2009

Determined to get married abroad, we scoured the world for a venue and organiser. We discovered Olu Deniz and soon after, widespread praise for the weddings of Carole. Looking back on our wedding we can only add to those endorsements. The ceremony was nothing short of spectacluar and the Weddings Turkey team were great from our first meeting to the end of our holiday. We arrived in Olu Deniz the weekend before and soon met up with Carole to organise the details for the day. It was quickly apparent that we could shape every aspect of this wedding to our own tastes (literally, when we got to choose the cake!). From what we'd read we weren't looking forward to our trip to Antalya for the legal stuff but it was fine; nothing worse than a day of necessary formality with Anne's experience and cunning speeding things along where possible. It was a long day but Anne was great company throughout and it was a nice opportunity to chat and learn about the country. The venue was prepared beautifully with the Blue Lagoon providing an epic backdrop to a quick and simple ceremony followed by champagne and photographs. Everyone commented on the quality of the food, and the reception and party afterwards were just what we hoped for. In fact, we were just getting started when the bus returned us all to the hotel, so we headed into town in our wedding outfits, triggering applause from the bars as we passed. When your wedding begins as the sun sets, it only seems right that you continue until sunrise! We knew Olu Deniz would be beautiful, that's easy to see, but it also turned out to be a perfect location that catered for all our guests; from seasoned travellers to young kids. The food is good, the people are friendly and the atmosphere is fun, but you're not far from adventure in any direction should you seek it. And it's a good job - we expected 20 guests, we got almost 50! Maybe sending that iconic photo of Olu Deniz out with our invites had something to do with that...? On the group photo from the day, every single one of our fifty guests has a genuine smile on their face. It wasn't just a special day for us, it was a great day for everyone who attended too. Thanks, Kev and Charlotte October 9th 2009

Hi Carole, Myself and Scott would like to take this opportunity to thank you both and all your excellent staff for making our wedding day extra special, and one of the greatest days of our lives. We couldn't believe how easy and smoothly everything ran, from the day of booking right through to the wedding day, nothing ever seemed like too much trouble. The beach venue and decorations were perfect and the food and service was superb. The quality of everything was of such a high standard and worked out at great value for money with no hidden costs. Also the hundreds of photos and the DVD were just amazing and we could not believe that we were presented with a large, beautifully designed album containing 15 of the best photos of our day and the disc of photos and the DVD the day after the wedding with full copyright, something that could never have been done in England. (We have actually had an extra album done at home that we had to wait 3 months for). All our guests said how beautiful and perfect the whole day was and have said they will definitely recommend you and the resort to all their family and friends and would love to visit again. Since being home another couple who came to our wedding have got engaged and decided on getting married abroad, and my parents are planning on renewing their vows with yourselves in the next couple of years. Well I think I have mentioned a little of everything even though I could say so much more, but as a last word I would like to say again a huge thank you to Carole for everything and also Ann (our driver and translator) who is an asset to you and really made us feel welcome and at ease on the trip to Antalya to sign the paperwork and was great at answering all our questions. Love and best wishes and hope to meet again. Samantha & Scott Cundy 8th September scott.cundy@sky.com

Dear CAROLE Enjoying married life back home in England after our amazing wedding in the sun of turkey aboard your yacht in fetihye. It was the best day of our life’s from start to finish we were well looked after from when we were picked up from the hotel and driven to our dissention with friends and family, including my disable father who had all the support he needed. The was beautifully decorated no expense was spared colours matched to what the wedding guests and ourselves were wearing. Food was excellent seeming for everyone. the dvd and wedding photos at the end of the wedding were first class and we would advise anyone to arrange their happy day with carole. Money well spent and we would go through everything again if we had our way. We going back to turkey in June 2010 for 3 weeks because we love the people and the country so much it’s the best time that we have ever spent anywhere during our time together. It was just very magical and unforgettable and we are looking for would to spending our first wedding anniversary this with friends and family from home and people we have met in turkey. Many thanks Andrea and Gordon 4TH June

