A Heartfelt Turkish Wedding Experience
Last weekend, I found myself in the picturesque city of Bodrum, Turkey, attending a wedding that promised to be as unique as the setting itself. To be completely honest, I wasn’t technically invited—it was Emma’s invite, and I simply tagged along, bringing my camera as my plus-one.
This was not only my first time experiencing the charm of Turkey but also my introduction to a Turkish-style wedding. While the ceremony didn’t follow the strict conventions of a traditional Muslim wedding, it was infused with rich local customs that seemed to reflect the spirit of modern Turkey. With an eclectic mix of foreign guests, the celebration became a melting pot of cultures, blending heartfelt traditions with international flair—a vibrant, unforgettable experience.
The ceremony unfolded in the stunning coastal city of Bodrum, a place I was delighted to learn is the historic city of Halicarnassus. Yes, the very same Halicarnassus that was home to the legendary Mausoleum—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. But that’s a story for another time.
The following photos offer my personal perspective of this special celebration. I attended as a guest, not as the official photographer, so most of the pictures were taken from my table. Unlike the official photographer, my goal wasn’t to make everything and everyone look perfectly polished—though, to be fair, they naturally did—but rather to capture memories as they unfolded.
This selection is my gift to the bride and groom, a way for them to look back and relive (or perhaps discover) the emotions of the day: the tension and nervousness, the joy and laughter, and the eventual fatigue that comes after a long, love-filled day surrounded by friends and family. In my opinion, these candid moments have a way of bringing memories to life more vividly than any posed portrait ever could.
I won’t be captioning every photo, just the few I feel deserve a little extra commentary.
Don’t you hate it when you get a call in the worst possible moment? (Phone number blurred out for privacy reasons)
‘Hey, make sure I look good in that picture,’ is something she didn’t say—but I’m pretty sure she was thinking it.
This tradition was completely new to me. The groom starts by dancing alone, and one by one, people approach and throw money at him. Eventually, the bride joins in, and together they continue the dance while cash rains down around them.
Of course, one of the most anticipated moments of the evening was the bouquet toss.
Ready, set...
"I'm free."
"Who got it?"
After the ceremony, we had a brief photo session in near-total darkness. Apologies for the graininess—my ISO was cranked up to 40,000 to capture anything at all.
Then we went to the beach and lit up balloons.
Banjo Joe lives life at his own pace, embracing a rhythm of freedom and simplicity that contrasts with the fast-moving world around him. A musician with The Whistle Pigs, Joe spends his days off the grid, playing banjo, enjoying the quiet of nature, and hanging out with close friends. His band’s hit song, “Long Term Plan,” reflects his unhurried journey, where he finds meaning in the small moments—like a late-night jam session or a quiet morning spent fixing coffee. “I’m just rambling through, figuring it out as I go, but I’ve got a plan. It’s a long term plan,” says Joe, capturing the essence of his laid-back yet purposeful lifestyle.