The RSVP deadline is April 1, 2025. If there are any changes to your attendance after that date, please update your RSVP and email us at 15pattabiv@gmail.com

Due to the venue guest count limit, we're unable to add your guests outside of the allocated invites. For our guests in Turkey, we are asking you to leave your kids at home. Thank you for your understanding.

U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter Turkey for less than 90 days for tourism. For citizens of other countries, please check visa requirements below: https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/ https://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa

The US State Department rates Turkey as a level 2 destination for safety, which stands for "Exercise Increased Caution". This is the same designation the US State Department has for Italy, the United Kingdom, or Denmark. Istanbul is like any other large metropolis. Please be mindful and take the normal precautions you would if you traveled to a major city in Europe, Asia, or the US.

Dress as you normally would for social activities, dinners, bars. The exception is on the day you're visiting the old city & the Blue Mosque, plan to dress modestly. Both men and women should cover arms and legs for mosque entry. Women will need a scarf to cover their head when entering the Blue Mosque.

Traffic in Turkey is probably unlike anything you're used to. We will arrange transportation to each event. You can take a cab, but be mindful of long wait times and ensure they are metered. Alternatively, public transportation such as ferries, trams, and buses are highly convenient, cost effective, and safe. The Istanbulkart can be purchased and used for all modes of public transportation.

In August, Istanbul typically experiences average highs of 85F (29C) and average lows of 70F (21C). Daytime temperatures can rise to 90F during the day, but the evenings will be cooler, especially by the Bosphorus where the hotel and venues are located. Wedding events will be a combination of indoors (during daytime) and outdoors (in the evenings).

A Sangeet is a pre-wedding celebration in Indian culture, primarily observed in Hindu, Sikh, and Punjabi weddings. The word “Sangeet” means “music” in Sanskrit, and the event is a joyous occasion filled with music, dance, and festivities. It typically takes place a day or two before the wedding and serves as a way for the families of the bride and groom to come together, bond, and celebrate the upcoming union.

Mehndi is a traditional pre-wedding ritual in Indian culture where intricate henna designs are applied to the bride's, groom's and guests' hands. It symbolizes beauty, joy, and the strengthening of the bond between the couple, as the darker the henna stain, the stronger the love is believed to be.

Shaadi is the Hindi word for "wedding" and refers to the main marriage ceremony in India. It is a sacred ritual where the bride and groom exchange vows, often in front of a sacred fire, and complete traditional rites like the saat phere (seven circumambulations around the fire) to formalize their union.