The whole reason I got to explore Istanbul was to attend Maryam and Candan’s wedding, and finally we get to the part of the trip where it happened! I got to take engagement photos for them what feels like forever ago.
It was fun being able to hang out with my friends I knew from SF, as well as meeting other friends from other parts their lives too (we joked about swim friends versus land friends). They organized a few group activities for everybody, like a restaurant dinner and a hamam trip, and it was nice to have free time to venture out in smaller groups too.
Sunset Cruise
The day before the wedding, the couple organized a sunset cruise that took us from their wedding venue in the north, down to the south for the rehearsal dinner.
Hilariously, about 3 minutes after the boat pushed off from shore, we went right back to shore because one of Maryam’s friends literally missed the boat.
Just as I hoped, the light was incredible around sunset. Everybody was all glammed up and so photogenic.
Maryam
Jon
Lauren
Erin and Britt
Leah
Keira
Cem
Me, out of focus
Maryam and Candan
Wedding
The wedding was on the patio of a really nice hotel, and a lot of us stayed there for a few days. The best part was that when it got late and I was ready to call it a night, I just had to go up one floor to get back to my room.
There was a nice reception, also at sunset. For this day, I shot a roll of Porta 400 because I knew that it would get darker, and I’d want the option to be able to shoot a little longer. As always, the colors in Portra are wonderful.
Lauren, Jon and Hilary
Jon
Keira
Me! In focus
The couple chose sunflowers for their floral arrangements. In their speeches, they explained that part of the reason for picking them was how beautiful they are, but also how useful sunflowers are, because the seeds are edible and the oil is usable as well.
The wedding included some Persian traditions from Maryam’s side of the family. One was a tradition where Candan had to ask her three times to marry him, and for the first two the audience was encouraged to yell things out like “she’s busy! she’s at yoga” before on the third time, she finally says “baleh” for yes.
A moment while Maryam was walking in with her mother
Our friend Van officiated the ceremony in English, and Candan’s Turkish family was also in attendance, so Candan’s brother Cem provided translations in Turkish. The couple’s vows were so sweet and so kind and so beautiful, my friends absolutely caught me sniffling back some tears while I was listening.
Candan, Van and Cem getting set up on the stage
Later in the evening, there was a knife dance which was really fun and, if I understood correctly, involved Candan “paying off” women defending Maryam with knives and swords. Some were real, actual, sharp chef’s knives!
It was a really special, beautiful wedding and it was absolutely worth the trip to make it there. I’m so glad I was invited and so glad I could make it.