By A meeting through a mutual friend at Soho House Greek Street in London was "connection at first sight" for Melissa Süren and Luke Taylor. She "blew his socks off." He made her laugh. As Melissa remembers,"He had terrible hair...[and is] incredibly funny—I've been belly laughing every day since."
The two shared a love of all things quirky, creative, and fun. It was apparent that their connection could be something special—and so they made the executive decision...not to date.
"We never believed in dating, so we would go on as many non-dates as possible, which included things like giving blood, palm reading, and attending Sex & Love Anonymous groups," Melissa explains cheekily. Despite their time "not dating" one another, Luke hinted he'd propose before Valentine's Day once their 'non-relationship' got serious. On February 13th, one day before their decided deadline, Luke popped the question in a spectacular fashion—with a solo performance from him in tow. A film producer and director, Luke made sure the entire proposal was caught on video.
The couple soon planned a civil ceremony in London, and then took to Burning Man in the desert of Nevada for a ceremony with 30 of their closest "crazy bird" friends. Given Burning Man's affinity for all things outside-the-box and unconventional, Melissa and Luke's more formal wedding—which they planned to host in the English countryside—needed to take place at an equally eccentric venue.
The date was slated for the groom's birthday, September 27th; Melissa and Luke chose Aynhoe Park for their ceremony and reception—its "take-your-breath-away effect and fantastical interior," caught their attention. Think English countryside manor on the outside and dynamic cabinet of curiosities on the inside—with Murano chandeliers, taxidermy galore, balloons, and more. Aynhoe Park is the ideal combination of classicism and cutting edge that this duo consistently walks in their relationship, and their personal style. After a 2-night celebration at the jaw-dropping venue, the pair planned to continue the festivities at Soho Farmhouse for a weekend of "rejuvenation" and a sentimental tie-in to their first meeting at another Soho House property.
And like Burning Man, or a chic night out in London, the style for this event came in droves—both from the couple as well as their guest list. The wedding weekend started with a black and white rehearsal dinner, hosted at an indoor/outdoor "terraced barbecue area" on-property for 80 of their event's 140 guests. The dress code? Black and white. The bride donned a Chanel trouser jumpsuit, paired with a bespoke swan headdress; the groom wore casual suiting.
Melissa's headdress was only a small indicator of the fashion risks and statement accessories to come. The wedding's subtle theme, and suggested attire, was "surrealism, to celebrate our surreal love," said the bride. The couple suggested guests come decked in "feathers, headpieces, and glitz—the bigger the better, there were no limits." From bold-toned gowns to stellar suiting, all capped off with stand-out hats, jewels, feathers, and frills, "The guests stuck to absolute craziness," said the couple, as they knew they would—and to match, their fashion followed suit.
Melissa donned a (17kg!) bespoke dress, designed by her and created by a "family tailor in Istanbul," who has been working with her family for years. As a something old, the bride wore "old knickers," and paired them with her somethings borrowed: her mother's shoes (although she never gave them back). Her something blue? A Fatma's eye.
The bride's headpiece was custom-made by a friend to match the intricate beadwork on the bodice of her gown, and was a subtle nod to Melissa and Luke's first wedding at Burning Man; the whole look was, naturally, accented by a custom parasol.
In keeping with the eccentricity and surrealist feel, the bridal party chose their own looks, but were asked to don shades of greenery. "Although surrealistic, the setting was also surrounded by nature, and the decorations were very evergreen and natural," said the bride.
"The animals in there needed a bit of greenery," Melissa said. "The bridesmaids chose their own dresses, which were purchased from various boutiques all over the world—from Turkey, to the U.S., Norway, England, and Tel Aviv." The groom wore Hugo Boss, while his groomsmen wore suits of their own.
Guests arrived to the ceremony and were seated classically on the bride or groom's side for a traditional ceremony, surrounded by floating taxidermy—from a rocking zebra to a lioness. The couple exchanged vows officiated by a friend, in front of their families and closest friends. Laughs and smiles, rather than tears and sentimental sobs, abounded. Key guests, like Luke's daughter, Indi, and Melissa's mother, were met with embroidered handkerchiefs on their chairs to commemorate the day, and the couple's sentiments for them.
Cocktail hour followed, and then guests made their way inside for dinner, seated with a cheeky escort card display, designed by the bride. "The seating chart was made of whisky shots. Table names such as: 'You Are the Ultimate,' 'You Are a Legend,' 'You Are La Creme de la Creme,' You Are the Greatest,' and 'You Are Unbeatable' showed guests to their seats."
Dinner was served at tables decorated with all the plants in the couple's garden. Potted hydrangeas were placed on each table, with the instruction that the guests should name them for future planting. "They are now planted in their garden and will grow, as their love will too," explained the couple's photographer, Roberta Facchini. Dinner was capped off by a dessert of "doughnut cake," after which guests were ushered to the dance floor—in the dungeon.
Disco balls everywhere, the couple hit the floor—with a costume change—for their first dance, a musical telling of their love story complete with signage held by their bridal party to illustrate the various stages of their journey together. The soundtrack included "MC Hammer, The Aladdin theme song, and something from Dirty Dancing, amongst others. It was a medley to tell the story." After their personality-packed, and oh-so-them first dance, guests joined Melissa and Luke for a "big sparkler sing along on the terrace outside," and hit the dance floor into the early hours to music by DJ Fabio Garcias.
This couple describes their connection—which they're now okay to make official after years of "non-dating"—as one where they "get each other like nobody else in the world does, in every way, shape and form. We are one person in two bodies."
Their wedding, as a result, needed to feel like non other in the world, and be unique in every aspect; the duo delivered, giving their sparkle, feather, and headdress-clad guests the night of their lives.
Rather than go on an elaborate honeymoon, the couple felt that their veritable world tour of weddings was enough. When asked to describe the night in only a few words, Melissa explained that the weekend felt like "a sensational and spectacularly surreal display of complete love and affection, flooded with tears of joy and happiness," but there seems to be a trick to mastering that joy. "Getting married seems like our thing," the now Melissa Taylor said. "I think, every woman should get married three times—to the same man."
Carrie Goldberg is HarpersBAZAAR.com’s Weddings & Travel Director. She oversees the site’s BAZAAR Bride channel, travel & dining content, and styles fashion and bridal editorials for BAZAAR.com. When she’s not traveling, she spends her free time in her hometown–New York City–where there is no shortage of new places to shop, eat, drink, see and explore.
