THE WEDDING OF DENIZ & MICHAEL

September 9, 2017 Newport, Rhode Island

By Lannan M. O’Brien

There’s a bit of magic in every sunset. In Deniz and Michael’s marriage story, it plays a starring role—starting with their engagement at a gazebo in Charleston, South Carolina, where Michael’s parents live. “I pretended there was a restaurant we were going to,” Michael says, “and as the sun was setting, I proposed in the gazebo.” When asked if it was a surprise, both he and Deniz laugh. “I think there was a wedding venue spreadsheet that was pulled out hours after the proposal,” Michael says.

Their search, which began with the couple visiting old plantations in South Carolina, ultimately led them back to their New England roots. After seeing the view from OceanCliff in Newport, Rhode Island, they were sold.

The couple chose flowers with greenery and blush, blue and ivory hues. “I knew I wanted something more organic-looking,” says Deniz. Florals matching the bouquets were arranged in the arbor where they were wed, complementing OceanCliff’s lawn and Narragansett Bay.

Of their planning, Michael says that again, “A lot of it was around the sunset.” Before the big day, Michael’s mother prayed to her late father for a good sunset for the wedding. Deniz says, “There was a moment where it went from perfect blue skies to kind of gray … then there was this perfect orangey-red sunset.”

The bride and groom made an effort to be “in the moment” throughout the celebration, which they describe as an amazing day. “Looking back, that’s what it felt like,” says Deniz.

PHOTOGRAPHY / SARAH PUDLO + CO