If you are reading this, you already know what this is about, and that you mean a great deal to us — You’re among the people closest to our hearts.
We are incredibly happy to finally celebrate properly with you the long adventure that we have shared so far. From the warm Mediterranean coasts of Puglia, to the dry steppes of Anatolia, to the cold plains and mountains of Germany … different life stories, cultures and vibes, with us in the middle. Expect eating and laughing like Italians, dancing and smoking like Turks, and drinking like Germans.
Yes yes, love is important. But let’s be honest: Bringing together the people we love from the different parts of our lives is the real reason for this celebration.
We truly hope you’ll be there ☺️
Note: Please scroll, read, and get all the information you need from this page, but don’t forget to RSVP / register at the very bottom of the site. Many thanks!
Dear friends, dear family,
Wedding weekend
Going to a wedding where you don’t know 90% of the guests is always a bit awkward.
That’s why, to break the ice, we decided to organize a relaxed pre-wedding aperitivo for anyone who can (and wants to) join us the day before the big event.
We’ll start with some drinks, then happily stroll around Bari to show you its lively nightlife and medieval architecture, most likely with a Peroni in hand. Informal, friendly, and very Bari.
Expect to be out on the streets, so comfy shoes are most definitely recommended.
pre wedding get-together
Ciclatera sotto il mare (Bari Vecchia)
17:30 – 28.08.2026
wedding celebration
villa focus
17:00 (till your legs and stomach can handle) – 29.08.2026
Strada antica Modugno bari 5.
get to and from the wedding
Fortunately for all, we did not decide to get married in the deep Apulian countryside; just a suburban one. Still, especially for those of you planning to “alzare il gomito”, this should come as very good news. We will organize a shuttle service at 4.00 pm from Bari center (via Capruzzi) to the venue, and an hourly shuttle back to the city center from 23:00 to 03:00.
If you want, you’ll be able to sit in the back of the bus/minivan and sing your favourite stadium chants with your comrades.
Of course, there will also be enough parking space for those who prefer to arrive with their own vehicle, so no worries there.
If you’d like to use the shuttle, please let us know in the registration form below, so we can get an idea of the numbers. Much appreciated!
venue
Villa Focus is the rather pretentious name we gave to our home.
It kind of deserves it though: it looks like a little castle, has a beautiful garden, countryside views, and plenty of olive trees.
Legend says it was built in 1909 by a rich guy from Bari who hoped his wife would heal from tuberculosis here. Did it work? No idea. But he definitely let his imagination run wild.
And yes, Focus is an anagram of Fusco. Cool, right?
Dress code
We two have very different ideas about clothes and elegance.
So: come as you please, we won’t judge (much)
Want to dress up? Absolutely allowed.
Just maybe don’t overdo it (no tuxedoes or tailcoats: the groom might feel overshadowed).
Important notes:
– We’ll be mostly outdoors (Bring a sweater/jacket)
– Ground, pebbles, possibly grass (If you’re planning on high heels, try to avoid very pointy ones and bring comfy shoes too — trust us, you won’t last long).
Travel info
There are many ways to get to Bari: car, bus, train, plane, boat, air balloon… Still, if you’re coming from far far away, flying is probably your best option.
Nearby airports (travel time to Bari city center by car):
– Bari (20 min)
– Brindisi (1 hour 30 minutes)
If you don’t mind a longer trip, or want to combine the wedding with more extensive tourism:
– Napoli (3 hour 30 minutes)
– Rome (4 hour 30 minutes).
From all cities, if you don’t want to rent a car (which is generally recommended), you can also reach Bari by public transport. Trains work best from Rome, buses from Brindisi and Napoli.
hotel
Puglia is bursting with beautiful resorts, charming hotels, and places to stay for every taste and budget. In recent years, an impressive crop of Airbnbs has appeared … we generally suggest this option, especially if you’re a group. They often offer the best balance between comfort, character, and not completely bankrupting yourself.
