Grace Restaurant wedding of Derya and Dan in Portland, Maine

Fall has definitely arrived here in Maine, and there was a chill in the air on the day of Derya and Dan's nuptials.  It was the first wedding of the year that I wore a long sleeves for, and I needed them!

Derya braved the cooler temps to meet her husband-to-be for a first look in the courtyard at the Portland Harbor Hotel.  Dan was literally speechless for a few moments, until he exclaimed that Derya looked so beautiful in her wedding dress that she'd have to wear it everyday from then on.  Derya was also rather emotional, and I was thankful they had a few private moments to just be together before the ceremony.

They exchanged vows at Grace Restaurant, with laughs and tears shared among these two and their families, and we had precious little time outside before I felt sprinkles start tip tapping on my jacket.  I was happy we had time for some quick portraits right around the corner from Portland High School, where Derya graduated from before moving away to New York City.

Not surprisingly, the food and drink at Grace were amazing, and guests mingled and enjoyed their dinners as the sun set, lending a cozy, romantic feeling to the space. 

I left this wedding with a smile on my face, frizzy hair on my head, and feeling thankful to have been a part of it.  Thank you Derya and Dan, for having me!

How they met, in their own words:

We met at a mutual friend's holiday party where we both happened to end up in the same corner. Later on, we would remark at how fateful that moment was - both of us were on the fence about going to the party in the first place. Derya had to leave the party to go meet up with another friend, but Dan made sure to get her number before she left the party (admittedly, he was worried he wouldn't get a chance to see her again!). After a late night in NYC, and a number of real dates (which DID NOT feature Dan in silly, holiday-themed attire), we officially became a couple, though many of our friends thought that was the case after only our first date :). Nearly six years have flown by, with more trips between NYC and Portland (Derya's hometown) than either of us can count, and a whole lot of laughs.

photographers: Denise and Steve, emilie inc. photography • preparation location: Portland Harbor Hotel • venue, catering: Grace Restaurant, Portland • officiant: Kevin Spencer, American Fellowship Church • flowers: Minotts Flowers • dj: Jim Smith, Maine's Premier DJ • cake: Jessica Parrott-Robitaille, Nothing Bakes Like a Parrott • hair/make-up: Bei Capelli • groom: Kenneth Cole • bride: Watters from RK Bridal • invitations: Parrott Design Studio • honeymoon: Portland and Jamaica