Wedding ceremony in Turkey: where to go and how much does it cost?

When choosing a wedding venue, newlyweds often choose Turkey, and this is understandable: no one is indifferent to the warm climate, beautiful sea, luxurious hotels, and most importantly, affordable prices for organizing a wedding ceremony for a couple in love. The combination of European and Asian culture will allow loving people to fully understand Turkey, enjoy its beauty and fall in love with this country. Throughout the vast Turkish territory there are many picturesque places where newlyweds will learn what paradise is.

Organization


A wedding ceremony in Turkey has many advantages over the traditional celebration at home. An undoubted advantage of holding a wedding ceremony in a tourist country is that it is possible to combine the wedding day with a honeymoon. If you invite relatives and friends with you, after the wedding they go to their homeland.
You can also consider the option when lovers travel to Turkey alone. They get married and return to celebrate with loved ones at the end of their vacation. Advantages of holding a wedding in Turkey:

  • The high level of service allows you not to experience language difficulties. All hotels have employees who speak Russian fluently.
  • No difficulties when crossing the air border. You are required to provide a minimum package of documents, and you apply for a visa at the airport upon arrival.
  • The flight takes several hours. You will arrive on the shores of the Mediterranean or Aegean as quickly as you could at any Russian resort.
  • Low pricing policy. Great competition allows us to keep affordable prices at such a level that even newlyweds with an average level of income can afford a honeymoon.
  • A large number of ancient fortresses, mosques, and ruined cities will not leave any visitor indifferent. Why not spend your honeymoon exploring ancient monuments?

The wedding in Turkey pictured below is simply beautiful.

Wedding ceremony in Turkey

How to organize a wedding in Turkey

Turkey, with its harmony and grandeur, is the border between West and East, Europe and Asia.
The cultural heritage of Byzantium, Rome and the Ottoman Empire is mixed here. A wedding banquet in Turkey can be celebrated either in a hotel hall or in a historical place, similar to an ancient castle. The new family will have an ideal start: on a wide sandy beach, hot sun, blue sea, eucalyptus and pine forests. Previously, in Turkey it was possible to organize only a symbolic wedding, but now it is possible to formalize an officially registered relationship.

Where to hold a wedding ceremony in Turkey

There are simply an incredible number of options for celebrating a wedding in Turkey. The best places are the shores of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, Istanbul. Each of the locations has a pleasant mild climate, which will definitely not spoil the wedding event. There are clear sunny days and warm sea water here almost all year round, and rain falls very rarely.

The Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea is washed by glass-clear, clean water, and there are many comfortable hotels with picturesque beaches nearby. Many couples choose this place. The ceremonial event can be organized in a hotel, an ancient castle or on the seashore. A wedding here will be remembered for a long time.

Unique beauty, majestic and at the same time calming, blue sea surface, many islands, bays, long beach areas, emerald pine trees, steep mountain ranges - on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey you can find the picturesque corner of your dreams. Oriental generosity and romance will captivate the newlyweds, and the celebration of the wedding in the resort city will leave vivid impressions. We have selected for you places with the most romantic atmosphere:

In Side

A cozy town, rich in Turkish history. It resembles a museum, the exhibits of which are located in the open air. And what sandy beaches there are, wonderful hotels, pleasant restaurants - everything is literally created for arranging luxurious wedding celebrations and having a fun time afterwards.

In Kemer

Perhaps the first city in popularity, located on the Mediterranean Turkish coast. There are many ruins of ancient cities around, which can be visited as part of a tour. Almost all areas of the city are suitable for holding a celebration.

In Belek

This resort town, famous for its green spaces, is rich in a wide variety of plant and animal species. Near it you can find eucalyptus and pine forests, where you can make a great photo shoot. The city is popular for wedding tourism and further honeymoons.

In Bodrum

The largest modern and youth resort city. People also call it “Turkish Ibiza”. It is worth noting that the surrounding area of ​​Bodrum is rich in picturesque bays and historical monuments.

