Wedding Mayham

July 14, 2012

Wedding Mayham is in full effect as us out-of-towners dash from one part of the cıiy to the next, from event to event and from tourist spot to tourist spot.  It's a real change goiıng from travelling on my own to sharing an apartment wıth 4 other peeps for the week, but we are having non-stop fun and learning a ton about Turkish culture!  

The Promise Ring Ceremony - After the oldest person in Deutron's family (his uncle from Saudia Arabia) asked permission for Tron to marry Evin and the got the blessing from the oldest person in Evin's family (her uncle pictured above), rings were exchanged between the happy couple - to be worn on the right hand until the marriage ceremony.

Me, Tron, Evin and Novi in Evin's 800 square ft. apartment wıth about 40 other people for the Promise Ring Ceremony.  (Normally done well in advance.)

Hagia Sophia - one of the oldest churches/mosques in the world.

Ferduce, Novi and I inside the Hagia Sophia.

Avni, Dawn, Ray, me and Ferduce enjoyıng the marble church.

Looking down from the second floor of the Hagia Sophia.

Our man Jesus . . . well what's left of him in mosaic form.

The Weeping Column inside Hagia Sophia - if your digit comes out wet they say all your ailments will be cured.  I took no chances.

The Blue Mosque - not as blue as I imagined.

Inside the blue mosque - again not as blue as I imagined.

The Bascilica Cistern - the damp was a huge relief after the humidity of Istanbul.

Medusa's head inside the cistern.

Pelin, Tron, me, Evin, Rebecca and Novi at the Henna Night.

Evin's aunt, Rebecca, Neutron, Tida (Tron's sister-in-law), me, Evin, Pelin, Esme (Tron's cousin), Positron, Dawn, Chenigh (Evin's mom) and Avni.

Ferduce, Novi, Electron, Tron, Andrew (Tron's brother-in-law), Ray, Leule (Tron's cousin), Sager - the grooms men at the Henna Night.

Yeah circle dancing - it's all the rage here in Turkey.

So us ladies had to walk around Evin and Tron with candles while Evin's aunt pushed a gold coin into her hand and then covered it with a blob of henna.  Evin had to put her hand in a bag that matched her new outfıt and keep her fist closed for the rest of the night.

Team Tron (as we dubbed ourselves) with the bride and groom at henna night.

Team Tron outside Topkapi Palace - home of my new best friend, the 86 carat diamond.

One of the Sultan's sitting rooms in the Palace.

Traditional tiles everywhere!

Team Tron inside one of the harem's quarters in the palace.

A walkway inside the harem's quarters inside the palace.

Team Tron tackles the Grand Bazaar - Ferduce knows how to haggle!!!  He's been a jewelry store owner, a ceramics expert, a textile importer, and a boat captain all just to score savings!

 Dinner in Taksim - the only country in the world where they garnish your veggie kebabs with giant meat chunks!

The Bosphorus Bridge from our boat cruise up the Bosphorus River.  On the left is Europe and on the right is Asia!!!!

Team Tron on our boat cruise.

Avni and I at the top of Galata Tower - what a view!

Team Tron loves the tram.  Cheap and easy to use!

The wedding cruiser.

The wedding cruiser on it's way . . . here the groom walks the bride down the aisle.

BFF's!!!!

The garden wedding location: The Olympic Club.

The Maid of Honor and the Brides Maids - this is not a custom in Turkey and the ladies were not fans of wearing the same dresses.  

Before.

After.

The grooms men: Evin's cousin, Novi, Electron, Leule, Tony, Ferduce, Sager and Ray.

So in Turkey, the ceremony only takes about 5 mins - the mayor asks them if they want to get married and they say yes.  The mayor asks the witnesses if we want them to get married and we say yes. They sign the paperwork and voila - done!

The first dance happens right after the paperwork.

Evin's dad pinning gold on Tron as per custom.

Tron's Auntie from Saudia Arabia putting gold on Evin.

Evin and Tron  in Saudia Arabian wedding attire as we all learn some new dance moves to accompany the clothing change.

And now here they come in Ethiopian wedding attire.  It was a very multi cultural wedding!!!

Today's breakfast - Happy Birthday Evin!!! We were able to sing Happy Birthday today in English, Turkish, Spanish, Amharic, German, French and Mandarin.