This Lesbian Couple to Be First Same-Sex Marriage in Northern Ireland

A lesbian couple in Belfast will be the first couple to take advantage of Northern Island legalizing gay marriage next week. The couple announced the news at a press conference this week with the Love Equality campaign who helped to change the law. The finally, adjustments were made for same-sex marriage to be allowed last month.

"We're so excited for our wedding day," Sharni Edwards, one half of the couple, said at the press conference. She will get married to Robyn Peoples. "It's a big day for us, but an even bigger day for equal rights in Northern Ireland. Robyn and I have been together for six years but the campaign for marriage equality has been going longer."

When the pair originally decided to make a commitment to one another, it was set to be a civil partnership. At the time, same-sex marriage wasn't legal, but with their six year anniversary coming up, they decided it was time to get something on paper. So they would settle for a civil partnership. But, when they went to the registrar's office to fill out the papers, they were told that they were the first couple to sign up for a same-sex marriage, according to PinkNews.

"It' is so surreal for me," Edwards told the publication. "I still have to pinch myself. I just feel humbled and grateful. The younger generation need people to look up to, to see it's OK for a woman to love a woman."

"It wasn't intentional but we are so grateful for it," Peoples said. "It helps other people to see we are just like any other couple, except we are both girls. There is nothing different about us from the next couple you see in the street.

They first met in 2014, and now will get married on February 11, their sixth anniversary. The pair have been engaged since 2015.

They will wed in the coastal town of Carrickfergus.