Destination weddings have become a popular choice for celebrating tying the knot, and Bodrum has become one of the favored locations for those seeking a seaside wedding in a romantic and exotic locale.
Along with the increase in people looking to hold their wedding ceremonies in beautiful destinations, more hotels and resorts in these locations specifically cater to wedding events with full-service wedding planners on staff, which holds true for Bodrum as well.
These types of weddings are designed to bring together family and close friends in a beautiful location in celebration. Bodrum makes an ideal backdrop to any wedding, with crystal blue waters, rolling hills covered with olive and citrus groves, and whitewashed buildings draped with bougainvillea. And for the wedding day and all the events that surround it, you name it, and you can indulge in it in Bodrum. It has many boutique and five-star hotels and spas spread throughout the peninsula that offer top-notch services to pamper and prepare you in the run-up to the big day, making the peninsula an ideal location for a destination wedding.
Couples who marry in Bodrum also gain the benefit of already being in a seaside paradise for their honeymoon, so they do not have to run off and whisk themselves away to another destination after exchanging vows. Whereas the peninsula has been a popular area for Turks to get married for some time, many foreigners also choose it for their destination weddings after falling in love with its beauty and atmosphere. Here are some of the best options from what Bodrum has on offer.
Five-star luxury
For many people, their nuptials are the perfect excuse to indulge in a five-star luxury experience. For the ultimate in opulence, plan your wedding at Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay, whose name is synonymous with luxury. The hotel benefits from a very dramatic setting with sweeping views over Barbaros Bay, and its stylish and serene environment makes for a tasteful and memorable wedding. Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay offers special wedding packages that include all the details necessary for a perfect wedding. Depending on the size and type of your event, you can choose from one of many beautiful areas, including the Gazebo Terrace, Barbarossa Beach, or poolside. Whichever you choose, the hotel’s wedding planners will help you with every single detail so that you can relax and enjoy your special day.
Apart from the breathtaking beauty of the bay and hotel, many couples choose to have their wedding at Kempinski for the delicious food and famous spa. The executive chef has an extensive repertoire, and he and his staff can accommodate a range of requests, whether you want traditional Turkish, classic French, or Asian fusion dishes on your wedding day. At the Sanitas Spa, complete with traditional hammam, you and your partner, as well as all your guests, can feel like royalty for a day amid the preparations. In fact, the spa is so popular that even if the wedding is being held at another venue, many bridal parties choose to come here to treat themselves to a spa day and get pampered in preparation for the big event. To top it all off, the Kempinski staff will even plan your honeymoon in one of the many luxury hotels the company operates around the world. Kızılagaç Köyü, Gerenkuyu Mevkii, Yaliçiftlik; T: 0252 311 03 03
On the beach
For some, the entire point of a wedding in Bodrum is to tie the knot right on the beach, shoeless, with sand beneath their feet. For those in search of a simple, casual, seaside wedding, Xuma Village in Yalıkavak is the ideal location. Situated on a beautiful private bay at the edge of a nature preserve and surrounded by lush greenery and citrus trees, this is an ideal setting for a low-key wedding. The beach club can fully reserved for private weddings during June and September. These months are also preferred for their slightly cooler evenings. While couples are welcome to bring in outside planners and caterers, Xuma has its own restaurant serving up tasty Mediterranean meals. If you want a simple beach wedding amid stunning natural beauty, Xuma Village is an ideal venue. Yalıkavak Mahallesi, Küdür Caddesi No.81; T: 0252 385 47 75
Sunset like no other
In addition to the health focus of this resort, it also offers full wedding services and has multiple areas to hold the special event. If you are looking to add some heavenly brilliance to a beach wedding—more than already surrounds you at every turn—the Sianji Wellbeing Resort’s beach faces west and provides the most gorgeous Mediterranean sunsets, bathing an evening ceremony in the warmth of fading pinks and oranges over the Aegean. For those who would rather show off their wedding shoes than feel the sand between their toes while saying their vows, the resort also has a grass yard just above the beach that looks out on the same breathtaking view. Even though the resort itself is devoted to health foods, its multiple dining options can also offer a special menu for any taste. Peskimet Mahallesi, Kadıkalesi Mevkii; T: 0252 382 82 17
Boutique beauty
A vibrant, boutique experience in the Gölköy fishing village on the shining Aegean waters of the northern Bodrum peninsula is what Flamm has to offer. If what you want is an intimate ceremony with your closest friends and family, then this hotel has all you could ask for. It only has 14 rooms, all of which open out to the sea and private beach. The hotel offers full wedding services and is ready to make all the preparations for your ceremony and celebrations. The setting, even though it is only a 20-minute drive from the Bodrum city center, is surrounded by the stunning beauty the area is known for and feels as if it is completely isolated, and with a pier extending out over the water and a warm and light Mediterranean breeze caressing the beach, tying the knot here adds an extra slice of heaven to your wedding away from home. Yalı Mahallesi, 30. Sokak No.3, Göltürkbükü; T: 0252 357 76 00
Full service to perfection
If you have high expectations then you will not be disappointed at Caresse Resort & Spa on the southern coast of the Bodrum peninsula. Their full-service wedding specialists’ attention to detail allow you to kick back and prepare for your special day while enjoying the beauty of the cove on which the resort is located. Rest assured that it is not a situation where one size fits all, and they specifically work with you to personalize your wedding, from flower arrangements to theme and specially crafted menus and live entertainment to luxury yachts. Able to accommodate anything from the most intimate affair to the grandest matrimonial event, the resort’s white sand beach, infinity pool, and beachfront restaurant allow you to soak in the idyllic Aegean atmosphere on Bodrum Bay with stellar service and the usual stress of wedding planning completely removed. Adnan Menderes Caddesi No.89, Asarlik Mevkii; T: 0252 311 36 36
The height of opulence
Located on Cennet Koyu—quite possibly one of the most beautiful coves Bodrum has to offer—Villa Maçakızı combines the opulent luxury of its sister hotel on Capri with Bodrum’s unique nature and expansive vistas, creating a sophisticated and lavish retreat. Appointed in the calm, Aegean white and blue and housing the eponymous Michelin-starred Italian restaurant, Villa Maçakızı celebrates quality over quantity in every aspect. With 10 rooms and suites, the beach house is perfect for an intimate wedding where you and your guests can reserve the entire venue, providing your own personal slice of heaven in sumptuous luxury with no detail left out. Its spa, which includes two massage rooms, two hammams, a sauna, and outdoor recreation area, will further make you sink into the bliss of relaxation while preparing for the celebration. Göltürkbükü Mahallesi, 316 Sokak No.10/1; T: 0252 311 24 00
Lasting memories
Located within a natural cove overlooking the Turkish Riviera, The Bodrum EDITION is an ideal setting for a dreamy wedding. Set across 22,000 square meters of tranquil gardens and a magnificent white beach, couples can chose from intimate barefoot ceremonies on the sand to lavish celebrations on the Sunset Terrace or beside the Infinity Pool. With the customized, individual approach, you can plan a package with the wedding planner for up to 300 guests. Package options include a wedding choir trio, bridal flowers, a romantic wedding night stay in a private pool suite and special room rates for the wedding party. Wedding menus are carefully curated by the Peruvian chef Diego Muñoz. There are different menu options to choose. Dirmil Mahallesi, Balyek Caddesi No.5A, Yalikavak; T: 0252 311 31 31