Hi Carole ' From the minute we found the website for Carole's weddings, we knew if was right. The pictures looked amazing, the setting fantastic and it was one of the few places we'd found where we could actually get married ON the beach. We read a few other testimonials before making the first contact and they were all glowing reports so we knew we were onto a good thing! From the minute we made contact with Carole, everything was taken care of, even though we only gave her a couple of months to organise it! Even the ribbons around the chairs were perfectly coordinated to the sample we sent. The paperwork on arrival and the whole day itself went without a hitch. The setting was everything we'd hoped for, picturesque, idyllic, beautiful and the sunset just topped it off. The food was delicious and plentiful and all the staff extremely helpful. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again!!! Hope that helps and please don't choose dodgy pictures!!! he he. Take care Karen and Adam 28th August

We decided to get married on your yacht in turkey because we liked the fact it was a bit different and our own private venue. Initially I was a bit worried about booking over the internet but after speaking to Carole on the phone felt alot less apprehensive as she answered every question with complete knowledge. I was worried slightly as we had 50 guest with 8 kids however there was a kids table with a chaperone specifically for them which was fantastic as the adults were able to enjoy their meal. The boat was decorated in our chosen colours of silver and white and looked absolutely stunning. The ceremony was short and very relaxed which was exactly what we wanted. I was worried about the quality of the food as it was a bbq reception obviously cooked on the boat but it was fabulous and we all went back for more!! The wedding was planned with military precision and I would advise anyone to give Carole your basic requirements and then just let her do the rest not to worry she'll sort any problem or query you have. We kept the venue of our wedding (a yacht) from our guests and Carole helped us keep it a surprise for them. The only complaint I would have about our wedding was that it went to fast and I would like to do it all again. Every one of our guests said that it was one of the best if not the best wedding they’d ever been to. We went for the full package and there is no way we could have afforded the same wedding in the UK. We also hired the belly dancer which was worth every penny as it got everyone up dancing and provided lots of laughs. The photos are beautiful and the DVD fantastic Karen and Chris lewis 18TH JUNE

We had an amazing day. From the very beginning of booking the wedding Carole was very organised and helped us with every aspect of the wedding. The boat looked beautiful on the day and all our guests commented on what a lovely wedding it was. It really was everything we ever wanted and more. The perfect wedding in the perfect location. Thanks, Claire and Dan 25th May

Dear Carole, Anne & Sarah I just wanted to email you to pass on our thanks for the wedding on the 28th September. We were really impressed with everything. The boat looked wonderful, the cake was amazing and the food went down a treat. All our guests commented on the setting and how impressive it all was and how much they enjoyed the whole event. The photographs are wonderful as is the video for which we are most grateful. The only thing we wish is that it could have lasted longer - in our minds it was over in a flash and we'd quite happily do it all again tomorrow. Thank you for all your hard work - especially to Anne for driving us all the way to Antalya and back! Rather you than us!! The wedding was truly amazing and I'm thoroughly depressed to be back in the UK, at work, where it's 3 degrees outside. Life is so unfair sometimes. Take care of yourselves and enjoy the time off that you have. Best wishes Caroline and Ritchie Cleasby(!) 28th September

