Elif and Ben met in Washington DC at a softball game- even though they were on rival teams, sparks began to fly!  I would go into more detail about the story of Elif and Ben, but this New York Times article already did it and did it well!

The personal touches made this wedding special- Ben’s family owns a house in Bayside (in Belfast, where he grew up) and Ben and Elif were married on the pier in Bayside in a wedding that combined Turkish, Christian, and Jewish elements.  I love the fact that Ben and Elif were the first ones ever to hold their wedding on the pier!  After the wedding, they waved goodbye to their guests and sailed out into the harbor.   The reception was at the home of Ben’s family- the tent was lovingly (and beautifully!) decorated by Ben’s mother and Linda Huntington.    The flowers were supplied by Floral Creations in Belfast, Maine.   The incredible food was prepared by Trillium Caterers.  The most amazing part of the reception, though, were the little surprises that Elif set up for Ben- first, she brought in a belly dancer during dinner, and then she challenged Ben to a game of flip cup (which is how they really met after the softball game) before they cut the cake!  I didn’t review the photographic coverage, but I’m pretty sure that Elif must have won both rounds….

Here are a few of my favorites from the day:

Post by Maine Wedding Photographer Michelle Turner.