A Castle's Love Song: Thea and Cameron's Storybook Wedding at Auchen Castle

Love Story

Thea and Cameron's love story is one for the ages, blossoming from friendship to a beautiful romance that withstood the test of time and distance. Their journey began in Austin, Texas,where they met through mutual friends and a series of serendipitous encounters. "After being friends for about approximately six months, we decided to start dating a few months before I graduated which prompted a 1.5 year long distance stint while I lived in Los Angeles," Thea reminisces.

Their love only grew stronger through the separation, and eventually, Thea moved back to Austin. The couple then took a leap of faith, relocating to New York City together just as the pandemic hit. "Through thick and thin, we've been living in the city ever since," Cameron adds.
Their shared passion for video production, movies, travel, and photography kept their bond strong.

The couple's engagement story is as unique as their relationship. "We got engaged on our 5 year anniversary on a very special trip to Friday Harbor off the coast of Washington," Thea shares, her eyes sparkling with the memory. "We both had history with the island as our families lived on the island at separate points."

Cameron planned the proposal meticulously, throwing Thea off the scent with some clever misdirection. "We took a long weekend to visit in March, and although my nails were definitely done, I had zero expectation that he would propose during this trip because he thoroughly convinced me otherwise. After a weekend of ferry trips, scenic car drives, bowls of chowder, and rocky beaches, we finally landed on our anniversary day," Thea shares. "On our morning hike, Cam really laid it on thick by lamenting how "perfect" it would have been if he had planned the proposal for this trip. At this point, an engagement was far from the realm of possibility in my mind."

The actual proposal took place at Westside Preserve, which has a beautiful scenic view of the water. "When we arrived, I was dilly dallying taking photos and videos and Cam sped down the trail to get to this specific spot before me," Thea recalls. "When I arrived, he was down on one knee and I completely lost it out of emotion and surprise." Cameron adds, "It's our favorite trip we've ever taken."

Their wedding, held three months after their 7-year anniversary, was the culmination of their beautiful journey together.

Thea and Cameron's dream wedding was a beautiful blend of intimacy and timeless romanticism. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Auchen Castle in Moffat, Scotland, their celebration was a testament to their love and shared vision.

"The vision of our dream wedding was anchored around intimacy," Thea explains. "From the beginning, we knew we wanted to have a smaller wedding, ideally at a venue where most people could stay onsite to maximize our time together." Cameron adds, "We also wanted to avoid any small talk on our big day, and have the opportunity to visit with people leading up to the wedding so that the main day could be focused on the experience rather than a mad dash to have facetime with every guest."

The couple's attention to detail was evident in every aspect of their wedding, from the carefully curated guest list of 70 to the vintage-inspired decor that complemented the castle's architecture perfectly.

"I love all things vintage," Thea shares. "When we settled on a destination wedding in Scotland, I was reviewing venues that would need little to no additional decor and of course was drawn to the idea of a castle. Auchen Castle checked off every box, and the Scottish scenery and gorgeous ground & architecture provided the perfect setting for the weekend."

The preparation process was a labor of love for Thea. "I'm extremely type A and love to make a vision board," she laughs. "Dreaming up the elements and putting them together in decks to see how things were coming together was part of the fun, and I found that wedding planning became a huge creative project for me."

"Apart from the happiness of the day for us as a couple and having this epic time with people we love, I found deep satisfaction in the event orchestration and beauty of the day," Thea admits. "The hard work of plotting details for 2.5 years felt completely worth it."

The result was a wedding that perfectly encapsulated their vision of timeless romanticism, set against the stunning Scottish landscape. Every detail, from the castle venue to the carefully chosen decor, worked in harmony to create an unforgettable experience for the couple and their guests.

Morning details

The morning of the wedding was a flurry of excitement and anticipation. Thea's creative touch was evident in every detail, from the invitations to the wedding stationery. "I'm a big fan of Canva, and had a vision for creating separate elements for each event of the weekend so that it was a surprise and delight experience to receive this thick envelope and look at each invite."

The invitations were a labor of love, reflecting the couple's personalities and the wedding's theme. "I settled on navy blue and ivory for our invitation color scheme as I knew that Cam and his groomspeople were wearing blue and green kilts," Thea explains. "I did the calligraphy on the envelopes by hand and sourced vintage stamps."

Thea's creativity didn't stop there. "I also created a Victorian puzzle purse with emblems of our wedding (Scottish flag, horseshoes, bagpipe, etc) so that guests would have to unfold it and find the QR code to RSVP," she grins. "The final detail I loved is I sealed the envelopes with ivory wax with an owl seal (a special activity of our wedding festivities was the owl meet and greet), and I included a tartan ribbon inspired by the pattern of the blackwatch kilts our bridal party would wear."

