28 · 08 · 2027
Çeşme · İzmir

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The countdown to Çeşme

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26 August 2027 Çeşme, Türkiye

We can't wait to celebrate with you!

THREE DAYS, ONE BIG CELEBRATION

Festivities

Afternoon, Thursday 26th August — Gelin Alma , BBQ & Pool Party. Join us for gelin alma , the Turkish tradition of the groom coming to collect the bride, followed by a barbecue and poolside celebration. At Marquem Çeşme; further details to follow.

Afternoon and evening, Friday 27th August — Beach Day & Dinner. Spend the day by the Aegean Sea before we gather for dinner in the evening. The venue will be close to the wedding location and our recommended accommodation areas; further details to follow.

Late afternoon, evening and night, Saturday 28th August — The Wedding. We can't wait to celebrate with you at our wedding venue. At Marquem Çeşme; further details to follow.

A group of smiling friends waving from a car after a celebration
Meriç and dear friends waiting for Gabriella to run back from the pharmacy where she was treating a swollen eye, before the festivities where they met! Shout out to Nora and Ibra!
Meriç outside at Christmas with snow and a lit tree
Meriç loving the snow in Grantchester, Cambridge, not cold at all, our first Christmas together.

A LITTLE ADVENTURE BEFORE THE BIG DAY

Getting to Çeşme

Five ways to find your way to us. Pick a beer mat and flip it to discover your route.

* Bus fares, departure times and ferry sailings are indicative and may change before August 2027. Please check the linked operators before you travel.

Gabriella and Meriç enjoying drinks at a café
Life’s a journey. Wine makes it a grape one.
Luggage piled high on an airport trolley
Gabriella moving to İzmir! We hope that you won’t need this much luggage.

COME ON IN, STAY A WHILE

Accommodation

We recommend staying in one of the following neighbourhoods in Çeşme: Altınkum, Ovacık, Alaçatı, Ilıca or Boyalık. You are also welcome to find accommodation options in other locations in Çesme.

Explore the three ways to stay. Select a photograph to step inside.

A sunlit sea view through an arched hotel doorway
Imagine waking up to this view every morning…
Gabriella and Meriç at Boyalık beach
…then stepping out for a stroll along the beach or a swim in the sea (warmer than pictured in April!).

DRESS UP AND DANCE WITH US

Dress Code

Thursday – Festive & Poolside. Wear something comfortable for dancing, eating and swimming. Changing facilities are available.

Friday – Beach to Dinner. Come ready for the beach and swimming. Changing facilities are available should you like to change into something a little dressier for dinner.

Saturday – Wedding. Formal. Black-tie optional. Hats welcome.

Gabriella in a large cream wedding hat and Meriç in a suit
We would love for you to dress up with us for the occasion. Us on our way to Sophie and Jim’s wedding!
Evening on the lively, warmly lit streets of Alaçatı, Çeşme
Be relaxed or dressy in Alaçati, Çeşme.

ALL WE REALLY WANT IS YOU

Registry

We are so touched that you are travelling all this distance to celebrate with us. Your presence is more than we could ever ask for.

For anyone who would like to participate, there will be a traditional takı töreni on the Saturday. This is a traditional wedding gifting ceremony (typically gold coins or banknotes) that takes place following the wedding ceremony. There is an unspoken rule of reciprocity: a gift of equal value is returned when a guest themselves gets married.

A COLLECTION OF LITTLE MOMENTS

A Little About Us

A few of the moments that brought us here, collected along the way…

Two ships travelling past one another
01 Like ships passing in the night the first time we (nearly) met.
Rakı and mezze on a boat at sunset
02 Our first sunset rakı.
Gabriella and Meriç dancing together at night
03 Dancing in Akbük.
Gabriella and Meriç relaxing in Fethiye
04 Relaxing in heavenly Fethiye.
Gabriella and Meriç enjoying dinner
05 Our first Michelin-starred dinner in our first home.
Family tennis day with rackets
06 On our way to beating the world champions, Zoe and Richard.
A joyful photo together on a special day
07 A very special pre-wedding day!
Gabriella and Meriç enjoying drinks at an outdoor restaurant in Bodrum
08 Exploring every inch of Türkiye. From Bodrum...
Gabriella and Meriç together in Bolu, Türkiye
09 ...to Bolu!

WE SAVED YOU A PLACE

RSVP

Please let us know who will be attending, whether you’ll use our provided Thursday or Saturday bus from central İzmir and whether you’d like to share a villa with other guests.

Your RSVP will be securely sent to Gabriella & Meriç. Please submit once.

A FEW THINGS TO KNOW

FAQs

A few helpful things to know before you arrive.

What is the socket situation?

Türkiye uses European-style, round two-pin sockets (types C and F, 230V).

What language is spoken?

Turkish.

Here is a link to a beginner Turkish phrases video on YouTube.

Here are a few handy words and phrases:

  • Hello! Merhaba (mer-ah-ba)
  • I hope your work is going well (typical phrase when you walk into a shop, restaurant, anywhere where someone is working and you would like to greet them; literally: “May it come easy”): Kolay gelsin (kol-eye yass-in)
  • Thank you! Teşekkur ederim (tesh-eh-kur ed-er-im)
What is the currency?

Turkish lira (TRY). International debit and credit cards are accepted. You can take cash out of the ATMs. Cash can be helpful at markets and street stalls.

What will the weather be like?

Expect sunny August days, around 30°C, with Çeşme's refreshing coastal breeze. The evenings are warm and comfortable, around 25°C.

A generous Turkish breakfast spread with cheese, olives, bread, eggs and tea
Gotta squeeze in a Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı).