A Beautiful, Bohemian Scottish Celebration | Real Weddings: Rebecca Hall & Michael Wales
The Scottish Highlands provided the perfect natural backdrop for the bohemian, rustic-chic nuptials of Michael and Rebecca
“Michael tells me he chose me from the minute he saw me. I like to argue that I chose him, but secretly I believe the former,” recalls Rebecca Hall, when asked about the first time she met her now husband, in 2017, at a Dubai beach club. Five years after that encounter and many exciting adventures later – trips included ice climbing in Austria, ziplining through mountains in Oman, driving a TukTuk through Sri Lanka, winter mountaineering in Scotland, and climbing in Russia and Nepal – the couple married in front of 140 loved ones at the National Trust property Mar Lodge Estate, in the Scottish Highlands.
Given her role as the PR and Communications Director at Atlantis Dubai, the bride-to-be had high expectations of the day, and with the help of her mother and mother-in-law “who worked on everything from the cake to the flowers, buttonholes and other decorations,” managed to pull it off without the aid of a planner. The meticulous organiser smiles, telling us, “It meant a great deal to both myself and Michael to have so many of their personal touches and talents on display at our wedding.”
The day had a wild, bohemian feel in keeping with the natural surroundings, with native flora, fauna plus pampas and dried grass accented with antique glassware, macramé-covered jars and candles.
Wild Rover, a sustainable and ethical business served locally sourced and organic produce, with as little waste as possible, with the brief being, “delicious but simple home-cooked food that everyone would remember but, more importantly enjoy and eat.”
Intimate touches permeated every aspect of the big day, from the three-tier cake baked by Suzanne, mother of the groom, that featured their favourite flavours, to their choice of celebrant, Dr Andrew Ross, who’d been a close friend of Rebecca’s since the age of 11. Another touching moment? “Michael and I both wrote our own vows, and what can usually be the most daunting part of a wedding, was truly the most lovely and enjoyable of it all,” the 35-year-old bride reminisces.
The choice of entertainment was as eclectic as the couple themselves. The nine-piece Scottish Soul Collection belted out classics from the ’70s to the ’90s – Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game was the first dance – but there was also a young bagpiper nodding to the location’s heritage, a Scottish Cèilidh, and Rebecca was walked down the aisle by her father while a string quartet did their rendition of Guns N Roses’ Sweet Child O’ Mine.
A week after the celebrations, the couple jetted off to LA then Mexico City, then indulged in some relaxation at the One & Only Palmilla in Cabo San Lucas.
BRIDE’S BLACK BOOK
Dress: Christie Nicole Eileen Gown, christienicolebridal.com
Shoes: Jimmy Choo Sacora 100, jimmychoo.com
Hair and makeup: Simone Saint, simonesaint.com, Julia Stonach, Instagram.com/julzstron
Wedding rings: Al Fouad Jewellery Dubai, aussiemikes.org
Jewellery: Eternity hoop earrings, mariatash.com
1970’s gold bangle antique cocktail watch, IWC Schaffhausen
Groom’s suit: Suited & Booted, suitedandbooteddubai.com
Groom’s shoes: EDHÈN loafers, edhenmilano.com
Photographer Luke Bell, lukebellphotography.co.uk
Videographer: Roo Stain, roostain.com
Venue: Mar Lodge Estate, nts.org.uk
Caterer: Wild Rover Food, wildroverfood.com
Florist: Mothers of the bride and groom
Music: Calan Daniels (Wedding piper),The Wedding String Quartet, theweddingstringquartet.com, The Scottish Soul Collective, scottishsoulcollective.com,
Sailcloth tent: Elegant Pitches, elegantpitches.com
Invitation and calligraphy: Pale Press London, palepresslondon.com
From The Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s Bride June 2023 Issue
