Turkish-American Wedding at Greencrest Manor in Michigan

Turkish-American Wedding at Greencrest Manor in Michigan

May 16, 2025
Words by Kinsley Brown
Photos courtesy of The Fourniers

When two scientists fall in love, there’s often more than chemistry at play. For Veronica and Dewran, it was a shared passion for discovery—and the magic of a garden—that brought their wedding vision at the enchanting Greencrest Manor in Battle Creek, Michigan, to life.

A couple in formal attire poses outdoors and walks down the aisle during an outdoor wedding ceremony with guests seated on a lawn in front of a large house. A long outdoor dining table with orange and white decorations is set up in the garden of a large estate for a formal gathering with guests.

A Love Story Rooted in Science

“Fate and a shared love of science brought us together,” Veronica shares. The couple met while pursuing their PhDs, working side-by-side in a lab. “We are both quite practical people, and we initially felt apprehensive about starting an office relationship. But as time went on, our feelings overcame the logic of the situation, and it turned out to be the best decision of our lives.”

Seven years later, their journey brought them to Greencrest Manor—a destination that mirrored their love of nature and their cultural blend.

A couple embraces outdoors, surrounded by greenery; adjacent images show a food truck, a spread of snacks, and guests at an outdoor gathering. Outdoor wedding ceremony and celebration with guests, traditional rituals, decorated tables, hanging lanterns, and a large estate in the background, shown from various perspectives.

Why Greencrest Manor?

Though not originally planning a destination wedding, the couple’s far-flung guest list made it the logical choice. “Since our families and friends are spread out across the United States, we quickly decided to be open-minded about location,” the couple explains.

The venue choice was deeply personal. “We come from different cultural backgrounds but were raised with a common love of the botanical world… Greencrest was the perfect answer to our search for a Secret Garden venue,” Veronica says. “The estate has incredible grounds, with more beauty around every corner and through every archway.”

Like any wedding, not everything went according to plan. “One issue that felt big at the time was the cancellation of our hotel block one month before the wedding,” the bride says. But with the help of the Greencrest team, the couple quickly found alternate lodging options for their guests. “No hotel block necessary.”

A collage shows a man in a brown tuxedo, a woman in a wedding gown on stairs, and a flat lay of wedding invitations, shoes, flowers, figs, and perfume on a peach-colored background. A bride and groom walk a garden path, pose outside a large house, with bridesmaids outdoors, and the groom sits in a wood-paneled library. A bride and groom sit on a stone bench in a garden, with the bride holding a letter; an inset shows them smiling and talking to each other.

Personalized Touches & Meaningful Details

With Modern Day Collective handling planning and florals, Veronica and Dewran had the freedom to create personal, handcrafted touches. One of the most special elements? A DIY escort card display spanning three generations and three states.

“My mom spent the Summer before the wedding growing cup and saucer vines on iron trellises to use as the backdrop… I would write guests’ names with my Apple pencil, then email her digital files that she printed with her Cricut,” Veronica recalls. “My grandma even helped, cutting a runner we found from Silk & Willow… into ribbons for each card.”

Together, they created a magical entry into the reception space. “Overall, I think we created an enchanted moment… and the project brought together three generations working in three different states.”

The creativity didn’t stop there. The couple used their scientific backgrounds to learn calligraphy, letterpress menus, and design signage using Adobe Illustrator. Even the escort card holders were handmade—crafted from walnut shells by Dewran and Veronica’s mom.

A groom in a brown velvet jacket kisses the hand of a bride in a white lace gown holding a bouquet, standing on steps framed by lush green ivy and white flowers. A bride and groom pose in a lush garden outside an ivy-covered house, with additional wedding photos in the garden and on a tree-lined path.

Honoring Heritage Through Celebration

The wedding weekend kicked off with a vibrant Henna ceremony, rooted in Turkish tradition. “A Henna ceremony marks a transition, officially welcoming the bride into the groom’s family,” Veronica explains. “With the bride and groom seated, close family and friends bring out the henna on a special tray while traditional music plays.”

The couple reimagined this tradition as a welcome party, allowing their guests to experience the joy and symbolism firsthand. “The process of learning about and planning the Henna ceremony made us feel connected to the generations coming before us.”

On Saturday, the ceremony continued the theme of meaningful touches. “We read our personal vows in private prior to the ceremony,” Veronica says. “In front of our friends and family, we wrote the ceremony to incorporate poems and readings meaningful to each of us… and completed the ceremony with a hand-fasting.”

A garden wedding ceremony setup with rows of wooden chairs, floral arrangements, a circular fountain, and lush greenery in the background. A wedding ceremony outdoors with guests seated, a couple at the altar, bridal party in dresses, and groomsmen in suits, set in a garden with a large ivy-covered building. A bride and groom walk indoors at a decorated wedding venue; other images show garden scenes, florals, and greenery arrangements.

Planning from Afar

Thanks to a structured planning process with the Greencrest team and a few key site visits, Veronica and Dewran felt supported throughout. “Even had the wedding happened close to our home, the planning itself likely would have been the same: deciding on a vision, researching online, and communicating with vendors,” the couple says.

Their biggest takeaway from planning? “Having an answer to the major ‘why?’ question helped us put things in perspective… We both felt that weddings are one of the few moments in life that bring big families together with celebratory energy. Neither of us wanted to pass up that opportunity.”

A decorated event space with long tables set for dining, wooden chairs, white tablecloths, greenery, chandeliers, and natural light from large windows. Collage of a wedding venue: decorated indoor dining area with set tables, and guests gathering outdoors in a lush garden. A bright, elegant event venue with white walls, floral arrangements, greenery, shelves with framed art and plants, and a set table decorated with flowers.

A Weekend to Remember

From the elegant grounds of Greencrest Manor to the heartfelt readings and family-crafted décor, Veronica and Dewran’s wedding was truly a celebration of connection—across cultures, generations, and distances.

“Having a destination wedding made the event more magical. It was a representation of the setting aside of time and space to celebrate our love,” Veronica says. “It also put a little bit of distance from the business of our everyday routine, which of course was waiting for us when we returned home.”

A bride and groom sit at a decorated table, guests dine and give speeches, and flowers and a dessert cart decorate a wedding reception. A bride and groom dance together; below, the groom dances with an older woman, and then sits applauding at a formal event with other guests in the background. A collage of three wedding reception photos: guests dance and clap, including a bride in a white dress, a woman in green, and a couple dancing on a black-and-white dance floor.