LILLY
&
ALP
August 30th, 2025
August 30th, 2025
Welcome Party
Thursday, August 28th, 2025
18.00 - 04.00
We’ll kick off the celebrations with a scenic boat ride across the Bosphorus, setting the tone for the weekend to come. The boat will bring you to Alp’s family home in Fenerbahçe — a place rich with family history. This residence has not only been home to generations of Alp's family members, but it is also where Alp’s grandparents got engaged, where his parents held their engagement party, and where Alp proposed to Lilly on August 13, 2023.
We will enjoy a garden celebration under the Istanbul summer sky, followed by a late-night adventure through the city’s vibrant nightlife scene.
18.00
Boat departure from Kuruçeşme.
The exact pickup location will be shared via text closer to the date.
19.00
Arrival at Alp's Family Home
Fuat Paşa Caddesi No:1/1 Fenerbahçe İstanbul
Explore Istanbul
Friday, August 29th, 2025
Get Ready for curated Istanbul City Tours which will be organized for August 29th, Friday.
Details of these optional tours will be uploaded here soon and we will also reach out via text to let you know about them !
Ceremony
Saturday, August 30th, 2025
18.00 - 04.00
Çırağan Palace
Our wedding will take place at the storied Çırağan Palace, a symbol of love and celebration. Built by Sultan Abdülaziz for his wife, the palace earned its name from her legendary soirées — she would adorn the waterfront terrace with hundreds of lanterns, so much so that passing boats began calling it “Çırağan”, derived from the Farsi word چراغان (cherāghān) meaning “full of light.” A fitting tribute to the night we’ll share together.
In celebration of our Persian and Turkish roots, we will begin the evening with cocktails followed by the Sofreh Aghd, a traditional Iranian wedding ceremony. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy dinner along the Bosphorus and dance under the stars until sunrise.
THE ESSENTIALS
Hotel Suggestions
Istanbul is sprawling, electric, and full of life — with hotels and Airbnbs in just about every neighborhood. For convenience (and to skip the traffic headaches), we suggest staying near the wedding venue and the heart of the city.
Rides & Transfers
Hailing a cab or reserving an Uber can be a challenge, especially during peak weekend hours. But we’ve teamed up with our friends at Istanbul Tour Studio to make sure you have smooth transfers to and from hotels, as well as around the city. They’ll take care of all your transportation needs!
If you prefer to use a taxi hailing or ride sharing app your best bet would be…
BiTaksi – Regular old taxi hailing app.
Martı – This is primarily a scooter and moped rental app but they have now introduced TAG which works similarly to Uber. You can also ride behind someone on a motorcycle but please be mindful that Istanbul traffic can be dangerous!
Uber
Hair & Makeup
If you feel like pampering yourself or getting something extra for the wedding, reach out to Erdem Kıramer, Nişantaşı and Hande Haluk, Zorlu Center for fabulous hairdos, expert makeup and mani/pedi sessions. We’ve already had a chat with them, and they’ll be waiting for your calls or texts. Since this is one of Istanbul’s most renowned spots, it’s best to book an appointment well in advance..
Erdem Kıramer Nişantaşı
IG @eerdemkiramer_nisantasi
Mim Kemal Öke Cad. No:23/A, Nişantaşı, İstanbul
+90 212 246 71 55
Hande Haluk, Zorlu Center
IG @handehaluk
Zorlu Center AVM, Köprü Katı, Levazım
+90 444 48 27
Alp + Lilly's
ISTANBUL GUIDE
From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, this is your go-to guide for exploring the city we love. Whether it’s your first time or a return visit, let Istanbul surprise you with its charm, chaos, beauty, and flavor.
The Istanbul Edit
To make things easier, we made a custom Google Map with all our favorite spots that we listed here and included the descriptions in the notes section of those pins so you have everything handy.
Just download it before your flight and you’ll have everything at your fingertips, with or without Wi-Fi.
QUICK GUIDE
"If You Only Do One Thing…"
One View
Take the Bosphorus ferry at sunset or dinner on the terrace at 29
One Breakfast
Turkish breakfast at Mangerie
One Lunch
Pandeli
One Dinner
Karaköy Lokantası
One Landmark
Hagia Sofia or Basilica Cistern or Dolmabahce
One Museum
Istanbul Modern
One Treat
Pistachio wet baklava from Karaköy Güllüoğlu
Celebration Starts Now
We put together a crash course playlist of Turkish and Iranian songs — the ones we grew up with, danced to, and will definitely be playing at the wedding. Throw it on while packing, sipping wine, or pretending to work. It is a cheat sheet so when the dance floor calls, your hips wont be lying.
Gifting
We feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by so much love, and your presence at our wedding is the only gift we could ask for.
But if you feel moved to give something, we’d be touched for a copy of your favorite book. The kind you return to again and again. Inside, just leave us a note on the first page - your thoughts, a memory, a wish, anything you’d like to share.
Reading together has always been one of our favorite rituals - especially on quiet weekends in parks around London. Over the years, our favorite gift to give one another is a book - always with a note inside.
Now, we’d love to begin our family library with yours. A collection of beloved reads, each representing someone we love. Every time we pull out a book, we’ll get to revisit your message and remember the joy of sharing this moment with you.