Wedding traditions of Ankara
The Turkish capital, where civil registration came first and Anatolian customs such as the bridal henna and the flag still persist.
Ankara was built as the capital of the republic, which made the civil marriage a symbol of the new law. Families from across central Anatolia keep rural customs in a city setting. The wedding hall industry here is large and weekend dates fill early.
A wedding here
The couple signs in a ceremony at a municipal marriage hall. Henna night songs, the bride's red ribbon and the carrying of the dowry chest to the new home are known in the region. Folk groups play the davul and zurna at village-origin weddings.
Where weddings happen
Hotel halls, garden venues and the large wedding salons around the city host the party. Families from outlying villages sometimes still hold the feast in the home or a hired hall near home.
Wedding customs of Ankara
Also part of it, and being written: Turkish wedding (The wedding customs of Turkey.), Nikah (The religious rite.).
A wedding trail idea for Ankara
- Anitkabir The mausoleum of Ataturk, often visited by newly wed couples for a photograph.
- Ulus and the old town Bridal gold and fabrics in older shopping streets.
- Municipal marriage halls The registration rooms where civil ceremonies take place.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, venues and wedding-season dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Bride price: Пимоненко Николай Корнилиевич, Public domain, source
- Henna night: Izzah Zainab, CC BY 2.0, source