Where in Turkey is Cappadocia?
Cappadocia is in central Turkey, just over an hour’s flight east of Istanbul. There are two convenient airports less than an hour’s drive from the centre of the Cappadocia region; Nevsehir Cappadocia (NAV) and Kayseri Erkilet (ASR) with direct internal flights from Istanbul Ataturk (IST), Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW), Izmir Adnam Menderes (ADB) and Antalya (AYT) airports. Most visitors spend between 3-5 nights in the area, combining it with a longer trip to Istanbul, Izmir or Istanbul. As it is slightly off the beaten track, it’s not as over-run with tourists as it would be otherwise, which makes it well worth the internal flight to get there.
Why is Cappadocia such a wedding hot-spot?
It’s all about the hot air balloons!
Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia started relatively recently, in the late 1980s, when hotel owners used hot air balloons to get promotional photos of the region. At that time, it was the mysterious and magical fairy chimneys of the area that were the main attraction, and the hot air balloons were used to photograph them. In 1991, an enterprising British couple were credited with starting to offer balloon rides to tourists, and throughout the 1990s, the popularity increased, with tourists keen to see the incredible rock formations of Cappadocia from the unique airborne viewpoint themselves, and the commercial hot air balloon industry developed.
Today, there are around 32 hot air balloon companies in the Cappadocia area, with 160 hot air balloons taking off simultaneously most mornings. Those taking a balloon ride don’t just get to see the incredible hills and valleys of magical fairy chimney rock formations from above, but they can enjoy the spectacle of being amid so many other colourful hot air balloons.
Can you get married in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia?
Yes, you can get married in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia, subject to the correct paperwork. However most couples prefer the flexibility of a symbolic wedding ceremony, with the legal paperwork being completed elsewhere before or after their hot air balloon wedding. The hot air balloons can take up to 12 people so there is plenty of space for the officiant, witnesses and some guests.
What documents do you need to get married in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia?
The legal documents required for a hot air balloon wedding are the same as for any other wedding in Turkey. The following points should be useful guidance, but please check with the consulate for the most up to date information to ensure that you have all the paperwork required and that your wedding will be legal. Don’t forget; if you have any difficulties with obtaining the correct documents, you can opt for a legal wedding ceremony in your own country, and have a symbolic ceremony while you are in Turkey.
- You will only be eligible for marriage in Turkey if you are eligible for marriage in your own country.
- Once you have completed all the checks and have the required paperwork, you can get married after just 3 days.
- You will need an Attested Certificate of No Impediment (equivalent to an affidavit of eligibility to marry) from your own country, 6 passport photos, your birth certificates and valid ID such as a passport.
- You will both need a health check report from a government hospital or private clinic. The health tests check for infectious diseases.
- If you have been married before, you’ll need a copy of your decree absolute or divorce papers, and a copy of the deed poll if your name has changed
- You will need to file a Marriage Petition Form at the local registry office in the region of Turkey that you plan to marry.
Is same sex-marriage legal in Turkey?
Turkey is considered the most tolerant of all Middle Eastern countries, however as same sex marriages are not recognised, it is not currently possible to have a gay wedding in Turkey. LGBT couples are able to have a symbolic ceremony, so a hot air balloon wedding ceremony is still possible, however the legal marriage will have to take place elsewhere.
Is Cappadocia a good choice for disabled or elderly wedding guests
There is so much to love about Cappadocia, but if you have elderly or physically disabled guests who will struggle with rough ground, steps and steep slopes, they will find the area challenging. Hoteliers have worked hard to make hotels as accessible as possible with lifts, however a lot of buildings are within the original rock formations, and the terrain is naturally hilly and uneven. If you have elderly or disabled guests attending your wedding, we would advise opting for one of the modern style of hotels such as The Crown Plaza.
Can you propose in hot air balloon?
Hot air balloon proposals are incredibly popular in Cappadocia; there can be few places more magical and romantic than a hot air balloon drifting over the fairy turret rock formations below. Balloons range in size to fit between 2 to 12 people, plus the balloon operator, and you can book a 12 person balloon for 2 people to give you space, stability and privacy for a really special marriage proposal. Speak to the company you are booking with in advance so that they can help with arrangements and a suitable balloon.
Our Top Tip; for a hot air balloon marriage proposal
Our top tip for keeping the engagement ring safe at height: Take the same precautions used for high-level wedding proposals on Sydney Harbour Bridge, and put the engagement ring on a piece of ribbon with a wrist-sized loop at each end. Both loops can be worn on your wrist before you propose, with the ring secure on the ribbon, hidden up your sleeve. When you propose, pass one loop onto your partner’s wrist, slide the ring onto their finger, then pass the second loop onto their wrist. It’ll reduce the chance of you dropping the ring, and keep it secure on their finger until you land if it isn’t a perfect fit.
Do the hot air balloons in Cappadocia operate every day?
