Small wedding ceremony image from Istanbul Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, Balat, Istanbul, Turkey
First of all, in Istanbul, Vassia and Aris decided to organize a wedding ceremony in the church in front of a small group from their close friends and family. Thereafter they decided to give a wedding party in Athens. I had the chance to take hundreds of photos during the 45-minute religious ceremony in this magnificent building.
They are a couple who reached me from Athens, Greece. Since the origins of Aris’s family are from Istanbul, they found it appropriate to marry here and to have a wedding party in Athens. Aris’s parents were born in Istanbul. The grandparents are still in Istanbul, in Buyukada. Aris was still spending his summers in Istanbul, so it was very important for them to marry in the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Istanbul.
Nisantasi, Istanbul wedding photo of the bride getting her hair prepared for the Elopement wedding
The gray walls of Sofa Hotel Istanbul are a great backdrop for photography. The daylight coming through large windows was awesome.
Nisantasi, Istanbul Wedding photo of The bride's parents helping the groom
The bride's parents are helping their son in the hotel room for the wedding ceremony.
Istanbul, Turkey Wedding image of The bride's father helping her with her shoe
The bride's father is helping her with her wedding shoes. It was also an emotional moment.
Balat, Istanbul, Turkey Wedding image at the Cathedral with the groom and the guests outside
Istanbul Greek Orthodox Patriarchate or Ecumenical Patriarchate, also called St. George Cathedral in Fener is an impressive architecture. It is also seen as the representative and religious center for 300 million Orthodox Christians around the world. We came to the Cathedral with the groom and the guests before the bride arrived at the wedding.
Balat, Istanbul Elopement image of The couple going through the rice
The couple, who left the church after the wedding ceremony, went through the rice thrown by the guests as they exited the cathedral. Throwing rice is available in many national and sectarian traditions. This action generally represents abundance and fertility.
Balat, Istanbul, Turkey Wedding image of The bride throwing the bouquet
The bride is throwing the bouquet just after the ceremony in the garden of the cathedral.
Istanbul, Turkey Elopement Image of the parents of the bride finding rice in her hair
The parents of the bride are searching for the rice in her hair at the beginning of the reception.
Ulus, Istanbul, Turkey Elopement couple holding each other during this Wedding photoshoot
The couple holding each other during this photoshoot with the city lights displayed in the background at Ulus 29, the reception location. The guests spent the day under the sunset on the terrace while watching the unique Bosphorus view.