Once upon a time, in a land far, far away from any sensible life decisions (also known as Ireland), Thea embarked on a grand adventure with her trusty sidekick, now Maid of Honour, Cecilia. It was during this escapade that Thea had an epiphany – working 100 hours a week and jet-setting across continents wasn't exactly a recipe for a thriving love life. So, faster than you can say "luck of the Irish," she applied for a master's at St. Andrews.
Now, let me paint you a picture: Thea, city girl extraordinaire, with a questionable sense of geographical decision-making, landed in rural Scotland without ever setting foot in St. Andrews or Edinburgh. Some might argue it wasn't her most thought-out move, but hey, who needs a map when you've got a sense of adventure?
As fate would have it, the first three months were a whirlwind of Thea challenging her professors' life choices and making stealthy trips back to London. Amidst all the academic chaos, it took her a hot minute to notice a charming northerner in her midst. James, the man of the hour, made his grand entrance when he invited his flatmate Jenny's friends over for dinner. Thea suffering from the worst-ever cold (pre-COVID era, mind you) thought this was a tremendous idea to avoid having to cook. James, ever the culinary wizard (or so he claims), whipped up a steak and ale pie that, to this day, he claims sealed the deal. A legend that still remains unverified.
Despite Thea's attempts to convince herself and James that a 5-year age gap was insurmountable, love prevailed. Friends were left in shock as James moved in a mere two weeks into their courtship. Rumor has it, the irresistible combo of a personal chef and live-in laundromat was too good for him to resist.
Fast forward through 6 houses, 2 countries, and the addition of a batshit crazy dog, and here they are. Thea's not-so-subtle engagement hints finally hit their mark, and the rest is history – a quirky, adventurous, and love-filled history that brought us to this very moment. Cue the confetti and prepare for a wedding that promises to be as wild as their journey together! 🎉💕
The first three months at St Andrews were also a whirlwind for James. Unlike Thea, he enjoyed an allegedly 'thriving' love life, having first introduced himself to her one evening in a local pub with with another romantic prospect (whoops!). James was struck by Thea's confidence, sure-footedness and as he later learned in their business lectures, habit for always expressing an opinion. At times, even challenging the perspective of their lecturers.
Wow! Challenging the intellectual authority of a lecturer? Very bold, James thought. And always delivered in what sounded like a fuzzy North American accent - flashes of an exotic international coupling were racing through James' mind.
Just imagine it, the dynamism of a Stoke-on-Trent cum California, Florida, or Washington State couple? James could already picture a future filled with luxury coastal living and sunshine.
Remarkably, James' coastal living ambitions were realised shortly thereafter. When he and Thea relocated to not Sunshine Boulevard but Bergen - the rainiest city in Europe that enjoys an average of 239 wet days per year...
...the last time he relies on his knowledge of world accents, James thought.
But rewinding to St. Andrews...where exotic living ambitions were still intact, James went to great lengths to hide a 5-year age gap between him and Thea, repeatedly purchasing £4.99 bottles of wine from a local Tesco Express to prove to her, beyond any doubt, he was indeed a man of both maturity, and sophisticated taste. Inevitably, this alluring combination proved too good to resist for Thea.
5 long years later and the addition of one perfectly behaved pooch, we are here. Thea's repeated threats to propose to James (if he didn't ask her first) have finally paid off. The rest as they say, is history. Cue the confetti and prepare for a wedding that promises several character assasinations of James delivered by toastmaster, best man and perhaps the juiciest of all, Thea's Dad.