Turkish weddings are incredibly diverse, as Eastern and Western cultures and traditions meet in Turkey. As a result, there are lots of different rituals and elements which could be included in a Turkish wedding from venue choice to wedding attire.
If you are lucky enough to be invited to a Turkish wedding, it’s a good idea to make yourself familiar with some of these traditions so that you can understand and appreciate the occasion. That’s why we’ve created this guide to what to expect when attending a Turkish wedding...
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The Location
There are two types of Turkish wedding ceremonies. There is the religious ceremony, for which there is no real limit on location; it can be held at home with two witnesses. However, this is not legally-recognised so many couples will opt for a civil ceremony instead or as well. This would be held in a licensed venue.
As hundreds of guests tend to be invited, in particular to the receptions, most Turkish weddings in the UK tend to be hosted at places such as banquet halls or large dedicated venues.
Browse Large Wedding Venues here.
The Attire
As with most elements of a Turkish wedding, this really depends on the backgrounds of the bride and groom. Generally, at most, the dress code is quite formal, however weddings in small Turkish villages would have a more casual dress code.
The couple will indicate their dress code, most likely via the invitations, but men should expect to wear a suit and women should expect to wear something which doesn’t display too much skin, especially if it is a conservative wedding.
As for colours and accessories, bright colours and jewellery are popular choices, although remember to stick too formal chic. Reds and pinks are best avoided as these are traditionally bridal colours.
The Ceremony
Again, the diversity of Turkey’s culture and traditions is clear when it comes to wedding ceremonies. Some families will have rituals which recall village weddings which take place over several days and bring together whole communities.Â
For other families, their customs will be based on ‘salon weddings’ from large towns and cities, which look more like the style of wedding we are used to, taking place over the course of one day.
There are traditions which are consistent throughout Turkish weddings, including the famous money-pinning.(This needs an expert opinion as I saw this happens in the reception?) This is where guests pin a gold coin or banknote on the bride’s dress, or a ribbon around the couple's necks, when they are asked to offer their congratulations. This is usually in lieu of any gifts the couple might receive, and sets them up for their new life.
The Reception
At a wedding, you can usually expect food, dancing and a good time, and Turkish weddings are no exception! Each element has a unique Turkish twist to it, making the Turkish wedding reception an event you won’t want to miss.Â
Food
Food is usually part of any Turkish wedding reception, although again there will be variety in what the menu consists of, depending on the backgrounds of the two families. Sometimes it will be snacks or canapés for the guests, other times it will be a banquet of multiple courses.
For the latter, popular choices include lamb, rice and chicken dishes, and soups. In fact, there are lots of different traditional soups which might be served at a Turkish wedding. Usually they are based on either lentils or lamb, and often flavoured with delicious spices like paprika.
Drink
Traditionally, it’s uncommon for alcohol to feature heavily in Turkish weddings, if at all. Whilst this may not be the case, prepare for there to be no alcoholic drinks available.Â
The couple will likely indicate this on your invitation, but even if alcohol is available, for example if the venue is a hotel with a bar, make sure you don’t go overboard. After all, you’ll still have a wonderful time without it!
Entertainment
Customary Turkish music is a must at the reception, often performed by a live band. These will usually be songs from the region of Turkey that the families originate from, with each region having a distinct style and catalogue of songs.
Regardless of which region the music represents, there will be lots of dancing and laughter at a Turkish wedding reception, and the money-pinning may also happen at this point if it hasn’t happened earlier on.
When the couple depart for their honeymoon, the guests may wave them off with the phrase ‘Hayat Boyu mutluluklar dilerim’ which means ‘I wish you a lifetime of happiness’, a very romantic send-off!
Enjoy reading about other wedding traditions? Find more articles here.