Growing allure of Türkiye’s Cappadocia for destination weddings

by Burak Akinci

CAPPADOCIA, Türkiye, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) — “We organized wedding events for 88 different nationalities. That’s something else!” Murat Ozguc, owner of Türkiye Weddings in Cappadocia, a tourism hub in central Türkiye, told Xinhua.

In Ozguc’s view, Cappadocia, located in the Nevsehir province, is poised to become a major destination for loving couples seeking a “unique venue” when tying the knot.

Ozguc takes pride in having organized the first international wedding in Cappadocia many years ago. Since then, he has officiated dozens of other weddings in a boutique style.

Visitors to Cappadocia, with more than 90 percent coming from abroad, typically stay for just one or two nights, seeking to “become one” in this unique setting. Married couples who wish to renew their wedding vows are also among the clientele.

In recent years, couples have increasingly prioritized experiences over traditional weddings, with some opting for destination weddings to immerse themselves in a new and beautiful cultural setting, Ozguc noted.

Cappadocia, renowned for its hot air balloon rides over distinctive geological formations called “fairy chimneys,” is also known for its cave churches, rock houses, and underground cities.

Ozguc said that couples can stay in exclusive cave hotels, visit archaeological sites with their guests, and explore the local cultural landscape in Cappadocia.

“Couples are seeking experiential settings to reflect their unique stories without the hassle, and what better place to do so than Cappadocia, which is also known for its pleasant climate?” he said.

Last year, Cappadocia attracted nearly 5 million tourists, according to data from the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, which is also focused on promoting the region as a major wedding destination.

GoTürkiye, the country’s official travel guide, recently added a special section on its website dedicated to Cappadocia, and hotels in the region are constructing wedding halls on their premises.

“If you want something different, something extraordinary, there’s nothing quite like Cappadocia with its rich heritage and natural beauty,” Arda Heb, provincial culture and tourism director of Nevsehir, told Xinhua.

“With over 500 weddings organized in 2023, Cappadocia is emerging as a top international wedding venue,” Heb said. “The cost of a boutique wedding in Cappadocia is much more affordable due to logistics,” he added.

Despite its appeal as a prime wedding destination, local officials and business insiders express some concern about the region’s future allure. Türkiye’s high inflation in recent years could deter potential brides and grooms.

Official data released in early August showed Türkiye’s annual inflation rate cooling to 61.78 percent in July, marking the second consecutive month of deceleration, but price pressures remain.

“High inflation has been an issue for the past couple of years. Türkiye has become expensive, especially for food and drinks,” Ozguc said.  ■