Salomé and Elinor turned their love story into a fantasy fairytale, complete with sword-cut cake, Jellycat eggs, and an emo-fuelled dance floor. Their relationship started the way a lot of modern ones do: online. The difference is that they didn’t just find each other on a dating app. They met on Tumblr, bonding over a video game they both loved. Within days of meeting in person, they knew they’d found their match and in 2022 they proposed to each other at Disneyland.

When it came to their wedding, they knew they wanted something nerdy, unconventional and themed. They were inspired by their love of fantasy, wanting the day to feel like a medieval and rococo fairytale. Or as they explained it to friends, “come dressed like you’re going to the Met Gala and the theme is Fantasy!” The venue itself leaned heavily into whimsy, meaning they didn’t need to do much in the way of extra décor. It was already a fairytale setting.

Instead of a traditional wedding party, their friends created a “fairy cohort”. The couple got ready together, which made the start of the day intimate, romantic and unbothered by outdated rules.

Their ceremony was led by Gerrie and Susan Douglas-Scott, the first women to marry each other in Scotland. The bilingual ceremony included vows, a handfasting, and rings. Salomé’s family could follow along in Spanish, while Elinor’s guests heard the English version. Gerrie’s warmth made them feel like part of her family, and Susan’s presence added even more meaning. “They’re honestly absolute legends,” Salomé said. “Eli’s vows were a letter they had once sent to me while we were long-distance, while mine were thanks and hopes for the future. We closed the ceremony with a quote from His Dark Materials.”

The reception had its own kind of magic. A friend performed a storytelling set about a fool and his wife, which everyone agreed felt like a perfect reflection of the couple. They cut their cake with a massive sword and, instead of a bouquet toss, they launched two Jellycat bride egg plushies into the crowd. The playlist switched between emo hits, Spanish anthems, and English bangers, keeping the dance floor in rotation all night. Elsewhere, a group of friends kicked off a chess championship that ran until 3am.

Fashion was another area where they refused to follow the script. Salomé wore a Japanese Lolita dress for the ceremony, followed by a Selkie gown sourced second-hand on Vinted. Elinor’s first look was a vintage seventies dress, and the second was a mix of vintage, handmade, and pre-owned pieces. No designer price tags, just clothing that felt right for them.

Looking back, the couple had a few words for the industry. “We wish there was less gendering, more price clarity (list it on your website please!) and less pushing of ‘wedding essentials’ (nothing is essential!),” Salomé said. “Also stop with the obsession with timelessness. No wedding is ever going to be timeless; they’re a lovely little time capsule and a piece of history and that’s beautiful.”