{"id":2513,"date":"2015-01-01T18:24:18","date_gmt":"2015-01-01T15:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dknolte.com\/?p=2513"},"modified":"2015-01-01T18:24:18","modified_gmt":"2015-01-01T15:24:18","slug":"allison-serkan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dknolte.com\/?p=2513","title":{"rendered":"Allison & Serkan"},"content":{"rendered":"

L<\/strong>ast Saturday, we had the wonderful opportunity to attend a Turkish wedding, between good friends of ours. Allison is in the Foreign Service and hails from the small Texas town of Stinnett. Serkan is one of the guards at the Embassy. Both are incredibly good people and we are fortunate to be a part of their lives.<\/p>\n

\"01011504s\"<\/a>The actual wedding service is simply the couple sitting at a fancy table on one end, the witnesses on the other, and the Officiator in the middle.\u00a0 \"101_8170\"<\/a>Allison and Serkan as they enter.\"101_8173\"<\/a>They sat at the table and listened to the Officiator ask the proverbial question, “Do you …”\u00a0 Serkan was asked first and he grabbed the microphone and firmly stated, “Evet!” (yes!)\u00a0 Allison was asked the question and with a demur smile, she stated, “Evet!”\u00a0 Then they sign a paper which is passed on to the witnesses and then the Officiator.\u00a0 After that, it is stated they are married.\u00a0 All this took place with a very casual atmosphere.\u00a0 People were joking with everyone on stage as the\u00a0 photographers walked all about taking their pictures, all during the process.\"101_8176\"<\/a>Then they stood in a reception line and people filed past them congratulating them and wishing the best.\u00a0 This took place at a wedding palace which had couples come in and do their thing, then move out so the next couple could come in.\u00a0 Below are pictures of the couple during the photography session afterwards.\"101_8186\"<\/a> \"101_8188\"<\/a>\"01011502s\"<\/a>And below is a picture I had to take and present, because it typifies many places of the world that few Americans see and appreciate.\u00a0 The man below is selling balloons and simit, which is a pretzel with sesame seeds.\"101_8182\"<\/a>Later that evening, the dinner was held which is the essence of the celebration.\u00a0 We sat in a table in the back end, which to me was perfect, because it enabled me to to see and watch people.\u00a0 And I love taking pictures of shiny things.\"101_8192\"<\/a> \"101_8193\"<\/a>Food was brought in four courses.\u00a0 This was beef and delicious.\u00a0 This small portion is common throughout most of the world which is just the right amount.\u00a0 Any larger and I would think I was in America.\"101_8194\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The music played and the people danced.\u00a0 Allison would dance as long as she could, but Serkan continued to dance all night.\u00a0 I don’t think he ever stopped except to find someone else to drag out onto the floor.\u00a0 At one point, he grabbed my hand and led me out there, and I made some resemblance of a dance until he turned to someone else.\u00a0 Maybe 5-10 seconds then I disappeared, with full intention of avoiding that area again.\"101_8200\"<\/a> \"101_8199\"<\/a>The energy typifies the joy of the evening.\u00a0 Weddings are naturally joyous and it’s good to see people you know and love enjoying life as all people are meant to.\u00a0 My heartfelt congratulations to these two and I hope to continue our freindship.\u00a0 In May, they will travel to America, specifically the Texas Panhandle for Serkan to meet the rest of Allison’s family that did not make it to Turkey.\u00a0 They are planning to make a stop in Lubbock to meet a friend of Allison and to let Serkan meet an incredible 96 year Texas Lady.\u00a0 I wish I could be there.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 D.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last Saturday, we had the wonderful opportunity to attend a Turkish wedding, between good friends of ours. Allison is in …<\/p>\n

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