Bride who fell ill on her wedding day finally enjoys reception after fundraising campaign

Ciara Keenan vomited blood over her new husband John before collapsing on her big day

John Cowan comforted Ms Cowan after she was rushed to hospital following their church ceremony (gofundme)

A bride who vomited blood all over her new husband before she was rushed to hospital, has finally been able to hold her wedding reception after a fundraising campaign by well-wishers.

Ciara Keenan fell seriously ill just after she had exchanged vows with John Cowan at their church ceremony in Cookstown, Northern Ireland.

Doctors found Ms Keenan had a stomach ulcer and she spent three days in hospital before she was discharged.

But while she was able to go on their honeymoon to the Seychelles, she had been forced to miss their reception after their September wedding.

However, Ms Keenan's sister-in-law Arielle set up an online fundraising campaign on the GoFundMe website.

“This darling couple deserves the reception of their dreams,” she wrote. “We are starting this campaign to give Ciara and John another chance to enjoy their wedding day!”

Within weeks it had raised more than £1,000, allowing them to hold a second celebration at The Ivory restaurant in Belfast.

Owners provided the venue for free, while a photographer and videographer also did not charge any fee.

"It has been incredible how generous so many people have been to us,” Ms Keenan told the Belfast Telegraph ahead of the gathering.

She said that it had “helped us be able to enjoy the wedding reception we missed out on because I was ill."

She added that it had "raised the money to cover the food and drink, so thanks to the kindness of so many people we were able to join our guests for the wedding party we missed out on last time.”

Ms Keenan said that she was still treating her stomach ulcer.

"I will be on medication for the rest of my life,” she said. “But that's a small price to pay when you consider how much worse things could have been, especially if it had happened when we were out in the Seychelles on honeymoon.”