Getting Married in Istanbul Now Costs Over 850,000 TL in 2025

In Istanbul, the dream of marriage has become increasingly expensive. According to a new report by the Istanbul Planning Agency (IPA), the average cost of holding a wedding ceremony and setting up a household has surged past 850,000 TL in 2025.

The calculation includes essential expenses such as a wedding hall, rental housing, furniture, white goods, and dowry (çeyiz). However, it does not cover additional traditions and luxuries like henna nights, engagement parties, gold gifts, or honeymoons—meaning the real cost is likely much higher.

Wedding Hall Costs Lead the Surge

The sharpest price increase came from wedding hall rentals. In 2024, the average cost of renting a wedding salon was 70,000 TL. By 2025, that figure had soared by 88.3%, reaching 131,800 TL.

Couples opting for an outdoor countryside wedding faced even higher costs. Venue rentals rose from 235,000 TL to 263,600 TL, reflecting a more moderate 12.1% increase.

When all expenses are combined, couples choosing a traditional hall wedding saw their total bills rise by 44.2%, while those preferring an outdoor wedding now face costs of nearly 982,000 TL, up 30.2% from last year.

Household Setup: Furniture, Appliances, and Rent

Beyond the ceremony itself, the financial burden of setting up a home has also intensified:

• White goods – Average expenses rose 36.1%, climbing to 142,870 TL.

• Furniture – Costs increased by 25.7%, reaching 185,905 TL.

• New home rental (including rent, deposit, and broker’s commission) – Averaged 135,628 TL in 2025, reflecting a 40.7% annual increase.

For many newlyweds, securing a home is now one of the toughest financial hurdles, as Istanbul’s housing market continues to experience steep rental inflation.

Çeyiz Spending Nearly Doubled

Another traditional and unavoidable cost for many couples is çeyiz—a collection of household goods and personal items ranging from textiles to small electronics.

In 2024, couples spent on average 170,099 TL on çeyiz. By 2025, this figure surged by 49.3%, reaching 253,892 TL. This makes it one of the single largest cost increases in the overall marriage budget, second only to hall rentals.

The True Cost: Much Higher Than Reported

The IPA emphasized that its 850,095 TL estimate represents only the most basic marriage costs. It does not account for additional cultural and celebratory expenses such as:

• Henna nights (kına gecesi)

• Engagement ceremonies

• Jewelry and gold gifts

• Honeymoon travel and accommodation

When these are factored in, the total cost of marriage in Istanbul could easily surpass 1 million TL for many couples in 2025.

Comparing 2024 and 2025: A Rapid Escalation

In just one year, the financial weight of marriage has ballooned across nearly all categories:

• Wedding halls: +88%

• Çeyiz: +49%

• Housing rental costs: +40%

• White goods: +36%

• Furniture: +25%

Overall, a hall wedding with basic household setup rose by 44.2% year-on-year.

Social Implications: Marriage Becoming a Luxury

Sociologists and economists warn that the rising costs are making marriage an increasingly unreachable milestone for many young couples.

For families, the traditional expectation of financially supporting weddings and household setups has also become a heavier burden. Some young couples are reportedly postponing marriage plans or opting for smaller-scale ceremonies to cope with rising expenses.

The growing gap between cultural traditions and financial realities reflects a broader economic challenge: while incomes rise only modestly, lifestyle and social expectations remain costly.

Conclusion: A Pricier Path to Marriage

In 2025, the cost of saying “I do” in Istanbul is more daunting than ever. With an average price tag of 850,000 TL for the basics, couples face immense financial pressure even before factoring in the extras.

For many, this marks a shift in how weddings and households are planned—potentially leading to simpler, smaller, and more practical celebrations in the years to come. But for now, marriage in Istanbul remains not just a life milestone, but one of the most expensive financial undertakings a young couple can face.