DESTINATION WEDDINGS – Weddings In Beautiful Türkiye Part One: ISTANBUL
Written by Fairy Bride Mother on September 15, 2022.
Tagged under: Destination weddings, Istanbul, Review, Turkish weddings, Türkiye
Getting married and considering a destination wedding and unsure of where that may be just yet? Well, we may have just the destination for you – beautiful Türkiye! We bring you details on two gorgeous Turkish destinations that we were privileged enough to tour and experience ourselves courtesy of the Turkish Tourism Board and Vivaah Weddings in this two-part tell-all on wedding destination – Türkiye. Read on for part one of our two-part curated series to explore all that Istanbul has to offer loved-up couples looking to jet away for the destination wedding of a lifetime.
Why Istanbul?
Istanbul strikes the perfect balance of East meets West, with its rich history; museums, churches, grand mosques, bazaars, and sites of pure natural beauty, combined with modern nightlife. Istanbul is packed with bustling restaurants, modern and classic hotels, cafes dotted along the shores of the Bosporus, and shopping! It’s no wonder thousands of tourists visit the capital to take advantage of all its offers, and couples planning a wedding should be setting their sights similarly.
If you caught our IG stories this summer, you’ll have seen how Istanbul delighted us with incredible food, perfect ‘destination wedding’ weather, and hospitality beyond anything we have personally experienced – a wedding in the capital heartbeat of Türkiye is one that will exceed expectations and be remembered forever.
In part 1 of our tell-all on the destination-wedding hunt of Türkiye, we outline five of Istanbul’s stunning venues that are worth taking a look at when planning a wedding.
Çırağan Palace Kempinski
Getting married at Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul is the perfect choice for any couple seeking a fairy tale wedding fit for a prince and princess. The venue is both elegant and romantic, and well suited to a couple who appreciate classic spaces. Offering several possible locations both in and outside of the venue, along with services and packages for both wedding ceremonies and receptions, the team at Çırağan Palace will ensure your wedding is the one you always dreamed of.
Top Tip: The Çırağan Palace Kempinski is one of the most sought-after wedding venues in all of Türkiye with a history dating back 150 years – through the Roman and Ottoman Empires. For this reason, couples would be wise to inquire about availability well in advance of your targeted date to avoid disappointment.
Interested in learning more? Email: ece.doganoglu@kempinski.com for packages and information or click here.
Four Seasons Bosporus İstanbul
The Four Seasons Bosporous sets the scene of your special day with a picture-perfect backdrop. Up close, the individual locations are just as impressive, with spacious, light-filled indoor spaces including a ballroom with panoramic Bosporus views, a stunning waterside terrace and more.
Top Tip: Take advantage and arrange a cruise along the Bosporus for your wedding guests the day before, or after your wedding. Speak to the team at Four Seasons for more information.
Interested in learning more? Email: serap.kanat@fourseasons.com for packages and information or click here.
Raffles Istanbul
We were lucky enough to be hosted at this incredible venue during our stay in Istanbul and can safely say the hospitality and attention to detail we received was one of the best we have experienced to date! The rooms were incredible, with no request being too big for the staff. The team at Raffles will assist you in creating the tone, aesthetic and type of event you desire for your special day. The main Raffles ballroom can host up to 1200 guests and provides a grand setting for a wedding. For smaller, more intimate weddings, the function rooms offer a more personal experience.
Top Tip: Save stress by using the venue’s in-house florist to create the floral décor of your dreams.
Interested in learning more? Email: Irem.Genc@raffles.com for packages and information or click here.
Hagia Sofia Mansions (Curio Collection) İstanbul
Hagia Sofia Mansions is the perfect location for the more intimate setting usually sought after for smaller weddings. Perfect for the quirky couple looking for something unique. In particular, the Green House Garden Restaurant offers an outdoor space with an enchanting stone fountain, lush greenery and delicately perfumed air that magically transforms the hustle of the city into a calm sanctuary. The restaurant may be booked exclusively for an event, depending upon availability. The Curio Collection also have many small spaces for intimate ceremonies available, incluing private terraces overlooking the blue mosque.
Top Tip: If you are staying at Hagia Sofia Mansions, make sure to book a treatment at the roman underground Cistern Spa.
Interested in learning more? Email: Reyhan.karamemisoglu@
Mandarin Oriental Bosporus İstanbul
This stunning venue is located on the European side of Istanbul along a unique water-front site of the Bosporus in the high-end residential Kuruçeşme neighborhood. The Mandarin Oriental in Istanbul offers breath-taking panoramic views, and a choice of exquisite function rooms, excellent catering, and friendly, efficient service for an event where you and every guest will enjoy the perfect wedding.
Top Tip – Try out lunch at OLEA restaurant whilst there; we had the best experience whilst visiting and the food was to die for!
Interested in learning more? Email: mtahtali@mohg.com or click here.
If a big-city wedding with the option to scale up or keep it minimal sounds like the perfect balance for your big day, check out the above venues and turn your dreams into a reality. If you’re still wondering what else Türkiye has to offer, then stay tuned for part 2 where we take you to explore the homeplace of one of the seven Wonders of the World in beautiful Bodrum. We deep-dive into why this coastal town is fast becoming the beach destination of romance and wonder for couples the world over, with more top tips and venue highlights.
Nadia Duran says
Wow! What a wonderful trip and thank you for all this information, so helpful and easy to picture it.
Absolutely beautiful Turkey