man described it as an “amazing fairytale palace.”

With the wedding taking place in mid-winter, darkness surrounded the dining room by the time dinner began, with fairy lights and candles creating a beautiful glow. Floral Earth brought Zara’s vision to life with arrangements she described as sublime, adding to the romantic red-and-delicate-pink palette. Zara also loved that the estate offered different spaces for each part of the celebration, from the cocktail reception to dinner and the evening party in the basement, which had a nightclub feel. The layout helped keep guests together and the dance floor busy, which was especially important for a couple who love a great party.

Entertainment was a major part of the celebrations. Celtic Storm performed a professional Irish-dance set before the evening band, with Michael joining the troupe for a choreographed piece. It was the perfect way to kick off the party, especially for the couple’s North American guests, who went wild for the performance. The Professionals Wedding Band, featuring Joe McLean, followed, and a packed dance floor ensued before a DJ and saxophonist kept everyone on their feet into the early hours.

Looking back, Zara’s best advice is to accept help when planning a large celebration. With 200 guests and 100 flying in, she found it hard to manage everything without enough backup, especially during the intense six weeks before the wedding. As someone who loves organising events and pays close attention to styling and the guest experience, handing over control did not come naturally. While guests showered her with compliments and only Zara noticed the little things that went wrong, she would recommend bringing in extra support to make it easier to stay present on the day.

She also advises couples to do a photography run-through at their venue, particularly for a winter wedding, when some outdoor photo locations may not be practical. A pre-wedding run-through with the band can help too, so everyone knows the format and song choices before the celebrations begin. But perhaps her most unexpected regret was not taking dance lessons for the first dance. Although neither of them is a bad dancer, Zara realised on the night just how beautifully her dress moved across the dance floor. She wished they had choreographed something to show it off, and felt lessons could also have been a lovely, intimate way for the two of them to spend time together in the run-up to the wedding.

- Gráinne