PLANNED TO PERFECTION

DATE: Saturday 13th November 2021 PHOTOGRAPHY: Ross Alexander Photography SECOND SHOOTER: Fotomaki Photography VENUE: Guardswell Farm, Kinnaird

Emel Zorlu & Kenneth Harper Emel loved wedding planning, piecing together all the aspects she wanted for the “best day and night of our lives!”

Planned to perfection

Emel and Kenneth first met on Tinder way back in August 2014 but didn’t actually meet in person for a couple of months – what the bride calls “a typical modern love story!” Then five years later at Halloween Kenneth proposed on a beach in Emel’s family’s hometown in Karamürsel, Turkey. “My Turkish family, including my Nine, have missed out on most milestones in my life, so it meant the world that Kenneth chose to propose there,” she smiles. The couple actually spied out their wedding venue while they were still in Turkey. Kenneth saw pictures from another wedding at Guardswell Farm and they arranged to see it as soon as they were home in Scotland. “It was the only place we went to see,” explains Emel. “Also, the next winter date they had available was 13th November 2021, which seemed to be fate since 13 is my lucky number.” Knowing it was The One they secured their date and happily agreed to Guardswell’s sustainability principles whereby everything they sourced was either local, reusable, or sustainable. No problem for this organised bride. “I absolutely loved planning and would do it all over again,” she says. “I love a project, and this was the perfect thing to keep me going through the pandemic. I kept saying how much I’d love to do this as a fulltime job.” Emel did all the stationery herself and styled the venue with the help of her talented florist Amy Annand – “she was an absolute powerhouse and a pleasure to see in action,” says the bride. Emel initially set out with a typical autumnal colour palette which tied in beautifully with Kenneth’s family’s Buchanan Ancient tartan. “But it quickly started to evolve into something a bit more dark and witchy and was quite an eclectic mix of cool grey, blue and purple tones, with warm burgundy, green and gold,” she says. And loving the styling project, Emel discovered amazing small businesses to make things like their banner with the Harry Potter quote or the bouquet ribbon with her favourite Dermot Kennedy lyrics. Emel says as a plus size bride she expected shopping for her dress to be awkward but she needn’t have worried. As soon as she stepped into David’s Bridal, she fell in love with the first dress she tried. “The consultant was amazing and made me feel stunning,” she remembers. “Not only did every dress fit, but most were actually big so I never felt out of place or like I was trying on a tiny sample size like I’d dreaded.” Emel went shopping with her mum, sister Kadriye and Auntie Karen who sadly died last year. “It was special that she got to be there to see me in my dress as she was always looking forward to the wedding,” says Emel.

Kenneth had always wanted to get a kilt made in his own tartan and actually ended up having more fittings with Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers than Emel did for her dress. And not to be outdone, the couple’s Labrador Sirius was made a matching tartan bowtie – cute! After all the planning the weekend of the wedding arrived and they spent the night before enjoying some bubbles and charcuterie with friends. Then Emel was up bright and early at 6am and felt pretty calm on a dog walk with Sirius. That feeling of calm continued as they all got ready. “I think the fact that we had the most beautiful sunny weather the entire day definitely helped,” says Emel. “It was as though the day was made to be perfect.” As she was going into the ceremony Emel’s parents surprised her with a piper playing on the lawn. Then their humanist celebrant Linda Stewart came to check on the bride before she walked down the aisle – “one thing I’ll be so grateful for.” Linda created a beautiful ceremony that was funny, emotional and personal to Emel and Kenneth. “Having our wee Sirius there was a bonus. He slept all the way through the ceremony and we walked back down the aisle together as an official family which was so sweet” Emel

“Everyone was laughing and crying at the same time,” smiles the bride. The couple wrote their own vows and were choking back tears as they delivered them. “We both included Hamilton lyrics without knowing the other had, so that was a funny and special moment that only we got,” says Emel. After their “I do’s” they treated their guests to a fabulous drinks reception while Bespoke Catering served up a menu of food inspired by some of their favourite places, like the cauliflower fritters they love from The Fishmarket in Newhaven or the pear cheesecake from Cardo in Perth. Emel’s dad delivered an emotional speech before best man Salts chose to hand over most of his speech to Kenneth’s childhood best friend Ross. “It was the perfect balance of funny, cheeky and sweet,” says the bride. Her highlight though was when her husband presented her with a Rangers top with “Mrs Harper” and her lucky number 13 on the back. Then the atmosphere in the evening was electric with guests hitting the dancefloor even before the first dance. “It was a proper party!” says Emel. Looking back she says it’s a blur but she enjoyed every moment of it. And keen for another project to sink her teeth into she adds to-beweds can hit her up for a hand with planning!

DREAM TEAM

BANNER Brahmin Lettering Co BRIDE’S DRESS AND VEIL David’s Bridal

BRIDE’S EARRINGS Lilibet & Lottie

BRIDE’S HAIRPIECE Loved By One BRIDE’S JEWELLER PDPAOLA BRIDE’S SHOES Harriet Wilde BOUQUET RIBBON Oh Squirrel CAKE Liggy’s Cakes CATERING Bespoke Catering & Events CELEBRANT Linda Stewart - Humanist Society Scotland DÉCOR PROPS FiftySix Events FLOWERS Amy Annand Flowers GROOM’S OUTFIT Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers GROOM’S SHOES Loake

HAIR AND MAKE-UP Pamper & Polish LIGHTING Steve Page Lighting MUSIC Ecosse Entertainments RING Beaverbrooks

VIDEOGRAPHY Mackenzie Wedding Films

PHOTOGRAPHER’S CREDIT

“I’m always so fortunate to work with amazing couples and from the first email with Emel and Kenneth, to the engagement session (glorious golden sunset helloooooo) to the most epic of wedding days, it’s been such a pleasure to work with them. The wedding day itself was extra special as they were lucky enough to get one of those sought-after sunny winter days where the sun lit everything up in gorgeous golden light, and although it was VERY cold, these guys embraced it, giving it their all and making it a wedding I’ll never forget.”

Ross, Ross Alexander Photography

Unique industrial wedding venue in the heart of Dundee. The spacious and naturally lit venue, for up to 200 guests, has separate areas for the ceremony and reception with more intimate spaces for drinks, socialising and entertainment, making it a truly flexible venue. Exposed brick walls, festoon lighting on wooden beams create the charm of a barn style wedding but in an easily accessed city location making this the perfect setting for your wedding day. CONTACT US

Old Glamis Factory, Old Glamis Road, Dundee, DD3 8JB

info@theweavingshedstudios.com www.theweavingshedstudios.com