Lauren and Mert threw an intimate Old Mill wedding for a select few family and friends. It was a very untypical wedding day compared to our usual routine (it was on a Monday for starters!), but we loved every single second.
Lauren & Mert’s Old Mill Wedding
When Lauren met Mert, she dropped everything, and moved. To Turkey! She spoke none of the language, but soon learned as Mert’s family hosted her and embraced her as a member of their family. The kinship they created and experienced in such a short period of time is remarkable. And it wasn’t just a one way experience. When she and Mert returned stateside, her family became his instantly. As they planned their Old Mill wedding, their families were their greatest support. Lauren’s mother took a very active role in the planning as Lauren prepared for her role in the off Broadway show of Fiddler on the Roof (in Yiddish!). She even performed the wedding ceremony. This is why they had a Monday wedding. Theaters are dark on Monday. Everyone worked so hard to make sure that they could plan this wedding around her life and pursuit of her dreams. Her tenacity and creativity is what allowed her to take the leap and follow Mert to Turkey, and now it was helping make their wedding day unforgettable.
The day of the wedding was stunning and all the little details came together as a celebration of Lauren and Mert and their families officially uniting as one. One of the many special details was the hummingbirds that were everywhere. As a symbol, hummingbirds mean to always seek out the best in life with tenacity and endurance: to find the magic of life. And when they visit a person, they are regarded as a visitation by someone who couldn’t be there in person. When Mert and Lauren announced their engagement to her parents, there were hummingbirds just outside the window. Mert’s family was miles and miles away in Turkey, but their spirits were present for this happy moment. To celebrate this during their Old Mill wedding, and to honor much of Mert’s family who couldn’t be physically present, Lauren crafted origami hummingbirds out of a stunning hand crafted paper from Turkey. These hung everywhere throughout the courtyard at the Old Mill, graced the tables at the reception, and topped the cake. It felt as though Mert’s Turkish family was present in all aspects of the celebration.
An important part of Turkish culture is the giving and receiving of gifts. The first gift that Mert gave Lauren was a Nazar, which is believed to protect against the Evil Eye. Lauren included it on the chain of her necklace for their wedding day. Each of the bracelets she wore was given to her by her mother and mother-in-law. This was paired with a family cuff that was engraved with the wedding date on it that boasted a ruby heart inside. Her parents also gifted Lauren and Mert a beautiful Hamsa. This is traditionally believed to be a sign of protection over its owners. In return, Lauren and Mert presented their parents with engraved necklaces and cuff links as a thank you for all their love and support, and to commemorate the day they all became official family.
Another little detail was the completion of the circle of their engagement. Mert proposed on the bridge at the Old Mill, so, naturally, their first look took place there as well. The place where he asked her about forever meeting the moment they started their forever together. They placed a sign there asking guests to make a wish for them as they crossed the bridge to the ceremony. Yet more magic.
Their evening was spent among their nearest and dearest, enjoying a perfect summer evening together with the newlyweds. The garden party feel was so inviting and warm; a true celebration of love and family.