The region is relatively dry year round, but gets hot in the summer months of July and August and can be cold from November to March, particularly at night. We visited in early December; there had been some snow the week before which can give an even more magical effect. Temperatures were around 3-8 degrees which was still comfortable for sightseeing and we were able to enjoy evenings outside around a fire pit. September to October and April to May are perhaps the optimum time of year to visit, with the most comfortable temperatures day and night.
What can you do in Cappadocia other than hot air ballooning?
Ironically, commercial hot air ballooning only became popular as a means of seeing Cappadocia’s more natural wonders; the extraordinary rock formations that look like valleys and hills of fairy chimneys. These unique formations were created by volcanic eruptions and subsequent erosion and the extraordinary landscapes can be explored by car, on foot, on horseback and on quad bikes, as well as by hot air balloon. The best place to see and experience the full wonder of these formations is in the Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area features well over 100 tiny cave churches and monasteries with frescoes, showing Byzantine art and local artistic styles, providing a fascinating glimpse into Cappadocia’s Christian past.
Where else can you get married in Cappadocia?
In keeping with the unique setting there’s a choice of unusual hotels and restaurants for wedding ceremonies and receptions, as well as some more conventional choices. If you are planning a hot air balloon wedding, you’ll need a back up plan if the weather isn’t perfect, and unless it’s a very small wedding, you may want somewhere for a reception after you’ve landed. Information on few of the venues we visited are below, each offering a totally different experience to suit different styles of wedding and a range of wedding budgets.
Argos
Argos is a pretty resort hotel with 9 buildings accessed from narrow cobbled streets and alleys on the side of the hill overlooking a spectacular valley of fairy chimneys. There are 71 rooms including jacuzzi suites and pool villas, 6 of which have indoor pools and several have private terraces overlooking the extraordinary valley. What makes the hotel even more unique is that a lot of the public areas and guest rooms are carved into the original rock formations including a beautiful private dining room in a chapel-like structure, where we were able to enjoy delicious fresh sharing platters and traditional Turkish cuisine. For exceptional cuisine, ambience and its setting, Argos is hard to beat either for a small wedding or for a honeymoon. The suites with terraces overlooking the valley would be a great choice if you are coming to Cappadocia to propose.
The Sacred House
This is a hotel that you’ll either love, or not! I absolutely loved its rich colours and decadently romantic and dramatic gothic decor. The main steps lead to a baroque-style lobby, with a welcoming drawing room to one side. A central staircase winds from floor to floor, and leads to one of the most extraordinary honeymoon suites you will ever imagine, complete with a huge round copper bathtub. There’s a restaurant and bar, indoor event space adjacent to a beautifully lit fairy chimney and a large terrace that can be used for receptions of around 50-100 guests. For large events, the hotel can access adjacent land for a marquee surrounded with fairy chimneys. The hotel also boasts a below-ground chapel-like spa, with a tiled crucifix pattern on the floor of the pool, again appealing to those who love slightly edgy designs.
The Avantgarde Refined Caves of Cappadocia
Carved into the hillside, with 46 contemporary rooms and suites, this hotel was opened in 2024 and further enhanced in 2025 with the addition of a spa, restaurant and additional accommodation in a self-contained villa, again appearing to be carved into the hillside. This would be a great venue for a buy-out, with your wedding guests all staying close together, but with rooms on split levels opening onto little courtyards, giving everyone a sense of space and privacy. The new villa, added in 2025, will give added privacy for the couple and their closest family and friends. The rooms and terraces look out over a peaceful Mediterranean courtyard, creating a social central gathering space with a fire pit and rugs keeping guests warm, even on the coldest winter evenings. Climb to the highest rooms to find a path leading to the hilltop, where there is the most perfect spot for sun-downers with a 360 degree view, and views for miles. You’ll be able to host a wedding on this hilltop spot, but it’s also the most magical place for a pre-wedding BBQ under the stars, with live music and dancing.
Those wanting to ensure that their wedding is as sustainable as possible will be delighted by the little touches in the rooms to reduce plastic and waste, without compromising on quality. This is a gem of a hotel in a peaceful location, with an incredibly hospitable team, and I’m looking forward to visiting again.
Crowne Plaza Cappadocia
Most of the hotel wedding venues in the Cappadocia region are ideal for around 20-120 guests, but for larger weddings there is an obvious choice. The new Crowne Plaza Cappadocia is a modern hotel with a ballroom suitable for seating up to ?? wedding guests, ?? guest bedrooms a spa, indoor and outdoor pool.
What is the best time of year for weddings in Cappadocia?
As the climate and terrain is well suited to hot air ballooning in this area, the hot air balloons in Cappadocia operate on approximately 250 days of the year, so if you are staying for more than a day you would be unlucky not to be able to take off. However, if like us you visit when there is an unusual amount of fog, combined with strong winds the balloons can be grounded for 2 or more days. Importantly, it isn’t then simply a case of finding an operator who is prepared to take the risk when the weather isn’t ideal: For everyone’s safety the government dictate whether the balloons can operate each day, so if one can go up, they can all go up.
Have a look at our hand-picked wedding venues in Turkey.