Registry offices have seen an increase in bookings, as couples opt to hold smaller ceremonies due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Dublin Registry Office says it has seen an overflow to its Wicklow office due to demand.
Louise Dodrill is an executive register and marriages manager at the Dublin Registry Office.
She told Josh Crosbie for The Hard Shoulder: "We see 12 couples everyday, Monday through till Friday.
"Couples are booked every 30 minutes, so they've 30 minutes to celebrate their nuptials before they head off for whatever party or celebrations they have planned".
"We've had to restrict our numbers due to restrictions for COVID-19 - so couples are allowed to have 12 people attend their ceremony, and that's including the couple.
"We have measures in place for the registrar, whether they wear masks, a visor, and we also have our sneeze guards.
"And the couples would be at least two metres away from the registrar as well."
Reporter Josh Crosbie gets his temperature checked at the Dublin Registry Office. Picture by: Josh Crosbie"When couples come in, they sign in through our contact tracing book - they also have their temperature checked and they fill in a COVID questionnaire as well; the guests do the same thing
"And couples don't have to wear masks for the ceremonies when they say their vows, and obviously a big smooch".
"It's a sign of the times, really - it is unfortunate that we're in this situation, when you see someone on their best day or the biggest day of their celebrations and there's a lot of love in the room and at the same time they're going through the steps".
'Inquiries for 2021, 2022, even 2023'
"Our remit covers Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow - so Dublin has always been fully booked throughout the year, it's always in demand which is great.
"But we've had an overflow, particularly on our Wicklow office where we've increased ceremonies there as well.
"So there's an extra 35 per month in Wicklow - so the demand is there, but at this stage it's really people that just want to have the ceremony, have their legal bit done and maybe have a bigger party or celebration later on".
Between July 6th and August 31st, the office has officiated 507 civil ceremonies.
"We've had many inquiries for 2021, 2022, even 2023 - so the demand is there.
"We have seen a decrease in our off-site ceremonies, so in a venue where we would have a bigger wedding - and they've been looking to have a smaller ceremony here in the registry office".
One such couple, Michelle Morley-Cahill and Shane Cahill, explained why they picked the registry office route.
"We're not religious people, so it was going to be the only way really", Michelle said.
Shane said: "We wanted to have a more personal ceremony previously, where we were going to get a family member to perform a knot-tying ceremony.
"But with COVID it didn't happen".
"We were supposed to get married in the registry office on the 24th of April, with a bigger celebration then in May... so this is our third time to do it and get there", they said.
Michelle said the plan for later was "lunch at home with six of us".
"We've got the most important people around us here today, so it's perfect" Shane said.
"COVID or no COVID, big wedding or no big wedding: this is our perfect day - it couldn't have been more perfect" Michelle added.
