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

Organization of the ceremony

The best way out is to turn to professionals.

Now almost every travel company is ready to undertake providing such a service to newlyweds. In addition, an undeniable advantage is that now in Turkey you can officially legalize a marriage and, in addition to the wedding, immediately have a honeymoon. The required documents are standard: international passports, birth certificates, passports, death and divorce certificates (if any) and parental consent (if the spouse has not reached the age of majority).

Where difficulties may arise with a wedding

In which countries may difficulties arise in the process of registering a marriage, and what obstacles may a couple in love encounter?
By choosing some countries, for example, China, Thailand, Egypt, the UAE, it will be possible to organize only a symbolic ceremony. Marriage will not be legal there.

A marriage license obtained in Hawaii requires certification from the Department of Health. When deciding to get married in Bali, young people must be of the same religion. To get married in the Seychelles, you must live there for at least 11 days, in Sri Lanka - 4 days before the wedding ceremony, and in France you will have to stay 40 days before the wedding.

For a ceremony in some European countries (Austria, Germany, Switzerland), you need to wait for permission from the authorities, which can take from two to six months. Therefore, if future newlyweds decide to arrange official registration outside the Russian Federation, they should pay very close attention to the peculiarities of marriage legislation in other countries.

Where and when to go?

The best places are the shores of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. On the shores of the Aegean Sea there are crystal clear waters and picturesque beaches, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea there are mountain ranges, islands, blue sea surfaces and bays.

The most romantic cities:

1. Side. Reminds me of a unique museum. The ideal time is late spring and early autumn. The best hotel is Conny's Hotel.
2. Kemer. All around are the ruins of ancient cities. The ideal time is August. The best hotel is Fame Residence Kemer&Spa 5*.
3. Belek. Rich in flora and fauna. The ideal time is from June to August. The best hotel is Royal Adam & Eve 5*.
4. Bodrum. The city is rich in coves and monuments. The ideal time is from June to November. The best hotel is Kempinski Hotel Barbados Bay 5*.
5. Antalya. A resort city with a variety of botanical gardens. Wedding ceremonies according to Turkish traditions are held here. Ideal time: May, July, October. The best hotel is Rixos Downtown Antalya 5*.
6. Istanbul. In the city you can hold weddings both for two and for noisy groups. The ideal time is spring-summer. The best hotels are Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul 5*, Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul 5*.

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Wedding on the coast

The vast majority of young couples choose the sea coast as their wedding location. Wild beaches or special open areas at hotels and restaurants are the most popular and budget-friendly places for both a romantic event for two and a celebration for several dozen guests.

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The ceremony can be held in different parts of the country:

• Aegean coast (Bodrum, Marmaris, Turunc);
• Mediterranean coast (Antalya, Belek, Alanya).

Mediterranean territories tend to require a larger budget and early booking. The sandy coast of the Aegean Sea is more accessible to most tourists. The abundance of large and small resort towns will allow you to choose a wedding venue to suit every taste and budget.

Advantages of getting married in Turkey

Some weighty arguments in favor of the Turkish ceremony include:

• Affordable prices.
• The flight takes no more than 120 minutes.
• There are no difficulties with paperwork - no visa required.
• The Russian language is actively practiced, so there will be no difficulties when communicating with the owners of the country.
• Many centuries-old attractions.
• The purity and beauty of the landscapes.
• All inclusive system.
• Comfortable hotel stay.
• Delicious food.
• The popularity of the country means you can fly away at any time of the year.
• Active recreation and medical procedures.

Wedding in France

France attracts with its beauty, history, and architecture. In the country, Russians are allowed to officially register relationships at any city hall, but under one condition: they must stay in France for at least 30 days.

A wedding in France can be organized in a palace on the Cote d'Azur, in the lavender fields of Provence, in a Bordeaux vineyard, etc. The choice is limitless! And then go on a honeymoon tour around Europe - an unforgettable experience is guaranteed.

A wedding ceremony abroad is the dream of many newlyweds! You can plan everything on your own, but if you do not know the country and language well enough, the svadebka.ws team advises you to trust trusted companies that will organize everything for you!

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How much does a wedding ceremony cost in the country?

For couples on a limited budget, the celebration may well cost the newlyweds 40,000 – 50,000 rubles ($700-800). True, you will have to pay extra for additional services.

A symbolic ceremony is a ceremony for those lovers who have already legalized their marriage in their home country. Price – from 30,000 (from $420), the price includes:

• All-inclusive week stay.
• Transport to the airport.
• Ceremony.
• Room decoration, cake, fruit and champagne.
• Bouquet and boutonniere.
• Candlelight dinner and breakfast after the wedding night.

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But it does not include:

• Flight.
• Insurance.
• Personal expenses and needs.
• Accommodation for friends.

An official ceremony is a ceremony for those who want to legalize their marriage in a resort town. Moreover, the country does not restrict those wishing to get married based on nationality. Price - no less than 45,000 rubles ($630), the price, compared to a symbolic wedding, additionally includes:

• Civil service representative.
• Translation services.
• Decorations for the ceremony site and hall.
• Preparation of documents.
• Pigeons, photographer, live music.
• Preparing the room for the couple's arrival.

