Luxury on the Aegean Coast: Destination Weddings in Türkiye
As a country rooted in community, generosity, and abundance, it’s no wonder Türkiye is emerging as a premier destination for luxury weddings. Along its Aegean Coast in particular, couples will find an intoxicating blend of warm Turkish hospitality, five-star properties, millennia of history, and water so vividly turquoise that it feels like a painting brought to life.
Hosted by Türkiye Tourism Board, executed by Vivaah Weddings, Wedding Style was given the privilege of experiencing this beautiful region—savoring an endless parade of culinary delights, exploring the area’s top resorts, and connecting with local industry experts whose passion and insight make destination weddings on the Aegean Coast truly unforgettable.
Secluded Luxury in Marmaris
Marmaris is a unique town along the Turkish Coast. Its secluded location and natural beauty makes it an idyllic spot for those who want to celebrate love off the beaten path. It’s also where the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean; and the mix of private bays, rugged cliffs, and crystal-clear waters makes it one of the most stunning places to host a destination wedding.
As the gem of Marmaris, D Maris Bay is a luxury resort in a class of its own. The 190-room property maintains a staff-to-guest ratio of 2:1, and the D Maris staff takes Turkish hospitality to an entirely new level. There are even staff members assigned to research guests beforehand, so they can prepare a one-of-a-kind welcome amenity—whether it’s a custom pet toy or a personalized collection of signature Turkish recipes. The rooms are spacious, well-appointed, and the views of the bay are exceptional.
This is the perfect property for couples who want to take over an entire resort for a week, spend quality time with loved ones, and customize every detail of their wedding experience. There’s a helipad that couples can use for a grand entrance, multiple locations for hosting various events throughout the wedding week, and six separate beaches that are Blue Flag certified—a globally recognized label of environmental excellence and sustainable tourism. In fact, exploring the resort almost feels like visiting a nature preserve.
Sustainability is at the forefront, with strict rules against fireworks and other environmental disruptors, and guests are even gifted a copy of the resort’s hardcover picture book: D Maris Bay’s Habitat. This reverence for the environment has prompted the D Maris team to come up with innovative ways for luxury weddings and events to co-exist with the bay’s natural surroundings. One example is the private beaches, where couples can use light projectors to illuminate entire cliffsides with custom light shows or logos, as guests party in the sand below. The duality between the resort’s rugged landscape and luxury amenities makes it an event designer’s dream canvas.
For those who want to spend their wedding week on a sprawling property that feels like a world of its own—a world frequented by royalty, A-listers, and luxury yachts—Marmaris is unmatched as a destination. From welcome dinners at Zuma, to post-wedding brunches at the St. Tropez-inspired La Guérite, guests will feel pampered up until they leave the property with their D Maris farewell gift in hand.
The Best of Bodrum
Roughly three hours away by car, Bodrum is a summer hotspot that comes to life from around late-May until October. During the summer, this region is bustling with honeymooners, adventure-minded travelers, families, and couples who want to host a wedding in a lively pocket of the Aegean Coast.
For beachfront weddings in an intimate setting, Avantgarde Refined Yalikavak is an absolute haven of a hotel in Bodrum. With 32 rooms, it’s a prime location for wedding buyouts; and the soothing, minimalist aesthetic makes each room a sanctuary where guests can relax and decompress between wedding weekend activities. Welcome dinners and wedding menus are guaranteed to impress, as Avantgarde’s culinary team is second to none. Around the clock, guests are served bountiful breakfast buffets, chic afternoon teas, indulgent craft cocktail hours, and dinners with elevated versions of local favorites like manti—Turkish dumplings—and baklava. The hotel’s outdoor bar is open 24 hours, making it a fantastic destination for bachelorette trips as well.
With multi-level bay views, lush gardens, and private pools, the 282-room Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort has a wonderful selection of outdoor wedding venues that can accommodate large guest lists. The resort has a gorgeous lobby, offering guests a perfect first impression, and the suites reflect Aegean Coast luxury at its finest. For an even more indulgent experience, Maxx Royal’s Hill Villas are the epitome of grandeur with multiple bedrooms, sea views, private butler service, and exclusive use of pavilions at the beach.
Pairing opulence with a sleek and modern vibe, The Bodrum EDITION is a trendy wedding destination and a celebrity favorite. Aside from the friendly staff, there are several special details that can only be experienced by guests of the EDITION. The mini “welcome ice creams,” for example, feature a label that reads “No. 17”—the number of attempts it took the team to perfect their ice cream recipe. During dinner at Kitchen, the resort’s Michelin-starred restaurant, each place setting had a boxed signature EDITION candle as a gift, hand painted by a local artist. Dinner itself was art on a plate, with locally-sourced ingredients and vegetables grown in the hotel’s own gardens. Even The Villa—a magnificent four-bedroom retreat with a private swimming pool, garden, hammam, and maid’s quarters—featured a beautifully crafted, handmade kettlebell and dumbbell set made exclusively for villa guests and not available for purchase. A great deal of intention was put into every corner of the property, and that same attention to detail is applied to every wedding at The Bodrum EDITION.
The Aegean Coast provides a strong sense of place for destination weddings. Many properties assist in connecting guests to the culture by promoting local artists as well. Ruins Bodrum is a stylish, art-focused hotel that features seasonal art galleries from June to September, along with immersive art events. Along with its romantic ambiance, coastal views, and fusion of heritage and modern luxury, the property is teeming with interesting architecture and eye-catching details for nonstop wedding day photo ops.
If couples want to give guests the feeling of “the ultimate night out,” then Scorpios is the place to see and be seen. This boho-luxury resort is sexy, vibey, and can only be experienced on a seasonal basis from summer until October. The Scorpios team wants guests to check in, treat the resort like it’s their home, pop champagne when the sun sets, party the night away, retreat to their rooms, then leisurely wake up and do it all over again.
One of the greatest testaments to Scorpios is how popular it is among Turkish locals. The Scorpios restaurant alone draws crowds, serving up Mediterranean cuisine that is simple, yet flawless in its execution. Think feta served over a kaleidoscope of fresh vegetables; the most perfectly grilled steak; comforting dishes of eggplant and kofte; and decadent skillet cookie sundaes.
There’s something palpably alluring and ritualistic about the Scorpios atmosphere, which resonates with a diverse crowd of artists, creatives, and free-spirited types. Golden hour at Scorpios is stunning and the façade is exquisite; but it’s the property’s sense of community and mission of creating transformational experiences that makes it such a distinctive wedding venue.
Celebrate Love on the Turkish Coast
It takes but one sunset over the Aegean to see why Türkiye is capturing the hearts of couples and international globetrotters. From Marmaris to Bodrum, the country’s blend of unspoiled natural beauty, five-star luxury, and infamous Turkish hospitality creates a wedding experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. When it comes to celebrating love in a destination abundant in both romance and refinement, the Turkish Coast stands as one of the most extraordinary places to begin a new chapter together.
Visit goturkiye.com for more information.
>Written By: Lauren Malamala
