Weddings in Türkiye are marked by a range of customs and traditions that vary across regions but share common themes. The months of May, August, and September are especially popular for these celebrations.
One longstanding tradition is the henna night, which takes place a day or two before the wedding. During this event, families and friends gather to sing folk songs and apply henna to the bride’s palm and the groom’s pinky finger. Henna symbolizes devotion and is believed to protect couples from harm. A notable aspect of this ceremony involves encouraging the bride to cry as she prepares to leave her family, followed by singing traditional ballads while single girls hold candles. Another custom during henna night is when the bride keeps her hand closed until her mother-in-law places a gold coin in her palm as a gift.
Gift-giving is also an important part of Turkish weddings. Friends and family present gold jewelry to support the couple financially as they begin their new life together. These gifts are often pinned directly onto the bride and groom during a ceremony that can be time-consuming at large weddings.
Superstitions play a role in post-ceremony rituals. One such belief holds that whoever steps on their partner’s foot first after exchanging vows will have more influence in the marriage. This practice traces its roots back to Ancient Rome, with shoes symbolizing freedom across many cultures.
Another custom involves writing names of single friends or relatives on the bottom of the bride’s shoes. Some believe that if a name wears off by night’s end, that person will marry within the year; others think it means she’ll soon meet someone special.
Traditional foods also feature prominently in Turkish weddings. Keşkek—a dish made from split wheat and meat—is commonly prepared through cooperative effort among cooks. The process involves pounding ingredients together until smooth, with folklore suggesting that better pounding leads to better taste. In some regions, elders ask young people when they will host their own Keşkek as encouragement toward marriage.
Bridal adornment includes strings of tinsel known as “bride’s tinsel.” Single women pull pieces from these tinsels; shorter strands supposedly mean marriage is near. Historically made from silver during Ottoman times, modern versions use high-quality copper.
These practices continue to be central elements in both rural and urban Turkish weddings today.