Published : 2025-08-11

How to organize a Turkish wedding?

- Categories : engagement and marriage , Jewelry News

Organizing a Turkish wedding is much more than planning a simple ceremony – it’s about celebrating a rich cultural heritage, a deep family bond, and a series of traditions rooted in the heart of the community. From the Turkish engagement rituals (Söz and Nişan) to the famous henna night (Kına Gecesi), each stage of the wedding is an opportunity to strengthen connections, honor elders, and pass down values.

Whether it takes place in Türkiye or in France, a Turkish wedding revolves around customs that blend spirituality, festivity, and generosity. Jewelry also plays an essential role in this culture, with wedding rings, necklaces, bracelets, or gold coins offered to the newlyweds as symbols of abundance and blessings.

In this guide, discover how to organize a traditional or modern Turkish wedding while respecting authentic Turkish wedding customs. A journey rich in emotions, where the Turkish bride shines, surrounded by rituals, music, lavish outfits, and sparkling jewelry.

1. The engagement and marriage proposal (Söz & Nişan)

The marriage in Turkey begins well before the official ceremony. It starts with two fundamental steps: the Word (the promesse) and the Engagement (engagement). These traditions are still highly respected, even during a Turkish wedding in France.

The Söz: the agreement between families

During this meeting, the family of the future groom visits the bride's family to officially ask for her hand in marriage. An intimate ceremony takes place around a tray of Turkish coffee, often prepared with humor by the Turkish bride (sometimes salty to test the suitor's patience!). If the families give their consent, it is then referred to as Interrupting a speech, which formalizes the promesse.

The Nişan: traditional engagement

A few weeks or months later comes the Nişan, a true Turkish engagement celebration. The bride receives gifts from the family, including gold jewelry: rings, bracelets, necklaces , or pendants. Wedding rings are also exchanged at this event, often tied together with a red ribbon cut by a respected family member.

Celinni Tip: For modern Turkish couples, custom-made natural diamond wedding rings are highly sought after. Celinni offers personalized guidance to make this key stage of a Turkish wedding truly exceptional.

2. The bride's hammam: an essential tradition

Before the big day, the Turkish bride is celebrated during an intimate and symbolic moment: the session at the hammam. This ancient tradition, still alive in many places Turkish weddings, represents a physical and spiritual purification.

A beauty and relaxation ritual

Surrounded by her loved ones - mothers, sisters, cousins, friends - the bride goes to the Turkish bath for a relaxation session. Between singing, body care, scrubbing and scented steam, this moment is also a break to release tension before the wedding.

A symbolic preparation

The bride's hammam is the opportunity to give advice, to cry with emotion, to laugh together... and often, to receive gifts symbolic items such as a necklace, a brooch, or a bracelet as a keepsake.

Celinni Suggestion : Offering a discreet piece of jewelry (pendant, thin bracelet, natural diamond) during the bride's hammam adds a precious touch to this stage, while respecting the Turkish wedding tradition.

3. The henna ceremony (Kına Gecesi)

Among the most intense and moving moments of a Turkish wedding, the Henna Night - or henna night - holds a special place. Usually organized the day before the wedding, this ceremony symbolizes the farewell of the Turkish bride to her life as a young girl, in an atmosphere that is both joyful and deeply emotional.

An ancestral ritual with Ottoman roots

During the Kına Gecesi, the future bride wears a traditional red dress adorned with gold embroidery, sometimes called bindallı. She also wears a red veil covering her face, symbolizing modesty and the transition to a new life. Surrounded by friends and family, she sits at the center of the room while traditional Turkish folk songs, known as kına türküsü, are sung.

The application of henna

The central moment is the application of henna on the palm of the bride's hand (and sometimes the groom's). Henna symbolizes fertility, luck, and blessing for the couple. It is placed in a handkerchief or embroidered cloth, often accompanied by a gold coin.

Celinni Suggestion : To offer a gold bracelet or a symbolic jewel during the henna ceremony is a beautiful way to show respect. Turkish wedding tradition while offering a timeless keepsake to the bride. Celinni offers a refined selection of jewelry suitable for this precious moment.

4. The wedding day: rituals and proceedings

The Turkish wedding day is a concentration of festivities, strong cultural symbols and shared emotions. Whether it takes place in Turkey or in the diaspora (especially for a Turkish wedding in France), the program mixes Turkish tradition, modernity and family love.

The arrival of the procession and the handover of the bride

D-Day often begins with a bridal procession led by the groom's car, decorated with ribbons and flowers. Upon arriving at the bride's house, the groom's family waits for her to come out to accompany her. A red belt (symbol of virginity and protection) is sometimes tied around the bride's waist by her father or brother.

The civil and religious ceremony

In Türkiye, a civil ceremony is mandatory. It may be followed (or preceded) by a religious ceremony. In France, many Turkish couples hold their civil ceremony at the town hall, followed by a grand reception.

The big party and the gifts

During the party, the guests dance to the sound of the invitation music and traditional pieces like the halay. One of the highlights is the jewelry handover : the guests come to hang up some gold coins or some tickets on the clothes of the newlyweds using pins.

Promotion of Celinni : This moment is perfect for presenting a meaningful piece of jewelry – gold necklaces, elegant bracelets, or natural diamond rings. Celinni’s creations blend luxury, symbolism, and emotion seamlessly into this Turkish wedding tradition.

5. Traditional and modern outfits

The Turkish bride is one of the most brilliant figures of the Turkish wedding, and his outfit is chosen with particular care. Depending on the regions, families, and personal preferences, there is a subtle blend of tradition and modernity, making each wedding unique.

The traditional dress: a precious heritage

Before the wedding, during the Kına Gecesi, the bride wears the famous Bindallı – a long red or burgundy gown richly embroidered with gold or silver thread. It is often paired with a traditional headdress and a red veil. This traditional Turkish wedding attire reflects Ottoman elegance and generational heritage.

