Weddings abroad are becoming increasingly popular and Turkey is fast becoming one of the Mediterranean wedding hotspots. Many couples are looking to get married in Turkey as it’s far more cost effective than some other Mediterranean destinations and being only a 4-hour flight from the UK makes it ideal for a luxury wedding in the sun. Having a long coastline on both the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, the former being peppered with a myriad of islands, makes Turkey the perfect setting for a romantic wedding ceremony.

Only civil wedding ceremonies conducted by the local marriage registrar or a census officer have legal validity and ceremonies are always conducted in Turkish. For non-Turkish speaking couples, a translator must be present, and in some cases, only a ‘sworn’ translator is permitted. The ceremony itself can be conducted almost anywhere other than religious or cultural heritage site; although some cultural heritage sits can be hired for weddings in Turkey. Religious wedding ceremonies are permitted but are not legally binding. These often follow a civil ceremony and are normally conducted in a relevant place of worship, be it a mosque, church or synagogue, etc.

Turkey has a rich and diverse landscape, from the clear blue seas and pine forests of the coast, to the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia and the ancient Roman and Hellenistic ruins which can be found throughout the country; Turkey weddings offer a wide range of stunning landscapes no matter where you choose to tie the knot. The most popular destinations for weddings in Turkey are Marmaris, Kumlubük, Olu Deniz, Fethiye and Dalyan; all of which are clustered on the south westernedge of the country, where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean sea. Other popular areas can be found in and around Istanbul, the Black Sea coast and further east along the Mediterranean coastline.

If you want to get married in Turkey then it’s highly advisable to adopt the services of a wedding planner or bridal consultant as they will know all the ins and outs regarding documentation, paperwork and so on. Although rare, some couples who plan on getting married abroad and have tried to organise and arrange everything themselves have overlooked something quite important (often a specific document) which has resulted in the ceremony not going ahead. Turkey weddings are no more complicated than getting married in any other country, however I cannot stress enough the importance of getting assistance from someone who has the know how and experience to ensure everything goes to plan. After all it’s your big day and you want it to be perfect.

Carl Liver

If you are looking for weddings in Turkey or other weddings abroad then visit the bridal consultant today.