Turkish Weddings

Summer is also wedding season here in Turkey.  Many of us CLS students have had the opportunity to attend a wedding or two with their family.  Like much of Turkish culture, a typical Turkish wedding blends traditional Turkish and Islamic elements with Western traditions.   Video and photography was limited to the professionals hired for the event at the weddings I attended, so I unfortunately do not have any of my own photos to share.  


Unlike in the US, inviting guests to your wedding is a last minute consideration.  Typically, a guest will receive an invitation the day before the reception.  Receptions usually take place in a rented hall similar to those in the States.  The official "marriage" part can take place at the hall or before or after at a separate location.  I have yet to witness the marriage ceremony, most guests only come to the reception.  The reception guest list can be much more inclusive than the guest list at a typical American wedding as the reception is much more informal in Turkey.  In addition to family and friends, neighbors and coworkers are typically invited to a Turkish wedding.  Children are not excluded from invitations or left with a babysitter.  Even toddlers and babies are brought along even though, like American weddings, Turkish wedding receptions are typically held in the evening.  


At the reception, guests seat themselves and while non-alcoholic drinks and cake are expected, a meal is not served.  As is typical at an American wedding, a DJ plays music and acts as an MC for the event.  The MC announces the bride and groom and there is a Western-style "first dance."  To make this special moment even more spectacular, it is common to for the couple to dance inside a square of Roman candles.  This can be quite disconcerting for someone used to American fire codes.  Other dances are typically Turkish traditional line dances and not accompanied by fireworks.  Unlike in the US, men are enthusiastic participants in Turkish dancing.  At one of the wedding went to, a group of men started the dancing off even before the bride and groom arrived.  


Near the beginning of the evening, the bride and groom do a ceremonial cake cutting.  However, the cake cutting I witnessed was a little bit different.  An enormous styrofoam cake was brought out.  It was wheeled right by us so I could see grooves where previous couples had "cut" the cake.  The bride and groom proceeded to make the groove a bit deeper and the faux cake was wheeled back out.  While this wedding salon offered a fake cake cutting option, most couples in Turkey cut a real cake. 


 Guests do not bring wrapped gifts for the newlywed couple.  Instead, the bride and groom have a receiving line and guests pin money, gold coins or, for close family, add gold bracelets to the bride's wrists.  My host mother has had a hard time understand why I did not receive gold jewelry at my wedding.  Gold gives a couple a the financial security that paper currency cannot.  Even in the recent past, Turkey's currency has undergone periods of debilitating inflation and it is quite understandable that most people consider gold a much better investment.  


Fashion choices at Turkish weddings vary greatly.  Turkish brides typically wear over-the-top, lavish princess gowns.  The close family and attendants also wear elaborate, formal clothing.  However, guests can choose to be as formal or informal as they like.  Outfits range from formal wear, to cocktail attire to jeans and a t-shirt.  It is always fun to see what the newest and most outrages dresses are gracing the windows of local bridal and formal wear shops.