We are getting married!

    We are thrilled to announce that we will celebrate our wedding together with family and friends on

    September 10th, 2016

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    Our Story

    It was a Halloween party where Tim and Basak first met. Tim and friends were a terrifying group of killer bees, Basak wore a much more adorable cat costume. They connected easily and danced the night away together, so it was no surprise when they decided to keep in touch at the end of the evening. Things began slowly as Basak was staying with her parents in Silivri and could only make the long journey downtown a couple of times a month. Despite this, they always felt comfortable with each other and it was clear their relationship was something special.

    A shared love of traveling took them many places together: a weekend on the Greek island of Rhodes, a summer trip enjoying tapas and art in Madrid, wine tasting at Bozcaada, Turkey. Last September, they traveled together to Canada to attend the wedding of Tim’s sister, Sarah. Although it took him a long time, it was fitting when Tim finally proposed to Basak among the colourful lights and decorated trees of the Christmas markets in Munich.

    Who are we?

    The most important participants

    The Bride

    Basak

    Basak was born in Izmit, Turkey after a long wait of 7 years by her parents. She first found love from her parents and 2 and a half years later her brother Emre joined them. Her childhood was full of sports. As a high school student, she was a promising basketball player with an eye on the national team.  However she chose to focus on her studies and pursued a degree in economics at university in Istanbul. As soon as she finished university she went to Vancouver, where she stayed for 6 months, studying English. She loved the city and the people. At the time she had no idea the love of her life would turn out to be a Canadian man! She returned to Turkey and started a career in Human Resources. She is still keen on sports and she plays tennis or does yoga whenever she has a chance.

    The Groom

    Tim

    Tim grew up on the rocky shores of Newfoundland, Canada where he learned to jig for cod and developed an insatiable apetite for Purity Jam Jams. He left home after high school to pursue studies in mathematics and, upon completion of university, set to work trying to figure out what to do with a Mathematics degree. His search took him to Japan where he passed an unforgettable four years and finally acquiesced and decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a teacher. Returning to Canada briefly to acquire a teaching certificate, Tim quickly found a job in Istanbul and has never looked back.

    Wedding Details

    on September 10, 2016

    When making your travel plans, please note that we will be having a Welcome Reception on the evening of September 8th. Let us know by RSVP if you will be able to join.

    Welcome Reception Cruise

    Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the Bosphorus
    September 8, 2016 / Evening

    Please be sure to indicate on the
    RSVP if you plan to attend.
    Details will be posted closer to the date.

    Wedding Ceremony & Reception

    Otel Family Resort
    September 10, 2016 / 7:00pm – Late

    We will provide transportation between the venue and downtown. You will have the option of returning following the reception or staying overnight and returning in the morning.
    Details will be posted closer to the date.

    Accomodations

    Where to stay in Istanbul

    The wedding is taking place in Silivri, a lovely, but remote suburb on the western outskirts of Istanbul. We recommend that guests stay in the Taksim area in order to get the most out of their visit. We will be providing transportation from the Nippon Hotel to Otel Family on the day of the wedding.

    Nippon Hotel

    Lovely hotel, professional staff, great location

      Topçu Caddesi No: 6 34437
      Taksim – Istanbul
      Click here for website

      We have booked a block of rooms at the Nippon Hotel, a lovely hotel in the heart of the city. This is not common practice in Turkey, but the hotel has agreed to hold some rooms for us for a limited time at a special price of 80€ for a double room. We ask that you make your reservation through us rather than contacting the hotel directly. You can let us know if you’d like a room by RSVP‘ing or by email.

      Otel Family

      The wedding venue

      Otel Family Resort is the venue for the wedding ceremony and reception. Although we will provide transportation to and from the hotel for the wedding, some guests may wish to stay overnight after the wedding (we will also provide transportation downtown the next morning). We would actually recommend staying at the nearby Hotel Selimpasa (see details below) as it is only 10 minutes away by walking, significantly less expensive and highly rated.

        Selimpaşa Ayazma Mevkii
        İstifkent Sitesi
        Selimpaşa/Silivri – İstanbul
        Click here for website

        Hotel Selimpasa

        Another option after the wedding

          Selimpaşa Merkez Mah. 3062 sok. No:15
          Selimpaşa / Silivri / Istanbul / Turkey
          Click here for website

          Hotel Selimpasa is located almost next door to the wedding venue – just about 10 minutes by walking. The hotel comes highly rated and offers rates almost half of what you would get at the Otel Family. If guests would like to stay here, we ask that you make your own booking. This can be done through booking.com.

          If you prefer to find your own accommodation, here are some options to give you an idea of price and location.

          Urban Suites

          Condo hotel in a hip neighbourhood with plenty of cafes

            Click here for website

            Mama Shelter

            Funky boutique hotel with fantastic rooftop terrace bar

              Click here for website

              Cihangir Hotel

              More affordable option in a convenient location

                Click here for website

                Gifts

                The only gift we really want is to celebrate the day together with family and friends. We have not registered anywhere. Registries aren’t available in Turkey as the traditional wedding gift is gold in the form of bracelets and small coins or paper money, which are pinned to the bride and groom during the reception.

                RSVP

                Please let us know if you are able to attend. The more detail you give us, the more we can help. We can’t wait to see you at our wedding!