Weddings in Turkey

Çırağan Palace Kempinski is the only Ottoman imperial palace-hotel on the Bosphorus, a restored 19th-century palace built for Sultan Abdülaziz at Beşiktaş in the heart of Istanbul. Couples marry on the Bosphorus-front terrace or in the marble palace ballroom, then celebrate in the historic ballroom or the grand ballroom, with the strait, the bridge and the lights of the city all around, and stay in historic palace suites over the water.

A contemporary private seaside villa above Paradise Bay in Türkbükü on the Bodrum Peninsula, from the celebrated Maçakızı family. Ten sea-view rooms and suites sleeping up to 20, an infinity pool, a private spa with Turkish Hammam, private beach access, and a private chef. The whole estate is hired exclusively for weddings of up to 150 guests.

The Bodrum EDITION is a Marriott design resort on Tilkicik Bay near Bodrum, whitewashed low-rise buildings set among olive gardens above a private white-sand beach on the turquoise Aegean. Couples marry on the beach, out along the jetty over the water, in the gardens or on the sunset terrace, then celebrate on the pool deck, at the beach club or in the ballroom, for up to around 300 guests. With a mirror-still lagoon pool, an infinity pool, a 1,500 sqm spa with a Turkish hammam, and 108 rooms, suites and villas, many with private pools and sea views, it is one of the loveliest coastal wedding addresses in Turkey.

Six Senses Kaplankaya is a luxury wellness resort on Turkey's northern Aegean coast near Bodrum, built into the hillside above three to five private beaches. Weddings run €260-280 per guest, with Main Beach, the largest reception space, holding 200-300 guests. A full resort buyout is available for complete privacy. 141 rooms, suites and private residences accommodate the wedding party on site, alongside a 10,000sqm spa, multiple restaurants, indoor and outdoor pools, and an on-site helipad for private arrivals.

Swissotel The Bosphorus is a five-star hotel set in 65 acres of landscaped historic Ottoman parkland on a hillside above the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Couples marry in the gardens with a Bosphorus backdrop, on the Swiss Living Terrace or in one of three grand ballrooms, and hold a banquet in the vast Fuji Ballroom, which seats up to 1,000. With 29 function rooms, henna-night halls, a bridal hammam, a Purovel Spa, a Turkish bath, indoor and outdoor pools and 566 rooms and suites, it is built for grand Istanbul weddings with panoramic Bosphorus and city views.

A bold new ultra all-inclusive resort on the Turkish Riviera, XO Cape Arnna sits on an exclusive 800-metre beach in Fethiye Bay with a Grand Wedding Hall for 320 guests, swim-up suites, a curved lagoon pool complex, a Mediterranean spa, and the 90,000 sqm resort grounds — as reviewed by Condé Nast Traveller.