Goodness guys, this one is so full of wonderfully fun, sentimental details. The story: Volkan + Damla were born in Istanbul, but actually met while living in NY. Since they don’t get to see their families often, it was important to choose a location where they could say I Do in front of those people, in their native language. Damla grew up spending summers at Sarigerme Beach, so with so many cherished memories there, it was kind of no brainer. Pair that with the white sand and total paradise vibes, and you’ve got yourself a dream destination!
Thanks, Yeliz Atici Photography for sharing D + V’s big day with us!
Custom guest totes and hotel goodies: room keys with the wedding logo, hangover kits, daily pillow chocolates, vintage hankies, starfish flip flops by Damla’s mom, and pashminas in case guests got cold during the ceremony.
Damla tells it, This was a truly DIY wedding, everything was hand picked, selected and made with the help of our family. My husband and I planned every little detail together, and my mother executed the wedding, took our ideas beyond our imagination and made our dream wedding possible. It took us over 5 months to come up with every detail and many Facetime calls since Volkan and I live in NY. It was my complete trust in my mother and her patience that made the wedding planning smooth and fun even though our wedding destination was in another country.
Their wedding schedule:
The night before the wedding: Welcome BBQ + cocktail party, with Turkish cuisine
Wedding day: Guests relaxed on the beach (surf, kayak, beach volleyball), bride got ready in the early afternoon with bridesmaids, mother, and aunts, while the groom prepped on the terrace with his guys. Damla walked down the aisle to Somewhere Over The Rainbow at sunset.
Reception: Dinner and dancing at the tents and on the beach until the early morning
The next day: A goodbye brunch, where they also found out their honeymoon destination…
That afternoon, we found out about our surprise honeymoon location that my brother had generously arranged for us as a wedding gift. We figured out the location from the hints that my brother left for us in our guest book, which was a quilt that we are hoping to use as a blanket for our kids in the future. And then we were off to the Maldives!
The bride’s mom sent her the YolanCris website and she immediately knew she wouldn’t have a gown by any other designer. Lucky her, she was able to go to Barcelona and meet sisters Yolan and Cristina in person, and get her dream dress handmade for her.
Isn’t this scene amaze? Damla had her heart set on a certain shade of turquoise, and when they couldn’t find it, they decided to buy clear vases from Ikea and dye them.
Damla says, After walking down the aisle on the beach, we faced towards to our family and friends, I had my husband’s hand in my hand, and I was never that sure about my love and my future, as I was at that moment.
That’s the sweetest. Congratulations to you both!
Photographer: Yeliz Atici Photography / Videographer: Dugme Film / Location: Sarigerme, Turkey / Hotel: TT Hotels / Flowers: Lisan-I Ezhar / All Signage + Invitations: Bride & Groom / Wedding Cake: Le Firin / Mini Cakes: Five O’Clock / Vases: Clear Ikea vases dyed turquoise / Bridal Gown: Yolan Cris
