Anlam & Karim
A Sicilian Wedding at Villa Valguarnera
An Elegant Multi-Day Wedding Celebration in Istanbul
For Quinn and Yaseen, we had the pleasure of planning a spectacular multi-day destination wedding celebration in Istanbul, bringing together 174 family members and friends for several days of unforgettable experiences. We wanted their guests to experience the very best of Istanbul, creating a wedding itinerary that combined the city's vibrant atmosphere, breathtaking views and beautiful waterfront settings.
The celebrations began with a fun-filled sunset yacht party cruising along the Bosphorus, followed by a beautiful welcome dinner overlooking Istanbul's magnificent skyline, before culminating in an elegant wedding at the Kocataş Mansions.
Throughout the celebrations, our focus was on creating a wonderful experience for the couple and their guests, with each event offering a different atmosphere while allowing everyone to enjoy the beauty and energy of Istanbul.
A Romantic Ceremony Overlooking the Bosphorus
For the ceremony, we wanted the design to feel romantic, elegant and connected to the surroundings, allowing the spectacular views to remain the centrepiece.
Working with a fresh palette of soft greens and whites, we incorporated beautiful, organically shaped floral arrangements featuring hydrangeas and lush foliage. The arrangements were designed at varying heights, creating a Quinn’s preferred natural garden-inspired look while beautifully framing the couple against the water.
With the ceremony scheduled for the late afternoon, we were able to make the most of the beautiful natural light as guests gathered to witness Quinn and Yaseen exchange their vows. One of the most meaningful aspects of the ceremony was having Quinn's uncle, Ethan, officiate the wedding, adding a particularly personal touch to the occasion.
A Beautiful Setting for Bridal Preparations and a Thoughtfully Planned Wedding Day
One of the things we particularly love about Kocataş Mansions is its beautiful, spacious hotel rooms, set within the historic Ottoman mansions. With their elegant interiors and wonderful sense of history, they provide a stunning setting for the wedding morning, allowing Quinn and her bridesmaids plenty of space to get ready together in a relaxed atmosphere.
An important part of our planning was carefully designing the wedding day schedule to allow the couple enough time together and to make the most of the property's exceptional photography locations.As the historic mansions and waterfront wedding deck are situated in two separate areas of the property, we carefully coordinated the transfers and timings for the couple, bridal party and families.
We arranged an intimate first look followed by portraits around the mansions, before transferring everyone to the waterfront deck for further photographs by the infinity pool overlooking the Bosphorus.By scheduling these moments before the ceremony, Quinn and Yaseen could enjoy some precious time together, capture beautiful memories and still have plenty of time to celebrate with their guests afterwards.
A Lush Garden-Inspired Wedding Design Overlooking the Bosphorus
One of the most spectacular features of Kocataş Mansions is its expansive wedding deck, spread across two levels on a hillside overlooking the Bosphorus. From here, the panoramic views stretch across the water and the lush, green hills of Istanbul, creating a setting that feels almost Mediterranean, reminiscent of the beautiful landscapes of southern Turkey.
For Quinn and Yaseen's wedding, we wanted to embrace this natural beauty and create a lush, garden-inspired atmosphere that would complement the surroundings. As the deck is a large, open space, we divided the ceremony and dinner areas with a specially created wall of greenery, giving each area its own identity while making the entire setting feel more intimate and immersed in nature.
Our design concept was to bring the warmth and comfort of an elegant garden living room into an outdoor wedding setting, combining abundant greenery, natural textures, soft lighting and comfortable lounge furniture.
A particularly important detail was the exact shade of green chosen for the table lampshades. We spent considerable time finding the right colour to complement the hydrangeas and the surrounding landscape. The soft green lamps brought the warmth and intimacy of interior lighting into the outdoor setting, while matching green linen napkins and carefully considered stationery completed the tablescape. Glass hurricane candles added another layer of warmth as daylight faded.
For the floral design, we chose an abundance of hydrangeas in different shades of green, complemented by beautiful white blooms, delicate trailing amaranthus and sculptural stems. Fig branches were incorporated into the arrangements, carrying through a botanical motif that also featured in the wedding stationery.
The nine long dinner tables were arranged across the lower level of the deck, dressed in crisp white linens and surrounded by beautiful wooden chairs with woven cane backs. We wanted the flowers to feel organic and abundant, so we combined low, lush arrangements with taller stems and varying heights, creating movement and texture along the tables.
