I first spoke to Kaan about a year before his wedding. He and his fiancee, Müge, were just beginning their wedding planning journey. At the time, they hadn’t decided on the venue, date or even which planners to work with. But luckily, they chose me as their photographer right away. From that point on I shared my experiences and tips with them throughout the planning process. I like to think it helped because we ended up with an unforgettable wedding day! You can read the rest of “The Peninsula Istanbul Wedding Photos” story below the video and pictures….
Planning the Perfect Day
Before the wedding, I didn’t get a chance to meet Kaan in person because he was in the U.S. and I was busy shooting other events. However, I did have the opportunity to meet Müge and her family in Istanbul and it was such a pleasure. Their warmrth and incredible energy made it clear that this would be a special wedding.
The big day was set at The Peninsula Istanbul, a stuning venue in Galataport. This gorgeous hotel, part of the Galataport project, opened in 2023 with 177 rooms housed in beautifuly restored historic buildings. Its unique architecture, lush landscapng and incredible views of the Bosphorus and historical peninsula make it a dream location for any wedding.
Wedding Preparations Begin
On the morning of the wedding, my friend and videographer Gökhan and I arrived at The Peninsula. We were warmly welcomed by Ms Sevcan, the Catering Sales Manager who guided us through the day’s schedule. We also met the fantastic team from Jovie Event who handled the organization flawlesly.
Around noon, Müge and Kaan arrived at the hotel together, greeted with champagne by the hotel staff. We started in Muge’s room which was filled with beautiful details: wedding dress shaped cakes, custom cookies and delicious snacks. But the star of the room was undoubtedly the breathtaking view of the historical peninsula and the Bosphorus. Müge, her family and her friends were al so full of joy and positive energy, making our shoot a breeze.
Meanwhile, we also captured Kaan’s preparation moments. He looked sharp as his friends helped him get ready. It was so much fun to be part of these lively, candid moments.
Photos at The Peninsula Istanbul
Before the ceremony, we took some outdoor shots around the hotel. Müge and Kaan were such a dynamic duo that I barely had to give any direction. They were full of ideas and energy. Between their first dance rehersal and their tour of the wedding setup, we captured some incredible moments.
One of the great things about photographing weddings at compact venues like The Peninsula is how much time you save. There’s no traveling from place to place, which means more time for creative outdoor shots.
The wedding area, set against the Boshorus, was absolutely magical. You can see it for yourself in the photos. It’s hard to put such beauty into words. After the ceremony, guests gathered in the cocktail area to enjoy the sunset over the Bosphorus. Later, as night fell everyone moved to the dining area for dinner and speeches.
A Night to Remember
Now, here’s an interesting twist: the wedding day coincided with a massive football match. The Turkish national team was playing in the quarter finals of the European Championship against the Netherlands. Naturally, this was a big deal for everyone including me! 🙂 Thankfuly, every single guest showed up and the wedding turned out to be such an incredible evening. Although Turkey lost the match, the joyous atmosphere quickly brought everyone’s spirits backup.
Müge and Kaan’s first dance was one of the highlights of the evening. They performed the famous song “Alla Beni Pulla Beni” by Barış Manço and Deniz Tüney Aliefendioğlu. It was such a hit that they ended up performing it four more times throughout the night!
The celebrations continued with an after party inside the hotel, where the fun reached its peak. At the very end, Kaan invited all the vendors and hotel staff, including us, onto the dance floor for one last celebration. It was such a beautiful gesture and a perfect way to end the night.
We finally left the hotel at 3 am, exhausted but so happy. It was truly an unforgetable day with amazing people. Müge and Kaan, I wish you both endless happiness and joy in your journey together.
The Peninsula Istanbul Wedding Photos by Ufuk Sarisen
