Inside Job: Rebecca knew exactly who to hire to take her business to the next level...

A Co Down husband and wife marked the second anniversary of their business by saying 'I do to a new addition to the venture.

Rebecca McKnight, who founded The NI Wedding Directory in 2023 after the planning process of her own wedding left her wanting more from the industry, has welcomed husband Sam into a full-time position as co-founder.

Sam has spent two years working behind the scenes alongside his full-time career in software engineering.

"Our skill-sets complement each other perfectly."

Rebecca has a strong background in marketing, which is crucial for promoting local wedding businesses and helping suppliers and venues stand out," says

"Sam brings nearly a decade of experience in software engineering, meaning all of our development is handled in-house." explains Rebecca.

"His technical skills allow us to create a high perform-ing, seamless platform that serves both couples and suppliers respectively.

"We work extremely well together as a team. Friends and family often wonder how we spend so much time together, but for us, it just works.

"We constantly brain-storm, challenge each other's ideas and share the same vision for the business. It's a true partnership, both professionally and personally."

What began as a social media page for sharing her wedding planning journey and inspiration, Rebecca rebranded as The NI Wedding Directory in January 2023.

Sam and Rebecca. The Co Down husband and wife are now official business partners too after Sam joined The NI Wedding Directory full-time

In March 2023, she hosted the platform's very first event, gaining a lot of traction and support from within the industry.

"Since the launch, we've seen some clear shifts in wedding trends," says

MEMORIES

"More couples are focusing on personalisation, choosing unique celebrations over traditional ones. Social media has played a big role in this, creating a desire for weddings that stand out and leave lasting memories.

"Smaller guest lists and creative ideas are becoming the norm. Additionally, we're seeing a rise in more relaxed and informal celebrations, with suppliers like dog chaperones, on-site nannies, pancake and ice-cream carts, food and coffee trailers, and guest illustrators gaining popularity."

"There's a real focus now on creating an unforgettable guest experience, with touches like audio guest books, photo booths, and dedicated kids' areas, and so on," she continues.

"Multi-day celebrations and full wedding weekends are becoming more common too, as couples look to extend the celebration beyond just one day.

"Overall, weddings are becoming more intimate, personal and experience-driven."

Since its inception, the company now works with many exclusive venues and more than 115 suppliers. It also runs The NI Wedding Fair, and hosts The Wedding Network for industry professionals.

"In many ways, it's both more and less stressful than it was 10 years ago," admits Rebecca when asked to compare planning a wedding in 2025 to a decade ago.

"On one hand, couples now have more resources than ever before.

"Platforms like ours make it easier to find suppliers, venues, inspiration, and advice.

"On the other hand, the pressures of increased costs, social media comparison, and the expectation to curate an Instagram-worthy wedding have definitely added to the stress." Sam recently used his tech skills to relaunch the company's online plat-form, creating a luxurious, user-friendly experience for couples on the hunt to plan their dream day.

Of his full-time move to the company, he says:

"Since we launched The NI Wedding Directory, it was always the hope I could work on the project full-time. The amazing uptake and interest in our new website really confirmed for me that it was now-or-never to take the leap of faith, and I'm so grateful to be in a position to do so."

"It's honestly a dream come true to have Sam coming on board full-time at The NI Wedding Directory," says Rebecca.

"Sam has been my number one supporter from day one, and we feel so lucky to be able to devote all our time and energy to what started as a passion project after we got married in April 2022."

Those who have planned a wedding will appreciate that it can be at times stressful - this where the directory helps minimise potential upheaval.

"In a recent survey that we conducted, 100% of respondents agreed that The NI Wedding Directory helped them feel more prepared for their wedding day," adds Rebecca.

"Couples can 'favourite' venues and suppliers they love, revisit them later, and contact them in a way that feels most comfortable, whether that's through direct messaging, email or social media.

"We've also recently launched our News & Featured Weddings section, packed with free guides, planning tips and expert advice to help answer common questions and give couples greater confidence."

LANDSCAPE

What sets this apart from other companies is its local focus and knowledge of the NI wedding market.

"Existing companies in the UK mainland list some NI vendors, but we can fully appreciate and understand the unique wedding landscape here. We take pride in knowing and having relationships with local businesses and trying to help them succeed," explains Rebecca.

"We push the boundaries of how couples connect with local businesses, offering an intuitive layout, powerful search capabilities, exclusive offers and a news outlet packed with helpful information."

"Searching supplier and venue websites individually can be time consuming and inconsistent. Every site looks and feels differ-ent, and information isn't always easy to find," she continues.

"Our platform provides a consistent, easy-to-navigate layout for every supplier and venue, making it simple for couples to find key information quickly and efficiently. It's a huge time-saver and helps them feel much more in control of their planning."

Sam and Rebecca are focused on building strong relationships with local business and "supporting our couples, suppliers and venues every step of the way".

"We aim to be the first place couples think of when they get engaged, and we'll continue hosting The NI Wedding Fair at stunning local venues, with bookings already confirmed into late 2026."

This article is the cover of Belfast Telegraph's More2Life pull-out, continued by a two-page spread overleaf, and can be found in the 22nd June 2025 edition of the Sunday Life. The article was not paid for.

Read the original article here: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/features/inside-job-wedding-planner-knew-exactly-who-to-hire-to-take-business-to-next-level-her-hubby/a1793507488.html