13/01/2026
Milestone Reached As NI Records 5,000 Humanist Marriages
Northern Ireland Humanists is marking a significant achievement today following the news that 5,000 legally recognised humanist marriages have now taken place across the country since 2018.
Data released by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) identified the milestone ceremony as occurring on 4 October 2025. The wedding featured Belfast couple Aimee Brown and Stewart Clawson, with the ceremony officiated by celebrant Jean Barrett Quinn.
Reflecting on their role in the historic event, Aimee and Stewart said: "Our wedding day was something amazing, and now we are delighted all over again to find out it happened to be a historic milestone."
The surge in demand for such ceremonies was highlighted in the General Register Office's 2024 annual report, which confirmed that humanist marriages (1,112 in total for that year) had surpassed the number of religious weddings conducted by the three largest Protestant denominations.
Celebrant Jean Barrett Quinn, who led the 5,000th service, commented: "I became a wedding celebrant before humanist marriages were legally recognised in Northern Ireland in 2018. Every humanist marriage I have conducted has been a joy, yet when I found out that I was the celebrant for the 5,000th I was so excited! I am so glad Aimee, Stewart, and I could share this. That 5,000 have been conducted in just seven years shows how popular they have become since legal recognition, how much non-religious people value being able to craft a ceremony reflecting their beliefs, and how the landscape of weddings here in Northern Ireland is forever changed. Here's to the next 5,000!"
The legal standing for these ceremonies was originally won in a high-profile court case brought by Laura Lacole and Eunan O'Kane. While their own wedding took place in June 2017, a subsequent legal stay meant that humanist marriages only became widely available from August 2018.
Boyd Sleator, Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator, added: "When Laura and Eunan won their legal case, they made history by giving humanist couples in Northern Ireland the same rights as religious couples to have their beliefs respected at one of life's most important moments. Five thousand weddings later, it's clear that humanist marriages are hugely popular and successful.
"This right to a legally recognised humanist marriage still rests on case law rather than legislation. The Northern Ireland Government will soon legislate to explicitly write humanist marriages into the law and we can't wait."
Data released by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) identified the milestone ceremony as occurring on 4 October 2025. The wedding featured Belfast couple Aimee Brown and Stewart Clawson, with the ceremony officiated by celebrant Jean Barrett Quinn.
Reflecting on their role in the historic event, Aimee and Stewart said: "Our wedding day was something amazing, and now we are delighted all over again to find out it happened to be a historic milestone."
The surge in demand for such ceremonies was highlighted in the General Register Office's 2024 annual report, which confirmed that humanist marriages (1,112 in total for that year) had surpassed the number of religious weddings conducted by the three largest Protestant denominations.
The legal standing for these ceremonies was originally won in a high-profile court case brought by Laura Lacole and Eunan O'Kane. While their own wedding took place in June 2017, a subsequent legal stay meant that humanist marriages only became widely available from August 2018.
Boyd Sleator, Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator, added: "When Laura and Eunan won their legal case, they made history by giving humanist couples in Northern Ireland the same rights as religious couples to have their beliefs respected at one of life's most important moments. Five thousand weddings later, it's clear that humanist marriages are hugely popular and successful.
"This right to a legally recognised humanist marriage still rests on case law rather than legislation. The Northern Ireland Government will soon legislate to explicitly write humanist marriages into the law and we can't wait."
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