The modern wedding dress: between the West and culture

On the wedding day, the Turkish bride often opts for a classic white dress, sometimes adorned with oriental elements (long sleeves, colorful belt, golden embroidery). red ribbon Around the waist remains a strong symbol in many families.

For the guests or bridesmaids, the dresses for Turkish wedding They oscillate between colorful long dresses, caftans, oriental or modern dresses, depending on the chosen style.

Style Tip: Coordinate your jewelry with the dress – a delicate diamond necklace, sparkling earrings, or a yellow gold bracelet will enhance any look, whether traditional or contemporary.

6. Jewelry and gifts: a strong symbolism

In the Turkish weddings, jewelry holds a central place. They are not just fashion accessories: they embody wealth, blessing and prosperity that families wish to the newlyweds.

Gold: the essential element

The most common gift at a Turkish wedding, it's gold. Of the gold coins, of the bracelets, of the chains, of the rings are given to the bride and groom during the ceremony. This tradition is called jewelry ceremony allows loved ones to contribute symbolically (and concretely) to the start of the couple's life. Each piece of jewelry is pinned on the newlyweds during the celebration, in a burst of festive generosity.

The wedding ring and the engagement ring

Wedding bands are often exchanged during the Turkish engagement period (Nişan), but they are brought back into focus during the civil ceremony. Choosing a natural diamond ring – whether personalized or custom-made – adds a timeless sparkle to this sacred commitment.

Celinni Advisory : To honor the Turkish wedding traditions While combining contemporary elegance, explore our creations: 18 carat gold rings, , natural diamond engagement rings, , customized bracelets. Each Celinni jewel is designed to enhance the precious moments of life.

Symbolic gifts

Beyond jewelry, some guests also offer meaningful items such as engraved boxes, henna sets, or accessories for the bride. However, gold and precious stones remain the most cherished and anticipated gifts.

CUSTOM JEWERLY

Custom ring

Custom engagement ring

7. Tips for organizing a modern Turkish wedding

Organize a modern Turkish wedding, it's about finding the right balance between respect for Turkish traditions and adaptation to contemporary life. Whether you are in France or Turkey, here are some tips for a successful ceremony that is both authentic, elegant, and well-organized.

Prioritize a structured organization

The Turkish weddings often gather a large number of guests. Therefore, it is essential to plan ahead: reception venue, halal caterer, musicians (live or DJ), photographer, decoration... Consider creating a precise schedule including traditional steps such as the Word, the Engagement or the Henna Night.

Mixing tradition and modernity

You can opt for a traditional procession in the morning with ceremonial outfits and drums (davul-zurna), then a more modern dance evening with personalized animations. Keep the Turkish rituals important (handing over of jewelry, red ribbon, halay), while adding a western touch (entrance of the bride and groom, speeches, slideshow...).

Adapt outfits to your style

For a Turkish wedding in France, ceremony) and a more modern one (for the reception). Henna Night) and a more classic white one for the ceremony. The dresses can also be revamped with modern fabrics while keeping symbolic elements such as the red belt or oriental embroidery.

Bonus tip

Create a wedding notebook or a dedicated website to facilitate communication with your guests. And most importantly: enjoy yourself! A modern Turkish wedding can be a wonderful fusion between cultural heritage and personal identity.

8. Where to buy jewelry for a Turkish wedding ?

In Turkish culture, jewelry plays a central role In every stage of the wedding: engagement, henna, ceremony, guest gifts... It is therefore crucial to choose items that are precious, durable, and symbolic.

Why choose quality jewelry ?

The jewelry given at a Turkish wedding are not just simple accessories: they represent the blessing of the surroundings, the security of the couple, and the elegance of the commitment. Giving a gold bracelet, a engagement ring ,a natural diamond necklace or some refined earrings is a tradition deeply rooted in the Turkish wedding.

Celinni: the ideal jewelry house for a Turkish wedding

At Celinni, we understand the importance of family and cultural traditions. That's why we offer:

Of custom-made engagement rings and wedding bands, in 18 karat gold and natural diamonds.
Of personalized jewelry for the Henna Night or D-Day.
Of timeless pieces who respect the heritage while enhancing modernity.

Our team of diamond experts will guide you in choosing the perfect piece of jewelry, whether in the showroom or remotely. For a Turkish wedding in France Whether at home or abroad, you will find creations at Celinni that are true to your values.

FAQ - Everything you need to know to organize a Turkish wedding

What are the essential traditions of a Turkish wedding ?
The key traditions include Söz (marriage proposal), Nişan (engagement), the bride’s hammam, Kına Gecesi (henna night), the exchange of rings, and the gifting of jewelry. These rituals are at the heart of traditional Turkish weddings.
What outfit to wear for a Turkish wedding ?
The Turkish bride often wears a red Bindallı for the Kına Gecesi and a white dress on the wedding day. Guests usually choose long dresses, kaftans, or elegant outfits in keeping with Turkish wedding customs.
What jewelry to give for a Turkish wedding ?
The most symbolic gifts are gold jewelry: bracelets, rings, necklaces, or gold coins. They are presented to the newlyweds during the ceremony. Celinni jewelry combines tradition with refinement.
How to organize a Turkish wedding in France ?
For a Turkish wedding in France, you must plan a civil ceremony, sometimes followed by a reception incorporating Turkish rituals (red ribbon, halay dance, takı merasimi). It’s important to blend tradition with modernity in the planning.
What does the henna ceremony mean in a Turkish wedding ?
The Kına Gecesi symbolizes the bride’s transition to her new life. It is marked by songs, the application of henna, and the wearing of a traditional red dress. It is a highly emotional moment for the bride and her family.