The Guildhall in Derry, the city's centre of local government, was the unusual venue for the wedding on Saturday of Donegal North-East Fianna Fáil TD Dr James McDaid and his long-term partner Siobhán O'Donnell.
Among those who attended the civil ceremony was Dr McDaid's mother Nellie, who last week celebrated her 85th birthday and Neal McDaid, Dr and Mrs McDaid's one-year-old son.
The groom, who celebrated his 58th birthday last week admitted to pre-ceremonial nerves.
"I was put out of the house early this morning. It's all a bit unnerving . . . It's a bit different to the last time I was married 39 years ago," he said.
Accompanied by his best man and brother Hughie, Dr McDaid waited in the Guildhall car park and spoke to his wedding guests before word came through that Siobháwas on her way. "I knew she would be on time, she's never late for anything," he said.
The bride was dressed in a fulllength off-white silk dress, accompanied by her sister and bridesmaid Geraldine Cullan, and by her niece and flower girl Claire O'Donnell. Also at the ceremony were Dr McDaid's sons by his previous marriage, Gareth, Jason and Luke but his daughter Nicola was unable to attend.
"She would have loved to have been here but her son is unwell and she didn't want to make the trip over from Oxford because of his condition," said Dr McDaid.
"The reason we decided to get married here is because Derry is such a lovely city and the Guildhall is such a magnificent building, it's as simple as that."
The newly weds are staying in the Sandhouse Hotel in Rossnowlagh before Dr McDaid returns to the Dáil on Wednesday.