Many of the couples who celebrate a wedding on the boat with us come from abroad, or are a mixed couple with one Turkish partner. The most common question is: can we get legally married in Istanbul, and how does that fit with a wedding on the Bosphorus? This guide explains how couples usually do it.
Please note: we are a wedding organiser, not a law firm. Requirements depend on your nationality and change from time to time, so always confirm the current list with the municipality marriage office where you will marry and with your own embassy or consulate.
Civil marriage is what makes it legal
In Turkey, a marriage is legally valid when it is performed as a civil marriage by an authorised marriage officer, usually at a municipality marriage office (evlendirme dairesi). Foreign nationals can marry in Turkey, whether they are marrying a Turkish citizen or another foreigner. A religious ceremony on its own does not create a legal marriage.
How couples combine it with a boat wedding
The most popular plan is simple:
- Civil ceremony at the municipality marriage office, often a day or two before, or the morning of the celebration, with close family and witnesses.
- Wedding on the boat the same evening or later that week: a symbolic ceremony on deck with vows, rings and an aisle, followed by dinner and a party on the Bosphorus.
Some couples have already married legally at home and come to Istanbul only for the celebration. In that case, the ceremony on board is entirely symbolic and you are free to design it however you like.
Documents usually requested from foreign nationals
The exact list varies, but marriage offices commonly ask foreign applicants for:
- A valid passport
- A birth certificate
- A certificate showing you are free to marry (often called a certificate of no impediment or certificate of marital status), issued by your country’s authorities or consulate
- If previously married, proof of divorce or a death certificate of the former spouse
- A health report issued by a health institution in Turkey
- Recent passport-style photos
- The marriage application form, completed at the office
Foreign documents generally need to be apostilled or legalised and translated into Turkish by a certified translator. Requirements for documents and fees differ between municipalities, so ask the office you choose for its current list.
How long does it take?
Once your documents are complete, the application at the marriage office and the setting of a date can take from a few days to around two weeks, depending on the municipality and the season. Collecting documents from your home country usually takes longer than the Turkish part, so start early.
A sample plan for international couples
- 6 to 12 months before: book the boat and date; start collecting documents at home.
- 2 to 3 months before: apostille and translate documents; confirm the marriage office’s list.
- Arrival week: health report in Istanbul, application at the marriage office, final details with us.
- Wedding day(s): civil ceremony, then the wedding on the boat.
Designing the ceremony on deck
A symbolic ceremony on a boat has no fixed format, which is part of its charm. Couples write their own vows, ask a friend to lead it, walk down an aisle on the deck and exchange rings with the city behind them. We set up the aisle, arch, seating and sound, and time it with the light. For the full evening schedule, see our sample timeline.
Planning from abroad
You can plan the boat side of your wedding entirely remotely with us over WhatsApp and video calls, in English. Read the complete guide to a wedding on the Bosphorus, or message us on WhatsApp with your date and nationality and we’ll talk you through the options.