In Antalya

A resort town that combines democracy and prestige, smells of pine needles, and is surprisingly clean. Botanical gardens and many popular hotels are located here. In addition to the traditional wedding ceremony, wedding ceremonies according to local traditions are held in Antalya. Among the many places that are suitable for celebrations, mention should be made of Tamara's lighthouse, an orange garden, a pirate ship, a ski resort and several historical temples. You can be sure that Antalya is ideal for celebrating your wedding day.

In the Stambul

The capital of Turkey is an excellent place for both a noisy wedding event and a small, quiet wedding. Affordable prices for accommodation make Istanbul not as expensive as other places in Turkey. There is also something special here: the city is located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, which adds a unique spice to the wedding. Here the celebration can be organized in the following places:

  • In the Ottoman Palace.
  • On an island in the Sea of ​​Marmara.
  • In the Greek mansion.
  • In a luxurious mountain restaurant with panoramic views.

Necessary documents for marriage registration

Recently, Turkey has provided Russian citizens with the opportunity to officially register their union. Special documents are not required for this; it is enough to take internal and foreign passports, birth certificates, divorce or death certificates of the previous spouse, if such an event took place. It should also be taken into account that if one of the spouses is a minor, then a notary-confirmed permission from the parents.

Celebration scenario

The well-known novel “Scarlet Sails” by Greene is perfect as a scenario for a wedding event. The venue for the celebration should be a restaurant near the coast, where guests will be greeted by the newlyweds, sailors and captain.

Then the most interesting thing happens: the ship's horn sounds, the lights go out, and a light, romantic musical composition begins to play. The toastmaster makes the following speech: “This fairy tale began many years ago, when a girl met an old wise storyteller. He told her the legend and made a promise that after she grew up, she would definitely meet a captain who would fall in love with her.

The captain will sail across the sea on a schooner with scarlet sails, after which he will pick it up and they will sail to the Rose Valley, where a long life together awaits them. The girl believed the storyteller and went out to the sea every day, waiting for the captain. Time passed and the groom finally arrived, fell in love with the girl at first sight and vowed to love and protect her for the rest of his life. Now they are leaving on their honeymoon. We wish them joy and happiness in Rose Valley!”

After this, the newlyweds go to their table, and the captain calls the invitees to start celebrating with them. First, the toastmaster makes toasts, and then the competition for choosing a “bitter” starts - the person in charge who will loudly give the command “bitter!” on deck. Applicants are selected, each of whom must blow on banknotes. Whoever's paper travels the longest distance wins.

Raising the anchor. For the competition, you should prepare several anchors from cardboard in advance and tie threads one and a half meters long to them. Each participant must take the thread so that the anchor is suspended. From the moment of “start”, the participants raise the anchor and take the thread into their mouths. Now they must pull it in like spaghetti, thereby raising the anchor. The person who completes the task quickly gets a prize. Then the presenter says the line: “Team - full speed ahead! With such sailors, neither storms nor storms frighten us!

At this moment, romantic music begins to play, the guests, in order of kinship, congratulate and make toasts. The host distributes colored flags to everyone, which will help the guests get to know each other more easily.

Then they turn on the music and announce the casting of anchor on an island in the middle of the sea, on which the newlyweds dance for the first time as husband and wife. At this moment, guests are given a journal for on-board notes, which is a thick-bound notebook, where anyone can write parting words in family life. At the same time, the sign “Island of Bad Luck” appears. The presenter makes an announcement that the schooner has been carried away to the island of bad luck, which is generously sprinkled with green leaves. At this moment he rustles the bill and organizes a check, as with this question among the invitees.

Then the competition begins: several married couples come out, and a lot of fake money spills out on the floor. The goal of the contestants is to collect the maximum number of banknotes in a limited time. When the competition ends, the toastmaster announces that the money collected is fake, and this is truly an unlucky place. But since the contestants found love, perhaps all is not lost. Therefore, you need to try to arrange a check by trying to catch the wedding bouquet.