We booked the wedding day package a year ago, my daughter and future son in law wanted a particular date for the wedding so they were delighted that the date was available. They paid a 20% deposit and the wedding was booked. After we had booked the wedding day package, Carole kept in touch with us and answered all emailed questions within 24 hours, which we thought was great. We chose a beach location rather than a yacht because some of our party suffered from seasickness. The wedding day extras we paid for locally were for flowers, buttonholes, hair and make-up, microlite plane petal drop, and obviously we brought with us from the UK the wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses, rings etc. Plus of course, you and your guests have the cost of your holiday flights and accommodation on top but as we all treated the wedding as part of our annual holiday, it worked out really well for all of us. We booked a holiday at a hotel in Oludeniz using a UK travel agent. There are many hotels to choose from to suit your budget. My daughter and son in law booked a holiday for 2 weeks with the majority of other guests booking for one week, the wedding was held during the second week. Upon arrival at her hotel in Olu Deniz, my daughter was contacted by Carole and arrangements were made for the couple to travel to Antalya to complete the paperwork and the medical (NO blood tests are needed for British Couples) they needed the following- a certificate of non impediment which they obtained from the local registry office 3 months before the wedding, full birth certificates, full British passports and 6 passport size photos each. They travelled to Antalya in an air con car with driver completed the paperwork/medical, had lunch included, then they were driven to meet Carole in Fethiye and they chose the colours for the table/chair decorations and also chose the flowers and cake. They gave Carole a copy of their chosen wedding music, which they had brought from the UK. They were given a Turkish mobile phone to use to contact Carole should there be any problems/questions. By the time I arrived at the hotel (coming for the second week) everything had been arranged. At 12.30 on the day of the wedding, we (Bride, Bridesmaids, Grooms Mum and me) were picked up from our hotel and taken to a gorgeous beauty salon in Hisaronu a few miles away from Olu Deniz. The salon was very modern and cool with great air-con and the staff were lovely. A British lady named Sharon ran it and she made us feel very at ease, a lot of giggles went on that afternoon. She had a book of hairstyles that she had done for previous brides and bridesmaids so you could choose any style you wanted. There were also four lovely Turkish staff working on us, doing hair, make-up, nails and toes etc, we felt really pampered. Because my daughter was going to wear a veil and didn’t want to return from the salon to the hotel wearing it, when we were all ready, Sharon came back to the hotel with us, she waited patiently while we helped the bride to get dressed then she put my daughters veil on for her. By this time, we had just half an hour left before the wedding, which was booked for 5.30pm. ( I looked out on the balcony of our room and could see that the other guests had all gone to the awaiting coach which was booked for 5pm) I called my husband and told him that our ‘little girl’ was ready…she looked stunning and I felt quite tearful…so did her dad :-) We all left the room and we saw that the hotel maids were all sitting on the wall outside our room cheering and clapping, this carried on as we walked through the hotel grounds with the guests all clapping and cheering and the waiters whistling and waving, it really was special. The hotel photographer took a few photos of us in the garden and leaving the hotel. The day was very sunny without a cloud and my daughter and her dad got into the wedding car with the rest of us in a car in front. There was a lot of ‘horn honking’ and cheering as the wedding car made its journey to the lagoon. When we arrived at the entrance to the lagoon location, we were greeted by Carole, who pinned on our buttonholes and gave the bouquets to the bride and bridesmaids. Then the first of the two ‘aisle music tracks’ started the first of which was for the grooms mum and me to start walking, followed later by the bridesmaids. I walked down the red carpet, through the trees and saw all the guests sitting by the lagoon on white chairs tied with blue ribbon, I went through an arch of flowers and took my place on a chair in front of the decorated wedding gazebo. I turned around and saw the bridesmaids coming down the aisle looking so very beautiful. Then to the sound of Ennio Morricone’s ‘Gabriels Oboe’ my daughter glided down the aisle with her Dad, there was not a dry eye in sight, she looked like an angel and it was almost ‘surreal’ She was greeted at the arch of flowers by her husband to be; who looked totally astounded at her appearance (She is very much a jeans and tee shirt girl normally with hardly any make up) then the couple went to the wedding gazebo in order for the wedding ceremony to commence. The backdrop of the lagoon and Mountains was so beautiful. The Couple chose traditional Turkish vows, which are very moving. They had two witnesses and a Turkish official conducted the ceremony in Turkish and English. After the wedding ceremony had finished, we all posed for photographs and when it came to the group photo, we heard the sound of the ‘petal drop plane’ approaching. The first petal drop missed us, which caused great hilarity, the plane did another ‘sortie’ if that’s what it is called, and the second petal drop was more successful. The setting sun and the colours of the sky and the lagoon had to be seen to be believed, it went from bright blues, gold’s and oranges to pink and purple, simply stunning. After the photos (The whole event was also being recorded on video) We were all led to the grounds of the restaurant overlooking the lagoon a few yards back from the wedding gazebo, where decorated tables awaited us. We had some wine then made the speeches using a microphone, the speeches being very funny and very emotional too. I found it difficult to remove the lump from my throat. Then came the champagne toasts, we then got up to help ourselves to the most delicious food, consisting of kebabs, baked potatoes with cheese, chips, salads, meat, pasta, vegetables, bread rolls and butter, etc. It was really nice and so fresh. After we had finished the meals at our tables, it was time for the cutting of the cake, which again was delicious. The wine served with the meals and all evening was superb. Now it was time for the bride and grooms first dance as husband and wife, they took to the floor to the sound of Oasis’s ‘slide away’ Then came more dancing with everyone on the dance floor (patio of the restaurant) then more celebrations and dancing on into the evening. The DJ playing anything requested. I watched my daughter and son-in law looking so very happy, I watched people wiping away tears from their eyes, I watched my grandson playing in the sand with other children of the party and I felt utterly content, I couldn’t have wished for anything else for my daughters wedding. It will remain etched in my memory always. Finally at about 11.30 the coach came to collect us and return us back to our hotel, although the bride and groom and some of the younger members got off the coach at ‘the strip’ and continued to celebrate with much applause from holiday makers, waiters, bar staff etc, At one of the bars, the bridesmaids sang a karaoke song for the newly weds. Would I recommend getting married in Turkey?…with bells on! Everybody is saying that it was the best wedding ever and I would second that. If you like a lot of formality with pomp and ceremony then perhaps a beach wedding would not suit you, but if, like my daughter and son in law, you want something relaxed and different in a beautiful location surrounded by family and friends, then I highly recommend it. The photographer gave the bride and groom a wedding album containing photos plus the photo disc with 354 high quality photos plus a very high quality video of the wedding…this was included in the wedding day package, an absolute bargain I would say…. any question please or if you would like to see the wedding photographs please feel free to email me – lynnehayes@hotmail.co.uk

