We're so thankful you could come and celebrate our wedding with us. 

As with a lot of days, although this is a really happy day, it is also one that is tinged with sadness. You may or may not know, but in 2010, after a year long battle with cancer, I lost my Mam. It was obviously devastating, and has left huge holes in all of our lives. But life goes on, and it makes days like this so bittersweet. I want to just tell you a little about my Mam, and why we have set up this page.

The year is 1995. My Mam was sat in the QE hospital having just given birth to my brother, Ciaran. And there was a 15 year old girl in a bed in the same ward who had just given birth as well, but she had been turfed out by her family. She had nowhere to go to, no money, nothing. So she was unable to be discharged. This woman was called Elizabeth. And from there, Elizabeth House was born, a unit created with the desire to provide safety, refuge and guidance to pregnant women and women with young babies who were poor or had no support. She went on to lead the charity, Aquila Way (which went on to become Oasis Community Housing), and inspired so many people across the region. My Mam changed so many lives across the North East, and is an inspiration to me to this day.

My Mam was the most generous of people, always looking out for others. But she was also the best Mam, which I've probably already waxed lyrical about in my speech, so I won't embellish on here. She was also so passionate about Jesus, and is someone I constantly hold up as an example of what it is to love the person in front of you, something both Nicole and I try to do every day.

Both Nicole and I hold a heart for the vulnerable so close to us, and want it to be a foundational part of our marriage. It is this heart that I see as my Mam's legacy, and I am absolutely heartbroken she can't be here today to celebrate with us. It's one of my biggest regrets/heartbreaks that Nicole doesn't get to meet my Mam, but hopefully by carrying this heart with us, we can help carry on her legacy and have her as an integral part of our lives, and our family.

We set up this page to remember my Mam and everything she did/represented - if you would like to contribute, we'd be so grateful. However, if you don't, that's fine. I have just loved spending the 15 minutes of writing this to remember my Mam. Jo Grant.