My love, How did this go by? We’ve been married for almost a year. Was it easy? No. Was it fun? Sometimes, yes… Especially when you didn’t write in your Portuguese journal! 😄 Sometimes I tried to cope with your panic, And sometimes you tried to be patient with my calm. But in every bit of chaos, we found balance. We held on to each other. Even if we don’t always agree, I know we speak from the same heart. Today, I promise you: Even when life isn’t easy, loving you will always be. Even when we hurt, I’ll always come back to you. I’ll keep laughing with you, getting upset over silly things, and making peace in the end. Today, I say “yes” once again. To tomorrow, and to every day with you… Forever yours.
Many people may not know how we met. We were introduced by a friend of mine and her dad. At the time, I was about to sign up for a marathon, and I was told, “He’s a pro referee — he can run with you.” And that was it — a casual setup disguised as a running plan. Since then, you’ve brought so many new things into my life. I’ve tasted eggs with molasses. I’ve learned to dance halay when it snows — no matter the time. I’ve accepted that tennis is superior to pickleball — and that pickleball is just for people who didn’t make it in tennis. I’ve learned so much about cars and soccer that I can now list Galatasaray’s full kadro — and their personal drama. I also learned the importance of marketing and salesmanship when we managed to sell that jungle of plants on Facebook Marketplace. In the past six months, we’ve been reminded — sometimes painfully — that nothing is more important than family. Not our jobs, not our social lives, not the city we live in or how much money we have. In both joy and sorrow, what matters most is who stands beside you. And I promise to always stand beside you. Throughout our relationship, what made me fall for you was your open mind. You told me that we can figure out anything if we communicate well. Any crazy idea is worth considering if there’s a little logic behind it. That’s something I’ve always admired in my father — who couldn’t be here today. I love that you agreed to get married early to avoid another Trump-era visa headache. And have a little celebration that is also a family reunion in a country we’ve never been before. And thank you to everyone who traveled to make today possible. You’ve always prioritized my happiness, and I see it every day. I promise to approach you with the same open heart and support all of your “crazy” ideas too.
I know what made you fall for me was that I’m an architect. I could practically see the light bulb go off in your head the moment you found out — you instantly started drafting a 30-year construction business plan around my future license. What you didn’t anticipate, though, is that you’ve officially become my parents’ free handyman for life. But I promise — I’ll go to Home Depot with you every time. Now, for the serious parts… I promise to always buy enough food like I’m feeding an army — cuz not matter what, food is never enough with you. I vow to always pick the peaches without fuzzy hair — as long as they’re the cheapest ones on the shelf. I solemnly swear to only watch Denzel Washington movies with you — because that’s what real love looks like. I promise not to interrupt you or abandon you on game days — I respect the sacredness of the schedule. I vow to never hide barbecue chips from you… as long as you don’t eat them all without me. And I promise to keep telling people you wrote me a marathon training plan — even though you stopped after Day One. I vow to support you, encourage you, and never judge you — at least not out loud. I promise to always split the last fry with you and I promise to love you as much as you love soccer. Growing up, I learned that home isn’t just a place in the map— it’s your people. It doesn’t matter where in the world we are, as long as we’re together. Now, I’m your family. And I hope that through me, you’ll always feel at home — whether we’re in Turkey, the U.S., or wherever life takes us. I promise to choose you, every single day — with full hearts, full laughs, and snacks we both agreed buy from Trader Joe’s. You’re my teammate, my home, and my forever player one.
First of all, I’d like to sincerely thank all of you for being here today to share in the joy of Seniha and Talha’s special day. Although today is their day, I also want to thank them for inviting us to be a part of their happiness. Let’s give them a round of applause. Before we begin the marriage ceremony, if I may, I’d like to say a few words. From the moment Seniha asked me, “Will you officiate my wedding?” I’ve been thinking about what I should say right now. I didn’t realize it would be this hard to say yes! Of course, if I started going into detail about how she proposed to me, how I said yes, and the history of my relationship with Seniha, it wouldn’t be fair to the groom. But with your permission, I’d like to share a small story. I’ve known Seniha for 7 years now. We’ve reached the point in our friendship where I can usually tell what she means with just one look—or at least I think I can. I believe many of you will agree: her famous looks can sometimes intimidate, sometimes make you cry, and often keep people at a distance.
Over the years I’ve spent with her, during which I endured plenty of those glances—last year, for the first time, I witnessed a look from her that was something else entirely. It was an incredible moment. Like seeing a shooting star or some other rare force of nature. If I had to describe it: it was a look without walls, free of doubt, full of love and respect—and she was looking at Talha. Now maybe you’re not that impressed by this story, but let me set the scene. At that exact moment, Talha was asking me why I was holding a lahmacun when I had just told him I was vegetarian. And I think many of us know—if Talha wants to win an argument, he will. But that kind of win isn’t something that earns you the look. What I’m trying to say is: If I’ve truly come to know and understand my friend over the years, then I can say this— I know that if Seniha trusts someone, she loves them. And the more she loves them, the more she trusts them. For her, love and trust grow together, hand in hand. And I also know this: If she doesn’t feel genuine love from the other person, she won’t easily open up, and she won’t lower her walls. And if she can’t feel their trust in her, she won’t feel their love either. It may sound like I’m only talking about Seniha’s feelings, but I’m not. Because that day—me holding a lahmacun while Talha questioned my vegetarianism—I actually saw Talha’s love for her in her eyes. Because as Talha loved her, Seniha trusted him. And as she trusted him, she loved him more. And because she loved him—she ended up loving him even more.
The moment I understood that, I knew—this was it. I thought, Welcome to the family, brother-in-law. But hey, let’s not forget: if I didn’t officiate this wedding, you technically wouldn’t be the brother-in-law. Just saying. Anyway, before I go off on a tangent about all-nighters we pulled together in architecture school, shall we begin? Today, in our presence, Seniha and Talha are about to take the step of uniting their lives. To trust one another, and to offer trust—no matter what life brings. To always show respect, and to approach each other with that respect. To take steps toward happiness, peace, and personal growth—together. To encourage and support each other in these steps. And to commit to a life filled with love, respect, and trust—without end. And so, I now invite them to the stage to make this promise, once more, and one last time. ⸻ Without any pressure and of your own free will, do you accept [partner’s name] as your spouse? In the presence of these witnesses, since you have each accepted to marry of your own free will, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness.