Istanbul : Our Wedding The Turkiye way

There are many written dark sides of Istanbul yet there are fonder memories in many people’s hearts after visiting Istanbul. But I wonder how many actually experience a wedding in Turkiye Istanbul style and tradition, this I was about to experience and believe me it is an experience you will never forget not because you just got married but the whole event .

Saturday 29th August 2009 I woke up around 8.30am,  then soon after drinking a large cup of Cay having my first cigarette of the day it suddenly became a stark reality that this was the day . The day myself and Figen had been counting down religiously on a daily basis. My friend had come over from England for the event himself looking calm and still in awe of the view our home offers across the Bosphorus. Myself I was beginning or nerves were starting to get the better of me , by 9:30am I had covered every spot there was to walk on in the apartment at the same time thinking I should be doing something. Shall I cook breakfast , shall I take a shower , shall I jump of the balcony.Each time I could not do any of the things that came to mind all I could do was smoke and drink Cay .

By 10:30am I had managed to have a shave. Nick my friend was still staring out across balcony towards the Bosphorus, me I was at that point a complete bag of nerves and starting to think Vowels,procedures it just made me worse because I had could not even add up 2+2 (4) at this time. Figen flew out the apartment at 9:00am to have her hair done by now she been gone two hours and was due back soon. I thought if I dont get my act together and get ready it is not going to happen in the way I had imagined . What ever I had imagined anyway was lost in my nerves somewhere .

[SinglePic not found]Back in England the morning tradition for many of my friends was a visit to the pub for a few beers or the hair of the dog from the night before . Yet here in Istanbul beer or alcohol was far from my needs I just wanted to keep a clear head and remember this day in detail and not only that Ramadan is in full flow so alcohol was not widely available at that time of day.  So there I was putting on my wedding suit for the first time since I had bought it ,to my shock I had piled on a few pounds around the waist since , not a good sign has I was going to spend a good deal of time throughout the day in it . By  1:15pm I was done albeit feeling a bit awkward but ready I was  but if you had asked me anything I would not of heard you, I was so nervous and totally unaware of what was happening around me . Until suddenly for the first time  I had seen Figen in her wedding dress ,until now I had deliberately kept my eyes from seeing it until today . Has I turned round I was brought back down to earth an angel was standing in front of me ,she was so beautiful , so elegant ,  was this a dream yet still today has I write this I think I am dreaming.

By 2pm we were all ready to go to the Besiktas  Evlendirme Dairesi  the venue for official wedding , however Istanbul being the city it is the traffic was to become a major obstacle . Saturday afternoon in Besiktas is a nightmare what normally is a 30 minute journey on a Dolmus turned into an hour , really not what you need on this day. After some 15 minutes of not really moving anywhere nearer the temperature starts to rise and the frustration and nerves just crack at the seams . I just wanted to get out and walk but how can you make your bride walk in a wedding dress along the streets of Besiktas you can not so you just has always have to get on with it but we ended up walking a short distance.

On arriving we were both still very worked up and frustrated remember it is a day we had both been looking forward to so much so any little incident was bound to kick off the nerves. Sometimes everything happens in three’s the traffic,walking to the venue, and our chosen music CD would not play , how funny the little things in life can turn you into a raging bull in the heat of the moment.

Having got over the minor problems what was to come next was a moment I will never forget , up to this day I had really taken a back seat in the organisation and with that I really was not ready for the next moment. Walking through the curtain admiring my beautiful bride I looked up and could have just have turned round and crawled under the carpet. In front of me there were sitting so many people I have no idea how many I really had not expected that many for this formal official part of the wedding. I really was so overwhelmed and speechless , I could not focus on anyone , I could not move . Suddenly  I just went numb but comfortably numb . If heaven exists I think I had found it at that moment it was an amazing feeling .

Myself still sitting up there on cloud nine or in cuckoo land , I looked at my friend Nick  I think he was has shocked has I was ,I could here people cheering and clapping , I could hear faintly the registrar reading out the ceremony and suddenly I heard my name ,it was at that point reality came flooding back with a bang . Sitting there listening Figen translating it all to me in English what would I do without her . Then the simple but most meaningful word “EVET” yes not I do  but “EVET” . This took all of five minutes to complete but sitting up there in front of those guests it seemed forever ,with that next came the formal official signing and I thought wow thank god that is over . How wrong I was even more unawareness was to follow shortly.

[SinglePic not found]Having done all the posing for the photographer we all headed off for some more group photography outside and this is something else  I was not expecting . All the guests cueing up to give us there wishes and love ,to have there picture taken with us (that is such a flattering moment) . It was another tremendous feeling ,Tebrikler,Cok Guzel the words I was to hear for the next 20-30 minutes it was wonderful. Turkish people let me say it are the most friendliest ,caring, appreciative people I have ever known. They are proud people and know how to make you feel proud. Something else going on at this point I was not aware off until the following day was the gifts ,no not kettles and toasters like back in England.Traditional Turkish wedding gift is GOLD and lots of it ,I really was not aware of just how much of it there was until the following day it was last thing on my mind but I will talk about the gifts later.

So some two hours later after taking a rest back at the apartment ,yet trying to digest what had just happened .I myself and my new wife headed off to the Hisar Campus Rumelihisari  a location high upon the hills alongside the Bosphorus. To have an outdoor ceremony in the climate of Istanbul is something else,and here I was still feeling shell shocked from the events earlier, it was time to eat and dance Turkish style. But I could not do any eating or drinking I was so mesmerised by the location and the feeling.There was no curiosity going on ,there was laughter,there was happiness, and there was me totally floating on air by the sense of the next moment. Has the song started Jonathan Cain Bridal March  my beautiful wife walked the aisle of the gardens , she was so beautiful and natural so elegant, the moment and  the scene was like something created for a Love Story film . I was absolutely stunned , has we exchanged vowels ,myself had nothing planned or written down , I just wanted to say what ever I was feeling at that moment in time and thankfully I think I got it right .

Figen,Canim,Askim I give you this ring and I really can not remember the rest but I heard cheers and laughter has I put the ring on her finger and looked up at her . It was another moment you can not explain you really have to experience the feeling to understand, there are some feelings you can just not explain or share with words . Once again I looked round to everyone but I could not focus , I attempted a speech of  gratitude to everyone but I had a lump in my throat and my  male pride takes over preventing me from  showing any feelings inside. It is no doubt it is a unique feeling to marry someone you love so much in such a romantic city as Istanbul , the city , the location, the climate , the people made this day a very special day I will remember and I really do hope many more overseas people experience the same feeling.

There are times has one lady told (Jennifer) me “Being not in control is Istanbul in one word” and that is why Istanbul is so unique you really never know what is around the corner, a city of surprises, a city of chaos, a city of beauty , and lastly a city that is alive that leaves you wanting more…..Time to Digest more to come ….

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