As soon as the friends stand behind the bride, the bouquet is immediately thrown. The girl who caught him must cross out the “no” part on the sign with the name of the island. The toastmaster announces mooring on a Turkish island with a lighthouse. Everyone goes to the coast, lights small candles, and the newlyweds light one large one. It is lit by the fire of small candles in the hands of guests. At this moment, the toastmaster says: “This candle is your family hearth, which now constantly shines and warms, and will bring happiness into the house!” This will be a spectacular end to the wedding banquet.

How much does a wedding ceremony cost in Turkey?

A wedding celebration in Turkey pleases not only with its unique nature, oriental atmosphere and service, but also with relatively affordable prices that combine an ideal quality ratio. The “all inclusive” system operates in many hotels. This makes budget management easier, especially with a large number of invitees.

As a rule, the price for a wedding on the coast starts from $400. If you decide to arrange a whole banquet, then everything will depend on the conditions. Typically, standard wedding packages include the following services: coordinator, registrar, organization costs, marriage certificate, venue decoration, wedding cake, photographer and cameraman for the ceremony, bride's bouquet and groom's boutonniere. Please note that this price does not include tickets, accommodation and wedding reception.

Prices for a symbolic ceremony

Married couples who have created a union long ago and are vacationing in Turkey can also refresh their feelings and celebrate their own wedding anew, and it doesn’t matter at all whether it is gold or chintz. Despite the fact that such a ceremony is usually fictitious, it gives the same emotions as the official one.

Usually a symbolic wedding is not celebrated on such a grand scale as an official one, but here the flight of imagination is limitless. The ceremony can take place in a hotel hall or on the seashore. As a rule, the decorations are agreed upon with the organizing party in advance.

As for the cost, it can be different, but on average it varies from $400 and includes rooms for accommodation, meals, transportation to the airport and a show program.

Cost of the official ceremony

In Turkey, you can officially register a marriage both between foreigners and between a foreigner and a resident of this country. Due to paperwork and the work of government services and a translator, such a wedding will cost you a little more than a symbolic one. By entrusting all the necessary procedures to specialists, the cost of registering a marriage will be approximately $600.

Video: holding a wedding for two in Turkey

If you do not have a large wedding budget, then you can give preference to the most economical option for celebrating a wedding in Turkey - a ceremony on the seaside. Even it will include a sufficient number of services so that the resulting celebration turns out to be luxurious. You can find out in more detail how such an event will be organized by watching this video.

Photos of wedding ceremonies in Turkey 2016

National flavor and colorful landscapes will give you hundreds of ideas on how to conduct a wedding photo shoot. The unique combination of Eastern and Western cultures will bring incredible shots against the backdrop of an ancient castle and the blue sea. You won't need any extra props as Turkey itself is blessed with the perfect backdrops for wedding photography.

The best places for a celebration

It is difficult to answer this question unequivocally. There are many cities in the country where you can hold a wedding ceremony. You have the right to choose the time of year, since the sun shines here for 10 months. In summer, young people can enjoy swimming in the coastal waters, and in winter, ski off the slopes of one of the local ski resorts. A wedding in Turkey for two is great in the following cities.

Kemer

This is one of the most favorite places among future spouses. The city is surrounded by mountains on one side and washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea on the other . Newlyweds are invited to celebrate their wedding in the style of a national holiday, celebrate the holiday along the coast or go to the islands of Sedir, Kekova or Imbros.

Interesting ! Planning to spend your holiday on the beach? Let me help you. In this article we have collected the best ideas for a wedding near the sea.

Sid

In addition to traditional options, here you will be offered to celebrate your wedding on a yacht and enjoy swimming in crystal clear sea water. Sid's panoramas amaze with their magnificence and uniqueness.

Belek


The city is rightfully considered a “bird paradise”. Rare bird species can be found here. It is believed that Belek is one of the most expensive resorts in Turkey. But newlyweds who are looking for a quiet place and a comfortable stay will be impressed after staying here.

Antalya

A snow-white beach, the Tamara lighthouse, a ski resort, an orange garden - this is not a complete list of what lovers will see in Antalya. In addition, this is where you will be offered an interesting wedding tour, which includes a wedding ceremony according to local customs and a trip to the sights of the city.

