LUMINARY SPOTLIGHT In Conversation with The World's Most Extraordinary Wedding Professionals
FAVORITE “FAIRYTALE” WEDDING VENUES IN TURKEY? “ CIRAGAN PALACE KEMPINSKI (right) in Istanbul is always my favorite, as it is a real Ottoman Palace where you can plan weddings indoors and outdoors. Planning weddings in Bodrum is also amazing, as it is the Aegean part of Turkey. We usually design unforgettable beach weddings at AMANRUYA RESORT, MANDARIN ORIENTAL, and CARESSE HOTEL there.”
WHAT MAKES TURKEY AN EXCELLENT OPTION FOR A LUXURY DESTINATION WEDDING? “Turkey is a unique country where you can find everything needed for a destination wedding to happen in one place. Turkey has magnificent nature with beaches, forests, and beautiful landscapes, accompanied by a very rich history. We have palaces, historic mansions, and unique 5-star hotels for weddings. The hospitality and event industry has high standards, making it easy for wedding planners to work in our country. Turkish Airlines offers direct flights from almost every destination to Istanbul, making it convenient for wedding guests worldwide to reach Turkey.”
“I love small weddings in Cappadocia, the dream city of Turkey, where you can plan weddings in cave hotels such as ARGOS CAPPADOCIA .”
FAVORITE RECENT WEDDING? “I loved the wedding we designed and planned for Pakistan and Iranian families at OLD ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE in London last year. It was very special for me as KM Events’ second generation, my daughter Cemre Tepeler and my niece Zeynep Tunç were responsible for this destination wedding with all details.”
MELTEM TEPELER KM EVENTS, KM EVENTS BEYOND LUXURY, KM HOME COLLECTION INSTANBUL, TURKEY
Meltem Tepeler is a highly influential wedding and event entrepreneur in Turkey and the Gulf Region. She founded her company, KM Events, in Istanbul in 1995 and later expanded to Dubai with KM Events Beyond Luxury. Meltem has planned, designed, and organized extraordinary weddings, social gatherings, and celebrations for influential families worldwide, including Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Dubai, Istanbul, Europe, Greece, and other neighboring countries. She has also hosted world leaders such as George Bush, Silvio Berlusconi, Tony Blair, and Pope Benedict XVI at gala dinners for the NATO Summit. Meltem is the author of the book Weddings and Istanbul, which has become a classic in the industry. She has held leadership positions in various event-related associations, including the International Live Events Association (ILEA) and recently established The International Events Association of Turkey (TUED). Additionally, she has launched the KM Home Collection, a retail line of home textiles inspired by her extensive experience in event decor. ANY PREDICTIONS ON WEDDING TRENDS FOR 2024? “2024 will be a year of unique experiences in weddings. We, as KM Events, define ourselves as storytellers of a wedding. We handle a wedding as a story and design the wedding with unforgettable details and experiences. The details and the experiences should match each other, and they will create an unforgettable wedding together.”
kmevents.com.tr • @kmeventsturkeydubai • For the full interview, visit wedluxe.com
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WEDLUXE.COM @WEDLUXE
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