'A fancy wedding is a privilege' - YouTuber Melanie Murphy weds at registry office amid pandemic

Ms Murphy, who has written two best-selling books, and her long-term partner Thomas were due to celebrate their wedding last weekend in Wicklow, but cancelled after Government directives were issued on social distancing, and banning indoor events of more than 100 people.

Instead, they shifted their focus on their more intimate legal ceremony at the Registry Office in Dublin.

The bride wore a dress from ASOS and her father walked her up the aisle to 'A Gift of Thistle' from Braveheart. Despite the heartbreaking reality of having to cancel her dream wedding, Ms Murphy remains positive at the fact that she was finally able to wed her partner of three years, saying, "A strong marriage is what we really care about.

"We've lost a considerable amount of money on deposits and non-refundables, but we can still have the big celebration down the line in a couple of years.

"A fancy wedding is a privilege, a bonus, a cherry on top kinda thing. Love is all we need during these difficult times."

She says she is mostly grateful to be married to the love of her life, a love without which she would be "at a loss" and decided to change her name legally, but will be retaining her maiden surname professionally. Thomas, a pilot, regularly appears in her work but declines to share his surname.

In a series of posts across social media platforms, Ms Murphy spoke of her father's joy on her big day, saying his approval "means everything to me".

"I couldn’t be happier about the person you’ve chosen to be your partner...Something Dad said to me after we did the ‘official bit’ and got married," she added.

"I sobbed and sobbed. Feel so fortunate to have such good men in my life!"

Their mini-moon in Adare Manor has also been cancelled as the hotel is temporarily closing as part of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.