Bodrum

Those who like to have fun will appreciate the opportunity to visit one of the most famous discos in the world - Helicarnassus. After the wedding ceremony, head here to spend time in a fiery dance.

Video about Antalya and Alanya

This video demonstrates the infrastructure of hotels in the cities of Antalya and Alanya:

Türkiye is a popular destination among honeymooners. Our editors, in turn, will give readers the following three recommendations for choosing a resort:

  1. For a fiery honeymoon, go to vibrant Marmaris, visit local clubs and restaurants
  2. Do you want to spend some quiet time in a small town and plunge into romance? Take a trip to Belek.
  3. If you have the opportunity to take an excursion, go to amazing Istanbul, where even a simple walk will be filled with the romance and charm of the Turkish Republic.

Where to mark

A wedding agency can offer you many options or organize the wedding of your dreams.


Popular places:

  • on the sea coast to the sound of waves at sunset;
  • romantic candlelit dinner on a yacht on the high seas;
  • in the Church of St. Nicholas;
  • in the panoramic tunnel of the oceanarium;
  • in the Karain cave (Antalya);
  • in a closed national restaurant.

Planning a budget

A budget wedding in Turkey will cost you approximately 50 thousand rubles. This will include airfare, insurance, hotel accommodation and the wedding ceremony.

You will be provided with a week's stay at the hotel, decoration of the room for the newlyweds, a ceremony with musical accompaniment and an evening in a candlelit restaurant. For the official marriage, they will invite a civil servant, a photographer, and offer to fly pigeons into the air. At the end, you will receive an official document confirming your marriage in Turkey.

A symbolic wedding ceremony in Turkey for those who have already gotten married in their homeland will cost a little cheaper, 30-40 thousand rubles.

A wedding with a large number of guests will be correspondingly more expensive. For 15 guests with accommodation and meals you will have to pay from 60 thousand rubles, for 50 guests - from 1 million rubles. By the way, the all-inclusive system will help you save a decent amount of money.

Depending on additional services, the cost may increase. Arrange for a performance by dancers in national costumes, white horses or camels, a show with torches and your wedding will become an incredible event that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Interestingly, Turkish customs do not prohibit residents of other countries from marrying Turks.

How much will the trip cost?

It is better to go to this country in December, November or May, as you can get a total reduction in prices from tour operators and travel to Istanbul or Antalya for at least 8 thousand rubles per person when purchasing a tour. In other months, the price of tours ranges from 20 to 40 thousand rubles for two .

If you plan a trip on your own, then you need to take into account the cost of plane tickets - from 7.5 thousand rubles to 9,500 round trip, the price of a room, meals and excursion program. In five-star hotels you will have to pay from 10,000 rubles for a week's vacation, hostels and more modest hotels will cost 2,000 - 5,000 rubles per person .

Peculiarities

Those wishing to get married in Turkey may have many questions.

  • How a wedding takes place in Turkey and specifically the wedding ceremony. The registrar will conduct the program in Turkish. At the same time, the translator will translate both his and your words.
  • Is it customary to invite witnesses? Like ours, the marriage certificate must be signed by two people. If you arrive unaccompanied, such people will be provided to you.
  • Who provides the musical accompaniment? The music, as well as the decoration, is handled by the agency, but if desired, the organizers will listen to the opinions of the young people.
  • Is a marriage document valid in Russia? Yes, the certificate is considered valid in our country.

Necessary documents for marriage registration

If a couple wants to hold only a symbolic wedding ceremony, then they do not need any additional documents other than international passports, insurance for the period of their stay in Turkey and hotel reservations. Upon arrival, the newlyweds pay a visa fee for tourists, and then can freely stay in the country for up to 30 days. If the newlyweds decide to hold an official ceremony, then they need the following documents:

  1. Foreign passports.
  2. Passports of citizens of the Russian Federation.
  3. Birth certificates.
  4. Certificate of death of a spouse or divorce (if any).
  5. If one spouse has not reached the age of 18, then the consent of his parents, certified by a notary, is required.

