Photo captured by Mark Barnes Photography

As featured in Belfast Live and The Antrim Guardian

Seven years ago, I was heading to a family wedding with my first born when I realised that all of my trusted family members were going to be there too. That meant I’d have no one to look after my little one without someone missing out on the celebration.

I didn’t want that to be the case. I wanted to stay, relax, and enjoy the day with my family without guilt or worry.

So I started looking for support. But I didn’t want just a babysitter. I wanted something much more. I wanted a qualified, police-checked, fellow mummy, a registered childminder like myself, someone who had gone through the same rigorous checks and training to care for little ones properly.

I realised, in essence, I was looking for me.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find anyone. In the end, I left the wedding early to look after my wee man. And while that felt like the right thing to do as a mummy, it left me thinking.

If I couldn’t find anyone and I was the person I was looking for, why didn’t I create it myself?

So I decided to set it up as a business and see if anyone else needed the same support I did. It turns out I had spotted a gap in the wedding industry and once I had filled it, it just took off. That was over seven years ago now.

Image by Christine McIlroy Photography

While weddings are full of joy and celebration, for many parents they can also bring worry, especially when little ones are involved. I wanted to create a bespoke wedding childcare service that allowed parents to relax, enjoy every moment, and feel confident that their children were being cared for with the same love, patience and attention they receive at home.

That idea became The Wedding & Events Nanny.

From one simple idea to a trusted wedding service

What began as a one-woman service has grown into a trusted part of wedding days across Northern Ireland, Ireland and beyond. I’m known for my calm, nurturing and highly personalised care. I support families throughout the day, from caring for tiny babies to entertaining excitable toddlers I adapt my care to suit each child and family.

My role often includes supporting children through key moments such as ceremonies, aisle walks, speeches and first dances, as well as the quieter moments in between that parents can sometimes miss.

Image by Magills Film & Photography

I bring a sense of calm, joy and reassurance to one of life’s biggest days.

Industry recognition and award success

My pioneering role has now been recognised at the highest level within the wedding industry, with six major awards in just two years and the creation of a brand-new awards category to recognise the role of a Wedding Nanny for the very first time.

At the Wedding Help NI Awards 2024, I won both Newcomer of the Year and Specialist Supplier of the Year. I then went on to win Specialist Supplier of the Year at The Wedding Industry Awards (TWIA) 2024, followed by Highly Commended at the Northern Ireland Wedding Awards 2024.

In 2025, I made history once again, winning both the public vote and the supplier vote in the brand new Wedding Nanny of the Year category at the Wedding Help NI Awards 2025.

Just days later, I received Highly Commended in my category at the 2025 TWIA, a prestigious national award celebrating the very best wedding professionals across the UK.

“When I started The Wedding & Events Nanny, there wasn’t anyone else offering what I did. It was just an idea built from love, experience, and a belief that children deserve to be part of the day too.

The fact that there is now a whole category dedicated to Wedding Nannies is incredible. It shows how far the industry has come, and how much families value that balance between being a bride and being a mummy.”

Image by Pop Photography

Shaping a new standard of wedding childcare

Being featured in Belfast Live and the Antrim Guardian has been incredibly special, not just for me personally, but for what it represents, a growing recognition that children belong at weddings and deserve care that’s thoughtful, professional, and deeply nurturing.

The Wedding & Events Nanny isn’t about removing children from the day, it’s about supporting families so everyone can experience it fully.

Giving every mummy the chance to be present. Giving every child a calm, happy experience. And creating space for beautiful memories that last far beyond the wedding day.

That’s what it’s always been about, and always will be.