Real Wedding: Anastasia & Vasily

Elegant wedding in Fethiye, Turkey

Anastasia and Vasily's wedding on the Turkish coast was the embodiment of family values, quiet luxury and Mediterranean authenticity. A plate smashing tradition, a gorgeous bride's morning, jumping into the pool in dresses and suits at the after-party — read the interview with the bride below and find out more about the unique and stylish highlights of this wedding. Alongside, be inspired by the visuals created by our member Sasha Dove.

Tell us a little about yourselves. How did you meet? What do you do for a living? What are your hobbies?

I am a 25-year-old picture editor at Sky TV and a content creator. He is a 32-year-old scientist and engineer. We met in Notting Hill, London during the lockdown. On our first date, everything was closed, so we had champagne and french fries on the floor. I remember how he gave me his white coat to sit on the stairs. That was the moment I fell in love. We enjoy an active lifestyle, from hiking in beautiful places to discovering boutique hotels. We are not homebodies, and we have only watched one series together.

Where was your wedding? Why did you choose this venue?

We celebrated our wedding in Fethiye, Turkey. Since we had guests from all around the world, it was important for us to select a location that was easily accessible. Eight months before the event, my wedding planner and I did a location scouting and instantly fell in love with Ada Dreams History. This boutique hotel has separate villas and a shared restaurant on its territory, which was perfect for our 3-day celebration. We wanted to live and celebrate in one place, so it was an ideal choice for us. The design and atmosphere were unbeatable. It felt like a second home, perhaps because of the presence of chickens freely roaming the site. Additionally, the views were breathtaking.

What was the concept behind your wedding and how did you find your inspiration?

We began considering the concept of our wedding when we chose the venue, Ada Dreams, which has a historical charm of a small Italian village. This led me to select a "country yard intimate dinner" theme. To gather ideas and inspiration, I found Pinterest and magazines like The Wed to be very helpful. I knew that I wanted to incorporate colours and intricate details, so we adorned the tables with kenzans holding various flowers and suspended chandeliers above them.

How long did it take to plan your wedding? Did you encounter any challenges during the planning process?

I started thinking about the wedding right after the proposal, and I would recommend all couples to start planning as early as possible. I had around 9 months to plan a destination wedding, which was possible thanks to my wedding planner. However, 12 months would be ideal. One of my biggest challenges was finding a wedding dress. I didn't know that some gowns can take up to 6 months to create, so I was late in searching for one. It was a miracle that I found my silk dress by Luna Bea, and they were able to create it in just 2 months. So, I advise starting wedding shopping right after confirming the location.

How many guests did you have? And what was the seating arrangement like at the wedding?

We had 40 guests seated at one long table. This option worked perfectly for our small and intimate wedding. I personally took care of the seating plan and stationery. I recommend checking out Etsy for nice menu and seating card templates that you can customize yourself. Once customized, you can print them on beautiful paper, and everything will be ready.

Please tell us about your outfits. How many different styles have you tried?

I have tried three different styles. For our rehearsal dinner, I chose a something blue dress by Alberta Ferretti, while the dress code for guests was white. I found the Alberta Ferretti dress with my mother-in-law while we were shopping in Milan. We instantly fell in love with it and couldn't leave without it. My main outfit was from the small British handmade brand Luna Bea. It was elegant, simple, and timeless. Initially, I had planned to sell it after the wedding, but when my husband saw me in it, he said it was the most beautiful dress he had ever seen and encouraged me to wear it as often as possible, even to a pub for Sunday roast. For my third outfit, which I wore to the after party, I picked a set by Selezza London. It was fun and playful, perfect for dancing all night and even jumping into a pool to end the evening.

What was your first dance song? Did you choreograph it or improvise?

We took the music at our wedding very seriously and created playlists for everything: the ceremony, our entrance, cocktail time, dancing with parents, and even for the cake. We loved it because it will bring back memories when we listen to our favorite songs in the future. Our first dance song was a Russian song called 'Echo of Love' by Anna German, which probably not many people know. However, our entrance song was 'Strangelove' by Depeche Mode, and it was iconic. We tried to choreograph a dance and even practiced a few times at home, but we forgot everything on the wedding day.

Did you have any special performances or entertainment?

Our wedding was quite traditional, but we had a few surprises. Firstly, we had a Greek theme for our rehearsal dinner, which included a smashing plates dance. It was a fun activity that immediately connected all the guests. Additionally, our rehearsal dinner took place on an island, and all the guests were transported there by boat during sunset. It was a magical experience, and my TikTok followers even compared it to 'White Lotus'. During the wedding itself, we surprised our guests with cocktails that my husband and I made ourselves. We also ended the evening by jumping into a pool, although I believe that is quite common nowadays.

What was the most memorable moment from your wedding day?

Everything was magical. I felt like I was in a movie and couldn't be happier in my life. But if I had to highlight one moment, it would be the ceremony. It was raining and cloudy in the morning, so I was worried about our outdoor celebration. However, when the ceremony started, the rain stopped. And when my husband began his vows, the clouds disappeared and the sun lit up his face. It was a true miracle.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

The entire team did a spectacular job. The main person on set was wedding planner Elena, who helped me find all the vendors, including The Wed photographer Sasha Dove. The decor by Joie Flowers impressed everyone, and the table setting was beautiful. Our hosts Roman and DJ Kostya created a great atmosphere and brought so much joy. Please see my list of vendors, I can recommend all of them.

What advice would you give to couples who are currently planning their wedding?

I would recommend investing in good lighting. While it may not be something you initially consider, it is actually more important than flowers in creating atmosphere, especially for outdoor weddings. Additionally, it's a good idea to have a trial for makeup and hair with your wedding dress before the actual wedding day. And don't forget to get plenty of sleep! I had red eyes during the ceremony because I couldn't sleep and cried while walking down the aisle.

Real Wedding: Anastasia & Vasily

Did you have any pre-wedding events, such as a rehearsal dinner or bridal shower?

As I mentioned before, we had a Greek-styled rehearsal dinner. Additionally, we had a relaxing day on a yacht to recover after the party and enjoy the sun, share emotions, and swim in the sea. I also had two bridal showers due to having friends in different countries. One was in Istanbul, where we had a dinner at Cecconi's and played various card games related to my single life before marriage. My second bridal shower was in Brighton, where we danced, cooked dinner, and did tarot readings. I cherished every moment of being engaged and would advise every girl to enjoy their bride moment, as there is a lifetime to enjoy being a wife.

Did you have any special or unique elements (such as a signature cocktail or a fragrance) at your wedding?

Yes, we had both! We created a special cocktail called Notting Hill, which is based on Gin. We chose this name because it is the place where we first met. Additionally, we had our own fragrance that we used throughout the entire wedding weekend. We selected Byredo Unnamed, a fragrance that allows you to name it yourself. We chose the name "27.5" because it represents the date of this special occasion.

What helped you cope with the anxiety before the wedding?

Nothing. I was super nervous two weeks before the wedding, and one week before, I got sick. It was the worst flu I've ever had, and I don't know how, but I got it in May. I think my body and mind were overstressed and needed time to relax. So one week before the wedding, I gave up and just trusted my wedding planner to handle everything. My main goal was to recover and feel better. So my advice to all brides is to trust the vendors you've chosen and prioritize yourself. It's the worst decision ever to try to control everything during the wedding itself. You need to enjoy every second of it.