Customs


If you are determined to get married in this unusual Asian country, it will be useful to familiarize yourself with the local traditions and rituals associated with the wedding ceremony. The culture of our country and Turkey is very different from each other. But it is quite possible that you will take some points into account and use them at your wedding.

Türkiye is a strict Muslim country. Traditions and rituals are sacredly revered here, and if the wedding is in Turkey, the traditions and features of the ceremony need to be known to the young.

If you are having a wedding in Turkey, you should know these traditions and customs:

  • on the eve of the wedding, a cheerful bachelor party and a sad bachelorette party are always held, at which the girls say goodbye to a carefree life;
  • newlyweds give guests small gifts as a token of gratitude for coming to their holiday;
  • before the start of the feast, those invited generously gift the married couple with gold;
  • kidnapping a bride during the festivities is a popular Turkish custom. A wedding in Turkey is not always complete without it;
  • The rings are put on the bride and groom at the same time. In this case, the rings are fastened with a red thread, which is not cut until the young people take an oath of love to each other;
  • newlyweds dance a fiery dance to Turkish national motifs;
  • The usual wedding “cones” here are baked in the shape of beautiful shells.

Don’t be surprised if the hotel gives you a wreath of fresh flowers, reminiscent of our funeral one. This is a local tradition; such a gift does not mean anything bad.

Choice of ritual

Increasingly, free marriages are happening in Turkey, when a couple gets to know each other on their own. But still, the old principles have their place.

Thus, parents betroth their babies, who are obliged to get married after reaching a certain age. This ritual is called “beshik-kertme”. If one of the young people refused to marry, the matter often ended in murder. Therefore, this tradition is rarely used.

A more common ritual is when the sister of a deceased wife is married to her widower husband. And vice versa: the brother of the deceased marries his daughter-in-law.

A custom no less shocking to us is called “taigeldi”. In this case, two divorced or widowed people become engaged, and their children are also obliged to marry each other.

In poor areas, the bride was often stolen, especially if the groom could not obtain the consent of relatives.

If a girl stays in a guy’s house, she is already considered his wife. This action is called “gyz gachirtma”.

Menu


The more varied the menu, the richer the wedding is considered. Plates and trays are literally stacked on top of each other. Stuffed chicken legs, baked potatoes, and spinach pie are often served as main dishes. Alcohol is not always used. More often they get by with sweet drinks and tea. It all depends on the budget, but the Turks themselves do not go to a wedding to eat.

Newlyweds' outfits

To make your wedding look Turkish from start to finish, you can wear traditional wedding attire. It is worth noting that brides from Russia rarely replace a white fluffy dress with an embroidered robe. However, consider options for women's national costumes decorated with coins, fringe, and beads.


The bride's dress is not always white. Burgundy, blue, orange colors are allowed. Much more attention is paid to the cost of matter. Until marriage, a girl's hair must be covered with a scarf.

And yet, by entrusting the organization of your wedding to specialists in their field, you can ask them to choose a wedding dress of incredible beauty for you.

Many centuries ago, under tight trousers, the groom wore an embroidered robe with long sleeves and a block with pendants to the celebration. Today, young people prefer versatile formal suits.

Interesting! A wedding at sea requires a special outfit. We have collected the best dress options in this article.

Wedding preparations

Dowries for girls begin to be collected almost from the moment of her birth. True, modernity has made adjustments to some traditions, and today you can buy completely ready-made chests with bed linen, towels, dishes and other necessary household items.

Before the wedding, the groom's family takes the bride shopping, where the young woman can choose whatever she likes: clothes, jewelry, shoes, everything necessary and even unnecessary for furnishing their future home, which a man must have at the time of marriage.

Even if the family is not particularly wealthy, the newlywed’s relatives still try to give the bride at least one or two gold bracelets. The future husband does not remain offended either; the family of the future wife also arranges shopping for him; among the things a man needs, it is also customary to buy him a high-quality wristwatch - one that will serve him all his life.

