We first met at work and our friendship started with simple language exchange lunch meetings. Zeynep needed to speak more English for her job and I needed (still need) to speak more German for mine. Well within just a few months she’s fluent in English and I’m smitten. 

Pretty soon we were inseparable whether we were enjoying a funny movie or appreciating the historical significance and beauty of some of Europe’s most amazing cities. 

Along the way there were many great people who supported our journey in many ways. If you are reading this we are speaking about you! Some of you contributed in small but meaningful ways like knowing what to say or when to show up. Without some of you, it is possible we would never have made it so far. Most of you we will never be able to repay. 

It is true we both have distinct cultures from countries very away from each other, however we found that we have so much in common. A foundation of mutual respect, hard work, and commitment to family. 

It sounds like a movie, but it’s a true story. We have been so blessed. Now it’s time to celebrate in Istanbul! 

***UPDATE***

First is the Henna night

-Kina Gecesi, Henna Night is one of the traditional Turkishwedding customs in Turkey. It's a women's party before the wedding. The brides friends and family members gather to eat, dance and sing before the bride leaves her mother's home crying. It is called “henna night” because they put henna on their hands.

Next we had a very private legal ceremony at the courthouse ("Standesamt") in the Stuttgart city center and a few pictures nearby, 

Then, the wedding at the Mövenpick hotel in Istanbul, Turkey.

Special section for FAMILY AND FRIENDS:)

Finally a short Honeymoon to relax and refresh in The UAE.

Istanbul is one of the world’s great cities, period. For millennia, this point where Europe meets Asia has been the crossroads of civilization. Few places on earth have seen more history than this sprawling metropolis on the Bosphorus. Once called Byzantium, then Constantinople, Istanbul boasts the opulent trappings of an epic past — from the Byzantine emperors and the Ottoman sultans of distant ages, to the modern Republic-builders and "Eurocrats" of our own time. And, as the biggest city of a moderate Muslim nation, Istanbul also offers the inquisitive traveler a unique opportunity to grapple with the rich and inspiring Islamic faith: Hear the eerie wail of the call to prayer echo across the rooftops, poke into a neighborhood mosque, and watch a dervish whirl in prayer. Set sail on the Golden Horn, and take in a spine-tingling skyline bristling with minarets

Top Sites

▲▲▲ Hagia Sophia Constantinople's Great Church, later converted to an Ottoman mosque, and now a museum.

▲▲▲ Blue Mosque Ahmet I's 17th-century “so there!” response to Hagia Sophia, named for its brightly colored tiles.

▲▲▲ Topkapı Palace Storied residence of the sultans, with endless museum exhibits, astonishing artifacts, and the famous Harem.

▲▲▲ Grand Bazaar World's oldest shopping mall, with more than 4,000 playfully pushy merchants.

▲▲▲ Mosque of Süleyman the Magnificent The architect Sinan's 16th-century masterpiece, known for its serene interior and the tombs of Süleyman and his wife, Roxelana.

▲▲▲ Bosphorus Cruise Public ferry ride on the Bosphorus Strait, offering a glimpse of untouristy Istanbul (and an Asian adventure).

▲▲ Spice Market Fragrant and colorful spices, dried fruit, and roasted nuts inside a 350-year-old market hall.

▲▲ Galata Tower 14th-century stone Genoese tower with the city's best views.

▲ Taksim Square Gateway to the pedestrianized İstiklal Street, and heart of Istanbul's New District.

Source:https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/turkey/istanbul