Tea, Hats, and Highland Air: A Wes Anderson Inspired Wedding
As Wes Anderson lovers, Tea (she/her) and George (she/they) knew their elopement in the Scottish Highlands had to feel cinematic. With a vintage suitcase salvaged from the tip, a flask of tea, and George’s ever-growing hat collection, they leaned into quirky details that felt unmistakably them. After six years together, from a karaoke bar beginning to a Billy Joel concert proposal, they chose a low key day at the Inverness Registry Office, joined by their parents and siblings, framed like the perfect film still.
Tell us about your love story.
George and I first crossed paths in a karaoke bar where I worked. Every weekend she’d come in with her dad and absolutely belt her heart out. I’d wait for her visits, secretly swooning from behind the bar, hoping she might one day notice me.
After weeks of this, she suddenly shouted across to me, “Are you a lesbian?” I yelled back “YES!!” as I was running to the shops to grab cigarettes so I could join her in the smoking area. And honestly, the rest is history.
We’ve now been together for six years. After the pandemic, we left our hometown of Kent and moved to the countryside of Lincolnshire, where we live in a static caravan with our dogs, Ferris and Wasabi. George still sings karaoke with her dad on the weekends, and I still swoon every time I hear her sing.
How long were you engaged, and what made that timeline feel right for you?
I drunkenly proposed at a Billy Joel concert in Hyde Park in 2023. We’re not big planners, so two years later we just thought, “we should probably go for it.” That’s when we booked our photographer and set our sights on eloping in Scotland.
What was the wedding planning experience like?
We both knew we wanted to elope in Scotland. We’d road tripped and camped there before, and the scenery was just beautiful. Keeping it low key was important, so we booked a two-night stay at a gorgeous hotel in the Highlands called the Torridon. The closest registry office was in Inverness, about an hour and a half away, so we planned to have photos taken at the Torridon before driving there for the ceremony.
The planning itself was really smooth. We had no big expectations and just wanted things to flow naturally, with as little stress as possible.
How did you find your wedding vendors?
I searched for elopement photographers in Scotland and came across Lauren Elliott Photography. We instantly fell in love with her portfolio. She’s actually based in Manchester, not Scotland, but she had already photographed so many beautiful weddings and elopements there. We just knew she was the one for us.
Our ceremony was held at the Inverness Registry Office, which kept things simple and stress free.
How did you decide on the size of your wedding?
We always knew we wanted to keep it small. I have such a big family that trying to include everyone would have been impossible on a small budget, and things would have gotten out of hand quickly. Our main goal was simple: no stress. So we planned for an elopement.
At first, we thought it would just be the two of us. But our parents would never have forgiven us if they couldn’t be there. In the end, it was George and I, both of our parents, my brother, and George’s brother who flew in from Australia. It was so special, and I’m so glad we had those people with us.
What was the inspiration behind the vibe of your wedding?
We’ve always loved Wes Anderson and his cinematic compositions, so that’s exactly what we wanted our photos to capture. George has a great eye for photography and had already scoped out some perfect spots during our hike around the Torridon the day before. When our photographer Lauren arrived, it all just flowed seamlessly.
We also brought along a few props to add to the vibe: a vintage suitcase we salvaged from the tip, a flask of tea, and a selection of hats for George. She’s a hat person!
How did you approach the ceremony?
When we arrived at the Inverness registry office, our families were already waiting for us. Each of our dads walked us down the aisle, and we chose to say the traditional vows. It was honestly so nerve-wracking!
Can you walk us through the wedding day?
We woke up together at the Torridon Hotel, ordered room service, and did our own hair and makeup before checking out. Our photographer, Lauren, met us there, and we spent a couple of hours wandering the grounds for photos.
By 11am we were on the road to Inverness, stopping at the Midge Bite café for a quick bite. As we got closer, the nerves hit. Our families, meeting for the first time, were waiting outside the registry office when we arrived.
George walked down the aisle with her dad, and I followed with mine to “Tea for the Tillerman” by Cat Stevens. Saying our vows was emotional and nerve-wracking, but we did it. We were pronounced Mrs and Mrs McFly, kissed to “Our House” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, then stepped out to confetti and “Dreams” by the Cranberries. The rest of the day was spent bar hopping, eating, and celebrating with live Scottish music. It couldn’t have been better.
What were some of your favorite moments from the day?
Honestly, it was all brilliant. But the highlight was seeing our families together for the first time. They bonded straight away and spent the night celebrating together, which was really special.
What were some of your favorite moments from the day?
Our only vendor was our photographer, Lauren, and she was absolutely brilliant. We kept everything else low key, doing our own hair and makeup, but we knew we wanted great photos. Lauren captured every moment perfectly and understood exactly what we wanted. She’s such a sweetheart, and I couldn’t recommend her enough.
Photography by Lauren Elliott Photography