Hi Carole Thank you xxx Well we are home now and I would like to say a massive massive thank you for making our day the most romantic beautiful day ever. It was above and beyond our expectations. Well where do I start!! Our trip to Antalya was long but very well organised and we were taken there by Ann what a wonderful, friendly, lovely lady. Ann really made our trip and our day, she is informative, organised, friendly and warm. Thanks Ann you were great and a beautiful person xx Then Carole - well what a wonderful, efficient, organised person you are. You certainly know how to make a persons wedding so special. The boat looked fantastic, the photos and album were brilliant and excellent quality, the dvd was brilliant. Every moment of our wedding was captured from start to finish by the photographer and video man. The food was excellent and really tasty. The tables looked beautiful, the cake fantastic, the crew brilliant. There is nothing I can fault, Carole has a very efficient work force who are a credit to her. We thank them all so much. If you are thinking of getting married I would recommend Carole as everything is so organised and done to such high standards and at such a reasonable cost. The scenery is fantastic, the boat gorgeous, sun set beautiful, the food brilliant, my friends said it is the most romantic wedding they have ever been to. I could go on for ages but all I need to say is THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. It was an honour to meet you and Ann and we will hold these memories we shared with you forever Love Chris and Nicky Langdown xxxx 14th September 2009

Hi Carole Hope your well sorry it’s taken a bit to get back to you were just getting back on our feet with a new house and Christmas ect!I've included some pictures which we're really pleased with and are really happy to be part of your website! It’s nice to show people what a good job you guys done at giving us the perfect day! Warm Regards Kimberley Ahmet!! xx "My husband and I would 100% recommend getting married in Fethiye! At first we may have been apprehensive but Carole was really helpful, emailing us in response to any questions we had! Having not visited this part of Turkey before made it quite nerve racking when planning our boat wedding, however the information on the website along with the correspondence from Carole and her staff simply meant we couldn't have been in better hands! Initially we did actually look at booking our wedding through a tour operator, but they seemed to have minimal information compared to "weddingsturkey.com"! Everything was planned perfectly from the moment we arrived. Carole arranges all the legal stuff which includes a journey to the British Consulate (followed by a visit to the florists and to pick our wedding cake). You'd expect this to be a tedious day, considering it was a 4 hour drive to Antalya. However it was very comfortable as their driver/guide (Anne) are British, so we felt at ease with everything as it was totally under control, and she was a great driver! We visited the boat a few days before our ceremony couldn't believe how lovely it looked and even better on the day when it was decorated to match our theme. Our guests thoroughly enjoyed their whole experience, claiming that not only was it the best food they had during their holiday, but also how it had changed their opinion about weddings abroad. The whole day flew by and went very smoothly; Carole arranged allocated times for photographs, speeches, first dance, cutting the cake, throwing of the bouquet and then of course the party! A few days after we met Carole to receive our wedding album which is gorgeous, as well as a CD of photographs and DVD video which we were very pleased with. Overall our boat wedding was more than we could have wished for and we had the best day of our lives! Thanks for giving us the dream wedding Carole x x" 15th September

