Bridal Inspiration Boards #73 ~ Turkish Delight

This month we've been hugely inspired by our very own travelling adventures for our style guide and will be taking you through our interpretation of a destination wedding in Turkey. I (Michelle) was lucky enough to jet off to sunnier climes at the start of May for a last-minute break before the madness known as 'The Wedding Season' takes hold. From next weekend we're jam-packed with weddings and a few other events keeping us busy until October and will be travelling the length and breadth of the country to deliver some pretty epic weddings for our clients.

Credits: flickr.com /Found on wedart.gr /  foxontherun.tumblr.com / Via Havva Basto /  wearesodroee.com / fineartamerica.com / 31.media.tumblr.com / Via Alex Gordon

THE INSPIRATION

My travels this time took me to Olu Deniz and Kalkan in Turkey, and for the first time ever I may add. I've travelled a lot throughout Europe, the US and Caribbean but never before experienced this wonderful land.

There is so much there to inspire you too: winding cobbled streets, colourful bazaars, uninterrupted views across the bay, a dramatic mountainous backdrop and a riotous medley of flora and fauna. The vibe is very much low-key and slow-paced, just how we like it! Dining is often outdoors, by candlelight, to the gentle strains of jazz music mixed with the lapping of the sea. So it is this vibe we're hoping to capture with our style guide, with a little added Pocketful of Dreams flair of course!.

Now it has to be said, destination weddings haven't typically knocked our socks off in the past and there are so many packaged operators out there who provide off-the-shelf weddings compete with flowers, cake, polyester chair covers and even a bridesmaid or two thrown in for good measure. But it doesn't have to be this way folks! Yes, marrying in another country and doing all your planning from miles across the sea does bring with it a few more challenges but it's nothing that a savvy planner can't sort out for you :) (shameless plug!) and really it's all just about doing your research and befriending the right people.

THE VENUE

Whilst in Turkey I was lucky enough to be shown around a few fabulous wedding venues - yes even on holiday I'm still working - by the Exclusive Escapes holiday company. If you've not heard of these guys before then I recommend you take a look, even if you're not planning on running off to Turkey to get married, they also organise Honeymoons in Turkey and I could not speak more highly of them. They manage a number of boutique hotels and villas across Turkey offering an exceptional personalised service, their portfolio is to-die-for and they totally turn the idea of a 'package' holiday on it's head.

So anyway onto the venue, I was shown two wonderful properties, both as gorgeous as each other but if I had to choose one for our guide today it is the Hotel Villa Mahal in Kalkan. Uber-chic styling with a breathtaking view across the deep blue sea, this is THE setting brides dream of when they plan to marry abroad. It's also been a winner of the Condé Nast Johansens’ award for Most Romantic Hotel in Europe and included in The Sunday Times Hot 100, so really proof enough if you need it that it's style personified.

As it is a boutique hotel they host smaller weddings (which destination weddings tend to be anyway) but you do have the option of partnering with another venue in the Exclusive Escapes portfolio for the different elements of your day if you so wish. Otherwise there's an expansive terrace to enjoy post-ceremony cocktails, and a stylish waterfront beach-club that's all yours for the festivities.

THE LOOK

For our bridal look we've chosen a stunning backless dress with cutwork sleeves and a flowing fishtail by Israeli designer Nurit Hen. Paired with an orange lip, simple dewy make-up and a showstopping pair of Jimmy Choo's. The groom has a lightweight summer suit in soft blue so he still looks sharp but doesn't swelter under the midday heat. For the maids a selection of blue-toned slinky gowns would look just perfect, topped off with a unique Aurélie Bidermann bracelet as an extra special gift to your maids.

Credits:  Found on 100layercake.com / Found on photography.ellelens.com / fromtherightbank.com / Via Karen McCully / liefdevoorlekkers.nl

THE DETAILS

Whenever we plan a destination wedding for our clients it's really important for us to make local connections, so an expert team like those at Exclusive Escapes is imperative to have within our network. We'd be relying on them to manage a lot of the practical and logistical elements, recommending local suppliers to help bring our design to life. For a destination wedding design we'd look to add plenty of personalised touches and details that can be easily created using the fruits of the land (so to speak) instead of having to transport too much across the water.

Firstly the scene would be set with a sophisticated invitation with custom-mixed orange gouache calligraphy over a thick navy paper stock, adding in a bespoke designed envelope liner reminiscent of the Turkish Iznik designs. A backdrop would be created from twinkling mosaic lanterns and we would source local pottery and hand embroidered linens to complement.

As we're going for a laid-back affair the food would of course be served family-style, with huge platters of brightly-coloured mezzes to accompany freshly-caught fish. The dinner would be bursting with flavour and goodness, very Ottolenghi style, and of course finishing off with Turkish tea.

It's fair to say Turkey stole a little of my heart and I hope to revisit this beautiful country again, so if you happen to be planning your own destination wedding and need a helping hand, do give me a call. 

Annabel View all Annabel's articles

Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.