On the upper level, we created a dedicated dance floor surrounded by comfortable lounge areas, giving the space the atmosphere of an elegant outdoor living room. White sofas, soft green cushions, natural wooden coffee tables, upholstered stools, table lamps and floral arrangements created inviting spaces where guests could relax, enjoy a drink and remain connected to the celebrations.
The stone walls and mature trees provided a beautiful natural backdrop to the DJ and dance floor, adding character and a wonderful contrast to the contemporary furniture and lighting.
Another favourite feature was the bespoke bar, which we developed from an inspiration photograph Quinn had shared with us. The white bar featured a series of softly illuminated arches with woven-texture panels, decorative lanterns and beautifully displayed bottles, creating an elegant architectural feature that complemented the natural materials used throughout the design
Sunset Cocktails and Live Music on the Sax Terrace
As the late afternoon sun cast a golden glow across the Bosphorus, guests made their way to the beautiful SAX Terrace, surrounded by lush greenery and mature trees, with breathtaking views stretching across the water. For this part of the celebration, we had arranged the exclusive hire of the SAX restaurant and terrace, transforming it into a private setting where Quinn and Yaseen's guests could relax and enjoy the magic of an Istanbul sunset.
The terrace already had a wonderful character, with its curved timber seating alcoves, comfortable lounges and striking bar illuminated by warm amber lighting. We wanted to preserve this natural charm, adding only carefully considered details, including cocktail tables dressed in soft green linens and delicate floral arrangements to create continuity with the wedding's botanical design.
We carefully planned the drinks and canapé service to ensure guests were welcomed immediately with chilled wines and refreshing gin, basil, cucumber and green apple cocktails, accompanied by delicious bites including salmon crostini and falafel macarons.
To bring the reception to life, we arranged for The Beauties to perform from the terrace's natural stage, with the spectacular Bosphorus providing a stunning backdrop. Their vibrant live music filled the terrace as the sun slowly set over Istanbul, creating a wonderful atmosphere of relaxed elegance and celebration.
By carefully coordinating the timing, entertainment and flow of the reception, we ensured Quinn and Yaseen could join their guests, enjoy the music and soak up these special moments before the excitement of their grand entrance and evening celebrations.and delicious canapés..
A Spectacular Zaffa Entrance at Sunset
One of the things we particularly wanted to achieve was to make the transition from cocktails to dinner an experience in itself. Rather than simply inviting guests to move to another area, we planned a dramatic traditional Zaffa entrance to introduce the evening celebrations.
As the sun began to set over the Bosphorus, the live music on the terrace came to an end and the distant sounds of traditional drums began to fill the air. Quinn and Yaseen, accompanied by their bridal party and the Zaffa musicians, made their way along the pathway towards the terrace and dance floor.
As the drumming grew louder, guests followed the couple into a wonderful celebration filled with music, dancing and excitement. It was a fantastic moment, bringing everyone together and creating an incredible atmosphere before dinner. We loved how the Zaffa brought a completely different energy to the wedding, transitioning beautifully from the romantic ceremony and relaxed cocktails into a lively evening celebration.
An Evening of Fine Dining and Live Entertainment
For the dinner reception, we wanted to combine an elegant dining experience with live entertainment that would keep the atmosphere lively throughout the evening. Working with the Six Senses culinary team, we coordinated a seated dinner featuring a selection of beautifully prepared dishes, including pumpkin ravioli and a choice of lamb, sea bass or vegetarian main courses.
We scheduled heartfelt speeches from the couple's families and closest friends during dinner, creating lovely personal moments amongst the celebrations.To bring another dimension to the evening, we arranged for Beau Ties to perform amongst the dinner tables.
We loved how this made the entertainment feel more interactive, with the musicians moving amongst guests and creating a wonderful atmosphere without interrupting the dining experience.The combination of beautiful food, candlelit tables, live music and the spectacular outdoor setting made for a truly memorable evening.
Dancing Beneath the Istanbul Sky
As dinner drew to a close, we wanted the transition into the evening party to feel natural and full of energy. The celebrations began with two special family dances, including a particularly joyful moment when Quinn danced with her father to ABBA's Dancing Queen.
DJ Ahmed then took over, transforming the outdoor dance floor into a vibrant party beneath the Istanbul night sky. With the dinner tables surrounding the dance floor, guests remained connected to the celebrations throughout the evening, creating a wonderful atmosphere of music and dancing.
At midnight, we planned another transition, bringing everyone together for the wedding cake cutting before inviting guests inside Sax for the after party. With a new indoor party setting, cocktails and late-night food, the celebrations continued until 3 am, bringing an unforgettable wedding day to a wonderful close.