However, we recommend booking something in Bari for the night(s) of the wedding, and for those of you with a refined taste, we’ve secured a deal with a brand-new hotel right in the center of Bari: the Leon D’Oro. You can use the code FEDE/OZ on their website to receive a 20% discount on their current room rates.
You’re welcome.
Little guide to the surroundings
If you’re coming from far, far away: good news. We are getting married in an undoubtedly beautiful region. Turning this wedding into a vacation is highly recommended.
Renting a car is usually the best option, though some towns (e.g. Monopoli, Polignano, Lecce) are also easy to reach by train from Bari.
Below, some very subjective and definitely incomplete suggestions.
bari
Yes yes, Lecce, Valle d’Itria and Salento are beautiful … but Bari is the one and only capital of Puglia.
We even stole San Nicholas just for you, go visit him! Walk along the Muraglia, get lost in the alleys of Bari Vecchia, watch old ladies making orecchiette and selling them to you for 10 euro, and go on a shopping spree in Via Sparano.
Special note for our Turkish friends: Gucci and Vuitton are about 1.27% cheaper here (minus tax).
You might smell some sewage and see a cockroach or two … but hey, authenticity.
polignano & monopoli
Yes. They’re beautiful. You know it, we know it, Instagram knows it.
When we were kids, we came here just to eat ice cream and break the monotony of Bari. Now people cross continents to take the exact same photo.
Worth visiting (also to avoid having to explain back home why you didn’t go to Polignano), but don’t expect untouched authenticity.
(Özgün’s note: Well.. but IT IS very beautiful. There’s usually a reason why places get so famous.)
valle d’itria
The Eden of Puglia.
Rolling hills, cypress trees, dry-stone farmhouses, enchanted countryside. Much better than Tuscany. And yes, the olive oil too.
Here you’ll find postcard towns like Alberobello and Ostuni, but their smaller sisters deserve love as well: Martina Franca, Locorotondo, Cisternino: less crowded, just as charming.
lecce
If you’re from Bari, you cannot (unfortunately) love Lecce.
That said: total bull**. Beautiful baroque architecture, elegant vibes, great food, and a very pleasant atmosphere. If they only had the sea … 😉
castel del monte & grotte di castellana
We put these together because no one ever wants to go here unless the weather is bad, which, surprisingly, can also happen in summer.
You can either:
– learn about one of the most mysterious medieval buildings and its equally mysterious king (Frederick II), or
– stare at stalactites and stalagmites underground.
Your call.
gargano
If you feel “adventurous”, like hiking on vacation, waking up at 5am, and being one with nature… you might be one of our German guests. Then Gargano is for you.
But don’t worry, lazy Italians survive here too: beaches, food, naps, and aperitivi in Peschici or Vieste.
More wild, less polished, very beautiful.
beaches
If you’re not an Instagram photographer, walking around towns at 40°C in August every day might not be your dream. Here’s a trick: put your body into the sea. And in Puglia, we’re lucky: we don’t just have one sea, but two to choose from.
Some of our favourite spots:
Adriatic side:
– Polignano (town beach or between Polignano & Monopoli)
– Monopoli / Capitolo
– Torre Guaceto
– Santa Cesarea Terme
– Torre dell’Orso
Ionic side:
– San Pietro in Bevagna
– Porto Cesareo
– Porto Selvaggio
Gift
Your presence is already the best gift. But if you gift us something, you’ll be an even better gift.
Traditionally in Turkey, wedding guests give the newlyweds a piece of gold (often featuring Atatürk-Head on the back). So, for our more traditional guests (and according to financial advisors) a contribution in good old gold is always highly appreciated.
That said, we also understand that not everyone travels with gold bars in their pockets. For those who prefer a simpler and more uncomplicated option, a cash contribution is more than welcome. There will be a gift box at the wedding venue where you can leave it, should you wish to support our much-desired, long-awaited “unemployed / let’s-find-ourselves /let´s travel” phase that could lie ahead of us.
And finally, for our digitally inclined, “I never carry cash” kind of friends: don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. A PayPal account will also be available.
Registration
Federico & Özgün
29.08.2026