Lara & Mats
We are getting married and cannot wait to celebrate this happy moment with the people we love most during our wedding weekend in Ayvalik!
Below you will find all necessary information for joining the celebrations during the Lara and Mats wedding weekend of 7-9 June 2024.
Moreover, as we very much like Ayvalik and the Turkish Aegean Coast, some tips are provided to help you on your way in the town and region during spare moments and/or in case of an extended stay.
Schedule
Friday, 7 June
Borrel and Bites
19:00 to 21:00, Location: Aima Music Academy
Drinks, bites, happy faces
Dress code: Casual sunset cocktail
Saturday, 8 June
Wedding Day
15:00 to late, Location: Olive Grove
Shuttle Bus Location: Crow Coffee (Sakarya)
Please be at the shuttle bus location before 15:00
Ceremony, dinner, party
Dress code: Aegean lawn cocktail
Sunday, 9 June
Brunch
12:00 to 15:00, Location: Lala'nın Börek Evi (Kucukkoy)
Shuttle Bus Location: Crow Coffee (Sakarya)
Coffee, eggs, recovery
Dress code: Comfy Casual
On Saturday, shuttle buses will transport you back and forth to the Olive Grove for the wedding festivities – this will be the same point indicated above. Please be at the shuttle bus location before 15:00 to facilitate smooth logistics (there are more people than bus seats, you may have to wait one round) – coffee and other drinks can be found around the pickup location while waiting. Buses will depart as soon as they fill up so order any coffee/tea for to go.
Key Info
Events will either take place in the old center of Ayvalik or just outside of town. For events out of town transportation will be arranged, shuttle buses will depart from and return to a central location in Ayvalik so that all events are reachable on foot.
All events will take place in the open air – average weather in Ayvalik in June is dry with temperatures into the 20s Celsius. However, please prepare for lower temperatures at night.
PLEASE VISIT THIS PAGE FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON THE LARA & MATS HOUSE FUND.
In case of any urgent questions, feel free to reach out via phone/WhatsApp/e-mail.
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Book Now
While the summer crowds are not yet engulfing Ayvalik in June, it is recommended to book accommodation and flights as soon as possible..
RSVP
After booking, please fill out the RSVP form straight away (no later than 15 March) to help us in the organization of all the events.
Accommodation Location
Seek accommodation in the historic center of Ayvalik or of Cunda so that all events are in close proximity. Please see the accommodation section below for further information (including on Cunda and access to events).
Children
While we love your kids, the locations where the events will be organized are not suited for children (potentially an olive grove with a few biting/crawling insects), and we will not be arranging baby sitters. As such, we would advise you to reconsider bringing children to the wedding weekend.
Dressing Up and Down
Please consider that all events will be organized outside. In June the sun is hot in the afternoon but temperatures may drop at night. Also, while respecting the principle of ‘your body, your choice’ in case of an olive grove event, the ground there is decidedly unsuitable for high heels.
Olive Grove
Lara’s mother’s olive grove is precious to us and we’re working to host you all there - the below key notes will support us in keeping it in good order in case of an event there and help you enjoy the celebrations to the maximum. Please use the shuttle buses as they are aware of the exact location of the olive grove and parking space is limited.
Olive Grove
Please take note of the ever-present fire risk in the olive grove, please do not throw any cigarettes (or other rubbish for that matter) onto the land. Wildlife is ever present in the olive grove, please make sure to be careful and aware and avoid stepping on biting/crawling insects (which will be afraid of our invasion in any case).
Present
Some time ago, we bought a house in Ayvalik and aim to enjoy beautiful summers there. The house requires significant amounts of restoration work. Thus, the best wedding present we can imagine is a contribution to our house fund to help us renovate the building into our dream home!
PLEASE VISIT THIS PAGE FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
Getting There and Back
Ayvalik has no airport (thankfully!) but can most easily be accessed via airports in Izmir, Edremit, and Istanbul. While public transport and taxis/private transfers are available from Izmir and Edremit to Ayvalik, it may be most straightforward to rent a car for the duration of the wedding weekend to get to and from any of the airports. However, private transfers could be an attractive option for those arriving and leaving in groups.
For people flying in from the Netherlands, please note that the number of suitable return flights from Izmir is limited on both Sunday and Monday.
Key info for those flying from The Netherlands and other locations is presented below with further details (car hire and parking as well as the Lesvos travel option!) accessible via the below link.
Via Izmir (ADB)
Recommended route with direct flight options from NL but limited suitable return flights (on Sunday).
Direct connections from NL with SunExpress, Corendon, and TUI (Amsterdam & Rotterdam); with multiple flights also from Brussels, Dusseldorf, and Cologne.
2-hour drive with rental car and/or transfer service; no/limited public transport options.
Via Istanbul (SAW & IST)
Easy route flight-wise from NL but requires quite a bit of driving; may be helpful when flights to/from Izmir do not fit the travel schedule.
Direct connections from NL with Turkish Airlines, Anadolujet, and Pegasus (among others).
4-hour drive from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen airport (SAW) and 5-hour drive from Istanbul International Airport (IST); no suitable options other than a rental car.
Via Edremit (EDO)
Convenient route due to proximity of Edremit to Ayvalik but no direct flights from NL making most air journeys last 6 to 7 hours including a layover in Istanbul.
Connections via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, Anadolujet, and Pegasus.
45-minute drive with either a rental car and/or transfer service; airport busses also readily accessible (e.g., no car hire needed).
Accommodation
Ayvalik and the island of Cunda across the bay have many accommodation options in beautifully restored classic Turkish-Greek houses.
It is recommended to stick to locations within the Ayvalik Historic Center for access to events on foot. However, Cunda is picturesque and atmospheric with easy connections to Ayvalik, it should not be discarded!
Below is a list of recommended hotels on the basis of location and looks (not an exhaustive list); other options can be found via Google Maps etc. AirBnB rentals are also widely available – please do take a look!
Some of the websites listed below only have Turkish language versions –please use the ‘translate’ button in your browser or – as a last resort – seek help from us.
In and Around
Ayvalık
Clearly, Ayvalik holds a special place in our hearts – for good reason! It’s hard not to fall for its historic winding streets and distinct architecture, the beautiful surrounding nature, the amazing food, as well as the wonderful locals and the cittaslow life they live (one day us too!).
As we hope the wedding weekend gives you a sneak peak of the town and surrounding areas, we prepared a few different lists that should help you in planning and throughout your stay: food and drinks, things to do and see in Ayvalık, and a few roadtrip ideas around Ayvalık. We hope the wide variety of attractions entices you to roam around this beautiful part of the Aegean coast and – more importantly – to continue visiting us in Ayvalik in the future!
P.S. In case you are able to stay for more days than the wedding weekend a meyhane rakı / mezze dinner is a must. As the saying goes: ‘rakı, balık (fish), Ayvalık’. But also, keep in mind another saying by wise Turkish elders: ‘it (i.e. rakı) does not stay or look as it does in the bottle...’ so do drink wisely.