The groom buys the wedding dress; the bride cannot do this. A Turkish wedding usually takes place on Thursday, but starting on Monday preliminary actions take place, which can be considered preparation for the wedding or its beginning.

On Monday, the entire bride's dowry is solemnly and demonstratively transferred to the house of her future husband. On Tuesday, the girl tidies up her body and visits the Turkish bath (hamam). Her friends, relatives - anyone she wants to invite - can go with her to the ablution procedure.


There she will find massage, peeling, masks and other “beautiful” procedures. All this is paid for by the groom. Wednesday is reserved for henna night. The bride is dressed in a bindalli - a special dress, very luxurious, with fine hand-finishing. Often this outfit is passed down from generation to generation and is considered a family heirloom.

The face should be covered with a red, embroidered veil. The henna for this ceremony is brought by the groom's relatives on a special silver tray with candles. When everything is ready, the future mother-in-law lays a roll of silk brought as a gift at her daughter-in-law’s feet. The bridesmaids walk around the women present with candles in their hands, and at this time the bride is sprinkled with money, which should symbolize wealth and financial stability in marriage.

The daughter-in-law approaches the groom's mother along the rolled silk and, showing her respect, kisses her hand and bows her head.

This is followed by food and songs. People eat mainly fruits, sweets and nuts on the night of henna, and the song performed by musicians or girlfriends is so sad and heartfelt that the bride begins to cry.


It is believed that tears shed at this time will guarantee happiness in married life. Next begins the ritual that gives the name to this night. The bride keeps her fists tightly clenched to allow her hands to be painted; the mother-in-law places a gold coin and a handful of henna in each palm. The painting is done by the woman who is the happiest of all those invited in family life; she covers the fingertips, palms and big toes of the bride with intricate thin patterns.

Sometimes the groom's initials may be hidden in the intricate script; if he fails to find them, he gives his wife a gift . Girlfriends' hands are also painted; this will help girls quickly arrange their family life. Drawings applied with henna appear gradually and will become brightest just in time for the wedding. Henna night is celebrated until the morning, and all this time the bride should not leave her friends. Such a ritual occurs only once in a woman’s life, which gives it special meaning and value.

Traditionally, the presence of men at this time was unacceptable, they had their own entertainment, but today sometimes henna night can end up combining the bachelor and bachelorette parties into one event.

Photo and video shooting

In order for a magical wedding in Turkey to be remembered for a long time, and for you to be able to tell and show your children how the most important day in your life went, you need to capture pleasant moments.

In Turkey, you will be offered the services of a photographer and videographer who will create a film about the wedding. Staged photo sessions near ancient architectural monuments, in a hotel lobby, on the coast or on the open sea will be the best confirmation that the celebration was excellent.

Please note that filming of local residents is not permitted. Therefore, you must use your camera with extreme caution.

Marry a Turk

Turkish men are very courteous and colorful in appearance. As a rule, they stand on their own feet and know how to provide for their family. Ladies who have found love and are going to marry a Turkish man should take into account several important points.

  • The spouse should dress extremely modestly when leaving the house. On the contrary, home clothes are elegant and emphasize all feminine virtues.
  • No strangers - this is a strict prohibition, even if it is an old friend.
  • The will of the mother-in-law in the house is the law for the daughter-in-law. And the husband’s word is decisive and cannot be appealed. But this does not mean that the spouse cannot be persuaded. A wise wife is quite capable of directing a man’s thoughts in the direction she wants without scandals.
  • You will most likely have to give up your job. There are few work opportunities for women in Turkey, and a married woman working is something out of the norm. Although, recently Turkish ladies have achieved some changes in relaxations
  • The Muslim faith does not allow a wife to deny her husband intimacy. Likewise, you should not take the initiative or behave uninhibitedly.

If these differences in family and cultural life do not frighten you, and your feelings are strong, advice and love, as they say!

Wedding celebrations in Turkey retain all the charm of their uniqueness. Alien values ​​bursting into the life of this large country have not yet crippled its national flavor. To attend a traditional Turkish wedding means to plunge into the unique culture of this people.

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