Introducing the McMorleys <3
- Hazel Marie
- Aug 28
- 5 min read
It was back in 2021 and Lauren and Elliot matched on not one, but two dating apps! Whilst Tinder was the first place they both swiped right, it was on Facebook Dating that they actually began chatting, and Elliot impressed Lauren with his best dad jokes.
When they finallt exchanged phone numbers, Lauren saved Elliot in her phone and added a little sunshine emoji next to his name, because he was so lovely and happy. Elliot had saved Lauren in his phone too, and he added a four-leaf clover next to her name, because he felt so lucky to have met her!
They texted a little, and Elliot was being shy, so Lauren stepped in and finally asked, “Should we actually go on a date then?”
Elliot picked Lauren up from home, gave her a cheeky little wink when she got in the car, and whisked her off for an evening at The Printyard.
They hit it off straight away. Lauren was smiling and laughing, and Elliot found her energy and enthusiasm contagious. He didn’t realise a lot of it was because she’d had two very strong rum and cokes to calm her pre-date nerves!
Lauren says it was the best first date she had ever been on. The whole night, they just couldn’t stop talking, and after a few hours together, Elliot knew he had to spend more time with this incredible woman. He wanted to know everything about her!
As the date came to an end, Elliot drove back to Lauren’s and cheekily asked, “Can I come in and meet the dog?”
The rest....as they say....is history.
Despite spending every weekend together for almost two months, Elliot was holding out for the 12th of June to make it official. One, because 12 is Lauren’s favourite number, and two, because it was then an easy date to remember, as her birthday was the following month, the 12th July.
When Lauren said yes, he asked, just for future reference, what kind of engagement ring styles do you like?
As they approached Lauren’s birthday, Elliot ordered a special birthday card online, and he had taken the risk of writing “I love you” inside it.
He confesses he actually first had the thought on their third date, but three months in felt like an acceptable time to say it….. And even when he did, Lauren wasn’t quite sure she believed him.
She said it back straight away, and not long after that birthday, Lauren made a note in her diary referencing the four-leaf clover next to her name in his phone that read “ Buy Elliot a four-leaf clover for his wedding suit”...
Lauren says that Elliot was easy to fall in love with… he’s her better half, the tomato to her bread, the chip to her McFlurry
Apparently, on their first date, Elliot said that he wasn’t that fussed about marriage, which made Lauren a little sad, as it’s something she had always imagined, but meeting Lauren completely changed Elliot's perspective.
He tells me Lauren is his soul mate. He wants to fall asleep every night next to her and wake up every morning hearing her complain that he was breathing too loudly or keeping her awake with his snoring!
They had talked about their future together. They knew they wanted the same things, and as they talked about marriage more, and had their fingers measured for rings, they decided given Lauren hates surprises, an upcoming trip to Thailand would be the perfect place for a proposal.
Despite knowing it would likely happen on the trip, Lauren didn’t know exactly when, and whilst every day seemed to be a more romantic setting, the ring was yet to appear. A romantic lantern festival, no ring, a trip down the river, no ring. Every time Elliot thought it was the perfect moment, his nerves got the better of him.
Finally, on a trip back to their hotel in a Songthaew, Elliot found the courage and blurted out “fuck it…. I’m doing it now” and got down on one knee in the back of the moving truck.
When it came to their wedding ceremony both Lauren and Elliot wanted to write personal vows..... here's just a snipper of what they created
Lauren's Vows
Elliot, I was someone who never thought
I’d meet ‘the one.’ I didn’t believe in soulmates or the classic
‘when you know, you know’… but then I met you.
The parts of me that felt ‘too much’, too chaotic, too sensitive… you embraced with warmth and understanding and the parts of me that were bright and joyful, you helped to make even brighter.
Elliot you’re not just my person, the one I love more than anyone else in the world - you’re someone my soul recognises. The calm to my chaos, the anchor to my spark. My twin flame - not because we’re the same, but because we burn brighter together and complement each other in all the best ways.
I am the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, and it’s because of you.
Elliot's Vows
Lauren, we had our first date on a chilly Wednesday evening, and on those first few dates watching top gun at the open air cinema at hoisted slate mine, I actually did think, some day I will be stood opposite you at the "alter"
I love our laughs together, I love that it's you that makes my life better, I love coming home to you everyday after work. I love your laugh (when my jokes actually are funny) and I love how often we think and say the same thing
Life with you has so far has been incredible, can you believe we are officially homeowners together? We can put holes in the ceiling in the kitchen and dining room and nobody can stop us.
And we are Yuki’s parents together, even though he prefers your parents to us.
During the ceremony I hosted a Quiz where the guests had to guess who was the most....
romantic...
messiest
most addicted to their phone
liked by Yuki...
They also chose a reading by their niblings... entitled
Pairs of things that go together
Pigeons with park
Stars with dark
Sand with sea
and you with me.
Hats with heads
Pillows with beds
Sky with blue
and me with you.
Of course their bestest boi Yuki was a huge part of the day....not only did he have a VIP entrance to the ceremony, he was their trusted witness on the wedding certificate and star of the show during their drinks reception. There was even a meme about him on the wedding breakfast table...
Lauren is a wedding photographer herself and having worked with her multiple times over the past few years I was honoured when she asked me to officiate her ceremony.
The day was absolutely incredible from start to finish....the decor, the colours, the music...the vibes....
I'm so happy for Mr and Mrs McMorley and their son Yuki <3
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