The couple's rings were as unique as their love story. Thea's engagement ring, a vintage piece from the 1940s, was chosen together at Erstwhile Jewelry. "When we found it I immediately shared it with my mom who confirmed it was THE ONE," Thea reminisces. "I have an amazing memory of Cam officially purchasing it on his phone as we were getting on the subway because we didn't want to risk anyone else snagging it."

Cameron's wedding band, from Thorum, included wood from a whiskey barrel on the inside – a perfect nod to their Scottish wedding locale. Thea found her wedding band from Olive Ave on TikTok, instantly falling in love with its unique shape.

Sentimental touches were important to Thea. "My paternal grandparents, unfortunately, couldn't attend the wedding due to a last-minute health issue, but my grandmother sent a few pieces of jewelry with my aunt to offer as my "something borrowed". I had too hard of a time choosing, and ended up wearing three pieces - two bracelets and a ring. I'm very sentimental," she admits with a smile.

The wedding stationery continued the elegant theme. "We had a table plan and menus created by The Paper Doll from the UK," Thea shares. "We kept it very classic and elegant, with simple typography with a black/ivory color scheme."

Like chapters in a cherished tale, every element - from the whispered invitations to the radiant rings - unfolded the enchanting narrative of Thea and Cameron's love. Their magical day at Auchen Castle was the grand finale, a masterpiece painted with hues of passion and devotion.

Bride getting ready

The bridal party gathered in the downstairs lounge of the castle, a space that proved perfect for the occasion. "I could not have imagined a better space to get ready," Thea gushes. "We all had enough room to get ready and hang out, and the lighting was absolutely perfect for photos."

Thea's wedding dress, or rather separates, from Sept Bridal, was a vision of elegance. "I spent countless hours researching online," she shares, "but actually found my dress the first day we actually tried on options. My mom and maid of honor don't live in the city, so we arranged for them to visit for a weekend to go dress shopping and I was determined to find the dress while they were in town. I set up three dress appointments, and of course this was the final appointment and final option I tried on the day." She continues, "I specifically said no lace, but as a hail mary I requested to try on the lace version of this corset and immediately fell in love. I felt like the best version of myself."

Her accessories added the perfect regal touch. "My mom gifted me some beautiful lace wrap-up Louboutin heels that perfectly matched the lace of the corset," Thea explains. "I sourced this stunning gold and pearl halo from Lelet, and this epic cape from A.B. Ellie and asked them to make it cathedral length so that it would look extra dramatic as I walked down the aisle."

The floral arrangements, created by To A Mountain Daisy, were a crucial part of the overall aesthetic. “I decided that our florals should be ivory with minimal greenery so that it would look cohesive, and also not take away from the beautiful Scottish landscape around us," Thea says. "My bouquet inspiration was really romantic, organic shapes and Lucy did a great job making this vision come to life. My middle name is Rose, so we incorporated roses throughout all the florals and my bridesmaids had ivory rose bouquets with long stems to differentiate from the bridal bouquet."

The bridesmaids' looks were equally thoughtful. "All I asked for bridesmaid dresses was for them to be ivory and for everyone to be different," Thea explains. "I love the trend of unique outfits for each bridesmaid that showcase each girl's style. We had a wonderful variety of dress styles and my sister wore a fabulous suit. I love that everyone looked like themself. The different shades of ivory looked beautiful in photos, with the kilts and against the Scottish greenery. I called them my "pearls"."

The getting-ready process was a joyful gathering of loved ones. "My bridal party consisted of my close friends, sisters, and sisters-in-law. My mom and mother-in-law joined us for getting ready, along with the flower girls (our nieces!)," Thea reminisces.

Groom getting ready

Cameron and his groomsmen prepared for the day in the bridal suite. The groom looked dashing in a kilt from MacGregor MacDuff, a nod to the Scottish setting of their nuptials.

"The groomspeople were a collection of brothers in law and friends. Cam's best man was his dad which was extremely special," Thea shares. "My dad and stepdad also joined since everyone needed help figuring out how to put on their kilts!"

Ceremony

The ceremony took place on the picturesque grounds of Auchen Castle, with the Scottish weather cooperating perfectly for the outdoor event. "We were very lucky that Scottish weather allowed this, and it honestly was exactly as we hoped it would be," Thea says. "I wanted the signature overcast vibe for the ceremony and a light misty rain in the evening which we got."

The setting was nothing short of magical. "There's a fountain in the courtyard, and our florist set up a floral arch for us to stand by during the ceremony which was perfect," Thea describes.

