Our first meeting with Hamid and Madia was about a short two hour photo shoot. However, as the conversation progressed, things changed and we almost ended up organizing a small-scale wedding in the enchanting atmosphere of Istanbul. You can find the rest of the “Pakistani Destination Nikah in Turkey” text below the photos.
A Day That Started in Sultanahmet
Hamid and Madia are a Pakistani couple living in England. They were staying at the Hotel İpek Palas in Sirkeci for their Istanbul vacation. They had a small but warm group with them consisting of only their closest family members. In fact, they were a friendly group consisting of siblings and cousins.
I was with Gökhan from StoryFilms and we picked up the group from the hotel first. Our shooting day started with the nikah ceremony at the Sultanahmet Mosque. The mosque’s 400 year-old historical and mystical atmosphere truly continues to fascinate us every time. After the nikah, we did not forget to take group shots in the mosque courtyard. Then, we started shooting photos at one of the iconic terraces of Istanbul. The sky with seagulls flying over the Bosphorus was our background for the photo session. Madia’s eye catching red traditional wedding dress and Hamid’s matching black dominant red detailed suit were very impressive.
A Dreamlike Night on the Bosphorus
I think the best moments of the day were experienced on the boat on the Bosphorus. Hamid wanted to make the dinner a special experience and one of the best options for this was to rent a luxury motor yacht that tours the Bosphorus. When we arrived at the boat anchored in Arnavutköy, we were greeted by DJ Ozi’s energetic music. We completed our shooting as the sun was setting and then had a delicious dinner.
The entertainment on the boat continued throughout the night. First, the cake that we specially arranged for the couple was cut. Then, we projected the words “Madia & Hamid” and “Happy Marriage” under the Bosphorus Bridge with lasers. These moments became one of the most unforgettable frames of the wedding. The surprise of the night was the belly dance show! Both the couple and their families had fun, danced and enjoyed these special moments.
Surprise Finale on the Seafront
A completely different surprise was waiting for us when we returned to the seafront around 10pm: street musicians! They both played and sang as soon as we got off. This spontaneous party brought the energy of the whole day to the top. We ended the night dancing on the beach with family members.
I can say that Hamid and Madia’s wedding went beyond a photo shoot for me. Actually, I can say that this happened because Hamid motivated me. He asked me for help in every way and believed that I could do it. Of course, I did not undertake very difficult things and could not find topics that I did not know. During this process, I organized many details from food organization to transfers, from the boat to the DJ and dance show. It was really enjoyable to expand the boundaries of my job and make couples’ dreams come true. Maybe wedding planning will be an area that I will think about more in the future 🙂
Dear Hamid and Madia, I hope this unforgettable Istanbul night will be one of the best memories of your life. I wish you a lifetime of happiness!
Pakistani Destination Nikah in Turkey by Ufuk Sarisen