Hi Carole Chris and I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all your help and for making the Renewing of our Wedding Vows so special. From booking the day with you right to the end of our holiday, you were fantastic and offered us a first class service. Any questions were answered either by email or phone promptly before we flew out and we felt at ease knowing that you had everything in-hand. We met you once we’d arrived in the resort and we were able to confirm the last few details face-to-face and also select our menu for the day. The phone you gave us was so handy and useful in case we had any last minute questions. On arrival at the boat, we were breath-taken ! The boat looked amazing with all of the decorated tables in our chosen colour and all of our family were so impressed at how beautiful it looked. To be honest they haven’t stopped talking about it and my Father-In-Law keeps saying it was ‘like something out of a magazine’ ! The photographer and DVD man were never intruding and the result was hundreds of fabulous pictures and a stunning DVD that has been watched plenty of times. The pictures were so natural and beautiful that they made great presents for our family members and we have several enlargements on our walls. It was great that the pictures and DVD were ready for us when we came off our boat trip 2 days later – such a fantastic service. The bottles of water you handed out to everyone on our arrival were such a lovely and much needed thought! The food we were served was fantastic and we can honestly say, one of the best meals we had in Turkey – especially the pasta and potato salad. We danced the night away to the sounds of your DJ and had a fabulous night that we will remember forever. The crew on the boat were so friendly and welcoming and we wouldn’t hesitate in recommending your services to anyone. You helped make our day so special and our guests had an amazing time celebrating with us on such a beautiful boat in an unbelievable setting. Thank you so much Michelle and Chris Short Michelle.Short1@ntlworld.com 6th July

We got married on the 'Carole Ann' yacht on September 21st 2009. We had seen the boat decorated for a wedding on our previous trip to Fethiye and it looked so gorgeous that we cancelled our church wedding in England in order to do things a little bit more special, and we were certainly not disappointed. From our first contact, Carole was extremely helpful, every aspect of the wedding was organized for us, which made everything very smooth and calm for us. It is difficult when both of you are working full time to organize wedding, but there was no stress at all. Carole has done the organizing hundreds of times so every detail had been thought about and dealt with very professionally. We had seen adverts by holiday companies and other local Turkish agencies sometimes offering to undercut the price but I am so glad that we weren't tempted to change. Because as Carole is English she understands what British couples want and expect from their wedding day, which perhaps, others may not. The paperwork, which sounds daunting, was a breeze - again due to Carole and her friendly helpful team. I really can't stress enough the importance of having someone with you who knows how the system works - we have heard some horror stories from people who have tried to organize things for themselves in Turkey. Our wedding day was absolutely the best time of our lives- there were 50 of us on the yacht and ALL of our guests said it was the best wedding they have ever been to - they are still talking about how fantastic it was and its now 4 months on. The staff were brilliant, the ceremony was really moving with lots of tears, the registrar was lovely and the belly dancer was fabulous - a definite must at a wedding in Turkey. It truly was the best day ever and we wouldn't change a thing about it. I highly recommend Carole and her great team and we are currently trying to sort out a trip to Fethiye for our anniversary so that we can go onto the 'Carole Ann' again. Kim and Nick Kim and Nick 21th September