As Thea made her way down the aisle, the air was filled with the haunting melody of bagpipes. "Cam's dad was a competitive bagpiper and also very close to Donald MacPhee who is a renowned bagpiper talent," Thea explains. "He was a guest at our wedding and graciously agreed to play the bagpipes for our ceremony. I'll never forget hearing the pipes as I walked towards Cam."

The couple's young family members played special roles in the ceremony. "Our wonderful nieces were our flower girls," Thea shares with a smile. "They took their role very seriously and did an excellent job!" Cameron adds, "Our nephew was the ring bearer. He wore a tiny kilt that matched the groomsmen - it was a huge hit!"

The most memorable moment for the couple was the exchange of vows. "I was hesitant to write our own due to nerves, but I'm so glad we did," Thea admits. "We, of course, both cried."

The ceremony was a beautiful blend of Scottish tradition and personal touches, creating an unforgettable experience for the couple and their guests.

Photoshoot after the ceremony

Following the ceremony, the newlyweds and their wedding party took advantage of the castle's stunning grounds for photos. "The venue is so great because there really isn't a bad spot to take photos," Thea enthuses. "Every corner is beautiful."

Wedding Venue & Decor

Auchen Castle provided the perfect backdrop for Thea and Cameron's dream wedding. The process of finding this magical venue was no small feat. "Hours and hours of research online for Scottish castle venues," Thea recalls. "When I discovered Auchen Castle, the positive reviews were endless and I was floored with the amazing all-inclusive package they offered. As a destination bride, this was huge for me since they hired almost all the vendors except for photo & video."

The color palette of the wedding was inspired by the Blackwatch tartan worn by the groomsmen. "Blackwatch tartan includes a navy blue and dark green so those were our main colors," Thea explains. "I kept everything else ivory and black."

The couple incorporated personal touches throughout the decor. "We ordered personalized vow books for the ceremony, and a personalized guest book which we used for guest polaroids," Thea shares. "Absolutely would recommend this for a guest book! We loved having more photos of our guests and it was a great activity, especially for kiddos."

The floral arrangements, created by To A Mountain Daisy, added a romantic touch to the castle's grandeur. "The real wow moment was our floral arch placed next to the fountain in the castle courtyard," Thea gushes. " In spite of the wind that day, this looked so romantic and gave it a whimsical secret garden vibe that I adored."

As guests moved through the castle and its grounds, they were transported into Thea and Cameron's love story. Every detail, from the tartan-inspired color scheme to the personalized touches, came together to create a truly magical atmosphere.

Reception

The reception was a joyous celebration of love, family, and Scottish culture. The highlight of the evening was the couple's first dance to "Corcovado" by Getz Gilberto. " We actually had a really fun date night where we listened to records and conducted a bracket to whittle it down to our first choice," the couple shares with a smile. "We knew we wanted to take dance lessons and this song felt like the perfect romantic option for the type of dance we wanted to do. Our dance teacher, Anne-Marie from Wedding Day Dance in NYC did such a great job choreographing the piece and it's such a special souvenir from the wedding day."

The dance has become a cherished memory for the couple. "Now any time we hear it, we drop what we're doing and do the dance," they laugh.

The menu was a delightful mix of Scottish tradition and modern favorites. "The food at the venue was truly wonderful," they rave. "We had a few traditional Scottish dishes on the dinner menu, but my favorite culinary detail was the cheese wheel and pork pie tower we included in the late night buffet. We also had fish and chip cones and pakoras which were fabulous choices."

The wedding cake, made by Sandra Braid, was a nod to UK traditions. "I wanted a traditional UK flavor," Thea explains. "So we did one layer of lemon and one was vanilla with raspberry jam."

The couple couldn't speak highly enough of their wedding vendors. "Could not imagine a better team," Thea gushes. "The folks Auchen Castle brings on are talented and kind, and the repeat compliment I've gotten from guests was about the service from the venue team and vendors."

She continues, "Our photographer, Bernadeta, was a true artist and had such a vision for our photos. She was excellent at coordinating different groups for photos and a wonderful presence throughout the day. Our videographer, Lee, was so sweet and subtle - I hardly noticed he was around when he was filming so we could just be our authentic selves."

The behind-the-scenes team also received high praise. "Hania and Gaynor, my hair and makeup team, were a fantastic energy in the getting ready suite and were such good sports with our TikTok antics," Thea laughs. "Lucy our florist was a champ and made the impossible happen in spite of windy weather."

As the night wore on, the castle was filled with laughter, love, and the sound of bagpipes – a perfect end to a perfect day. Thea and Cameron's wedding was not just a celebration of their love, but a testament to the power of careful planning, personal touches, and the magic of a Scottish castle setting.