Celebrating with friends will cost much more: for 15 guests - from 620,000 rubles ($10,200), for 50 guests - about a million rubles (from $16,000).

Celebration

A Turkish wedding begins in the evening. In this country, the registry office employee comes to the newlyweds himself; this does not require additional payment and is the norm.

If children of conservative Muslim families get married, then the bride’s dress will be very closed, with long sleeves, and her hair will be completely hidden under a special headdress, on top of which a veil will already be attached.

A bright red wide belt around her waist is a symbol of the bride’s virginity. Such a wedding requires a large number of guests, sometimes up to 2-3 thousand. Not all of them are relatives; among the guests there will be neighbors, friends, relatives and acquaintances of varying degrees of distance. It is clear that feeding such a crowd of people is not only financially expensive, but also practically difficult. They will be invited to drink lemonade, cola, treat themselves to cake, cookies and nuts.

You won’t see a feast in the form we are used to, much less alcohol, at such a wedding.

The guests do not gather for a feast, but to congratulate the newlyweds and bring them gifts - money or gold jewelry. The closer the friend or relative, the more valuable the gift from him should be.

It is advisable to remember who gives what, since he will have to respond with an equally valuable item when his time comes to get married. There are special coins in Turkey - “republican gold”, which are sold in many jewelry stores, and you can return them there at the price per gram set for that day.

Usually, by the end of the wedding, the bride turns into a Christmas tree, hung with decorations, and has a sizable bank in a special handbag. The gold items that are given for weddings are not beautiful, they are simple and rather crude in workmanship, but they do not act as jewelry and are intended to be exchanged for money.

A traditional wedding is similar to the previous version, but the bride's outfit can be more open, and a scarf is not necessarily tied to her head.

The belt, if present, is more a tribute to tradition than a symbol of innocence. A feast with hot dishes, snacks from meat, fish, and vegetables is already expected here, but there is no alcohol.

Often a plastic wedding cake is brought into the hall for guests, with a small piece of the real thing hidden inside. It is necessary for the newlyweds to feed each other in front of the guests. This interesting move is explained by the fact that the shaped product is difficult to divide into equal pieces; for this, a flat-shaped cake is baked, which is served to guests.

Modern liberal Turks, not burdened by traditions or religion, celebrate weddings in the same way as most Europeans. The place for it can be a banquet hall or a restaurant. The bride's dress allows for any degree of frankness, and there will be much fewer guests than in previous versions - no more than 100-300 people. The newlyweds perform the dance first at the wedding, and after them the guests come out to dance. At the end of the feast, everyone receives “cones,” the Turkish version of which resembles a shell and is decorated with white candies.

The tradition of giving a wreath, like the one we bring to funerals, can shock a Russian guest.

Among the Turks, these compositions are appropriate for any significant celebration: for joyful ones they are decorated with a bright ribbon, for mourning ones - with a dark one.

But in any case, a wedding in Turkey means fiery dances, songs, a lot of music, an atmosphere of general celebration and the joyful faces of the newlyweds.

The Kurds who inhabit Turkey have many similar traditions, but they have a more common custom of negotiating the betrothal of young children and then marrying them. Men of this nationality do not hesitate to steal brides, however, with their consent, and the Kurdish girl herself is free to choose a spouse and can object to the desire of her brothers or father to forcefully marry her to a man she dislikes.

It would be a shame for the family if she refused the man whom her father chose as her husband.

Ideas: where to hold a symbolic ceremony in Turkey?

• On a yacht. Romantic atmosphere at sunset and candlelight dinner.
• On the seashore. Declarations of love to the sound of the sea and beautiful photographs.
• Oceanarium (Antalya). There is a panoramic tunnel with a variety of water world, 130 meters long.
• Karain Caves (Antalya). According to legend, the first people appeared here, which means the first love too.
• Church of St. Nicholas (Antalya). Here you can feel the love that St. himself felt. Nikolai.

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Gifting and the way home

1. Then everyone is invited to the next part of the evening - the gift ceremony. All guests congratulate the couple and give gifts of gold coins or money, touching their clothes. When the newlyweds leave the living room, people throw money, sweets and rice on their heads.
2. Then, accompanied by the wedding procession, they head to their home. In some regions, a girl cannot enter a house without breaking a bottle, pot or bowl on the threshold. The groom is usually pushed home by friends who kick him from behind.
3. The ritual in central Turkey is slightly different. Here we already see the preserved rituals of a traditional Muslim wedding. The entire village takes part in the wedding procession.
4. First, the car with the groom starts, then the men follow, followed by the future wife on a mule with the support of her father, and followed by the women. The procession ends with a car with small children.
5. The wedding reception there is similar to a traditional Arabic one and lasts several days. The wedding menu is limited to pastries, drinks and cake. Alcohol is strictly prohibited. Dances are held in which the newlyweds do not participate. Sometimes young people just sit all the time. Women and men dance in separate rooms.
6. The traditional ceremony in eastern Turkey can last up to two weeks. It includes preparations for the wedding, from washing beds and tablecloths to buying sheep.

All this is done with great solemnity.

Even tablecloths are brought home to the bride with great noise. The wedding also includes a bachelorette party, and the signing of official papers itself is not a significant ceremony.