Rain fell over Cornwell Manor from morning until night, but when it came time to move the celebration through the Cotswolds, Ara and Akay with their planner Kerry Poulter simply added umbrellas and a brass band.
The couple brought together several places that had shaped their lives for their destination wedding in England. Ara is from New Orleans, Akay’s family is originally from Turkey, and the groom was raised near Cornwell Manor alongside his sibling. Guests traveled from Turkey and locations across the United States to spend the weekend celebrating with them in the English countryside.
Despite a full day of rain, the weather never seemed to dampen the energy. Instead, captured by Emmylou Kelly, umbrellas became part of the experience, especially when Ara’s New Orleans heritage brought an unmistakably Southern sound to their quintessential Cotswolds setting.
Statement bridal fashion brought drama to the English countryside
Ara chose a chic fitted satin gown with delicate spaghetti straps for the ceremony, pairing its streamlined silhouette with a cathedral-length veil.
But it was her dramatic light pink cape shawl that introduced an unexpected fashion moment. Flowing behind the gown like a train, the soft pink fabric brought movement and color to the otherwise minimalist bridal look.
Akay complemented her in a sharp white dinner jacket with a black bow tie, creating a polished black-tie pairing that felt right at home against Cornwell Manor’s elegant surroundings.
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Peonies, fruit, and colorful florals topped white ceremony pillars
The ceremony design brought a more organic use of color into the day.
Arrangements by Fine Stems in red, pink, and green were placed atop crisp white pillars, with peonies and other textured blooms creating loose, garden-inspired compositions. Fruit spilled naturally from the arrangements, adding unexpected shapes and another layer of color to the florals.
The combination felt polished enough for the historic English setting while retaining the slightly wild quality of something gathered from a garden.
A New Orleans brass band took over the rainy Cotswolds
One of the day’s most memorable moments came courtesy of Ara’s New Orleans roots.
With umbrellas overhead, the couple and their guests danced their way from the marquee toward the reception as a brass band played jazz and led the celebration through the rainy English setting.
The contrast made the moment even better. New Orleans music, umbrellas, and a joyful crowd moving through the grounds of an English manor created a scene that could only have belonged to Ara and Akay.
Rather than becoming something the couple had to work around, the rain ultimately became part of the atmosphere.
Monogrammed cocktails made happy hour personal
During cocktail hour, even the drinks carried a personalized detail.
The couple’s signature cocktails were finished with a custom monogram set directly into the foam, turning each drink into another thoughtfully designed element of the celebration.
It was a small detail, but one that reflected the care given to the entire guest experience, particularly for a destination wedding that had brought loved ones together from multiple countries.
Delicate pink place settings filled the tented reception
Inside the tented reception, the palette softened for dinner.
Delicate pink and white place settings created a romantic foundation for the tables, carrying the pink tones seen throughout the earlier celebration into a more refined dinner setting.
Sheltered from the rain outside, guests settled in for dinner before the elegant atmosphere gradually gave way to a much livelier evening.
A disco ball and espresso martinis fueled the dance floor
After dinner, the reception shifted firmly into party mode.
Guests danced beneath a disco ball as the celebration continued late into the night. Espresso martinis arrived as a late-night drink, providing an appropriate boost for a crowd with no intention of letting the weather send them home early.
The energy that had carried everyone through the rainy day continued straight onto the dance floor.
Ara’s second dress brought back her statement shawl
For dancing, Ara changed into a mini dress, but she did not leave the drama of her ceremony look behind.
Her second outfit featured another showstopping shawl that flowed behind her as she moved, intentionally echoing the light pink cape shawl she had worn earlier in the day.
The repeated styling detail created a clever connection between her two bridal looks. The first felt sweeping and romantic for the ceremony, while the shorter second dress translated the same idea into something made for dancing.
Rain may have fallen over Cornwell Manor all day, but Ara and Akay’s wedding never felt defined by the weather. If anything, the umbrellas, misty English setting, and spontaneous feeling only added to its character.
A New Orleans brass band honored Ara’s roots, the Cotswolds connected the celebration to the place where Akay grew up, and guests traveled from Turkey and across the United States to bring their different worlds together. Add in fruit-filled florals, statement bridal fashion, personalized cocktails, a disco ball, and late-night espresso martinis, and the result was far more memorable than a perfectly sunny day could have guaranteed.
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