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Roger Wheeler and Mike Wall Shortly after meeting in Dublin during Easter 2004, Mike Wall and Roger Wheeler began travelling between Galway and Brighton to see each other.
A few months in, Mike moved to the UK. “I quickly got a job, and a year later we knew that I wouldn’t be returning to Ireland. ”
In 2005 Roger proposed to Mike that they register for a civil partnership. “I didn’t hesitate for a moment and said yes.”
On February 1st, 2006, in front of two witnesses, Mike and Roger registered at Brighton town hall, and became civil partners.
That summer they threw a party at home for 30 loved ones.
When same-sex marriage was legalised in the UK, in 2014, Roger could finally propose marriage. They converted their civil partnership to full marriage on Christmas Eve 2014.
Mike explains what this means to them both: “Friends asked me if marriage felt different, and I remember that many had asked the same question in 2006. Yes I responded then, and yes is how I respond now.
“I never needed a piece of paper to know that I love Roger and intend sharing my life with him. But somehow, being married does feel different. We exchanged rings this time, whereas we didn’t last time. Strangely wearing a ring makes it more real. The other difference is that when Roger made a speech he began by saying, ‘My Husband and I . . .’ Both of us have said that we never believed that we would ever get married. Growing up in Ireland I truly never thought that a day would come that I could have a wedding day. But here we are.
“Every day I get home from work and say, ‘Hello, husband.’ The novelty will wear off I am sure but my love for Roger never will. I feel I am one of the luckiest men in the world to have found my soulmate.
“A yes vote on May 22nd will say to the world that Ireland is a truly inclusive nation where all people are respected and treated equally. I’ll be so happy when my countrymen and women will be able to avail of the same rights as I have living in the UK.”
We’d love to hear your wedding story. If you’d like to share it with our readers email weddings@irishtimes.com with a photograph and a little information about your big day
