Fifteen traditional Turkish bridal gowns selected fr ... were shown
Held on 20 November in the garden of the ambassador’s residence, the event brought together fashion, music, and ritual in a programme developed with the Izmir Institute of Vocational Training.
The gathering drew a mixed crowd of business figures, artists, and media personalities, alongside guests from Gaza.
Over the course of the night, they watched a runway show of 15 bridal gowns drawn from different regions of Turkey, a staged “henna night,” and a concert of Turkish folk and classical music. Traditional wedding dishes were served throughout.
The gowns were modelled by professionals based in Egypt, with the selection chosen to highlight the variety of Anatolian wedding traditions.
The “henna night” segment, a central part of many Turkish ceremonies, unfolded as a live demonstration rather than a performance, giving the audience a closer look at its symbolism.
Musician Bahadır Özüşen of the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) led the musical programme, backed by a mixed ensemble of Turkish and Egyptian players. His rendition of the Egyptian classic Qadduk al-Mayyas (Your Graceful Figure) drew one of the evening’s warmest reactions, underscoring the event’s cross-cultural leanings.
Speaking briefly, Turkish Ambassador Salih Mutlu Şen said the embassy had been preparing the programme for months and noted that public interest in Egyptian-Turkish cultural exchange had grown steadily.
He also pointed to a charitable component: attendees were asked to donate EGP 5,000 directly to the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) via Instapay, with proceeds intended to support relief efforts for Gaza.
Şen described the direct-donation mechanism—used for the first time at an event of this kind in Egypt—as an experiment he hopes others will follow. Later in the evening, two of the displayed bridal gowns were auctioned off, with winning bidders transferring their contributions directly to the ERC's account.
The night closed on a lighter note, with guests milling among the displays and musicians as the embassy used the occasion to gesture both to shared heritage and to a century of diplomatic ties.
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