NEWS / Demand for fake marriage certificates surges in Türkiye

Demand for fake marriage certificates and ceremonies is on the rise in Türkiye, according to a report by Hürriyet Daily News, particularly among couples whose wedding dates do not align with those of the official registration of their marriage. This has created an industry of fake marriage officers, who can charge an average of between $46 and $125 (approximately 1,500 to 4,000 Turkish liras) for their services.

Wedding celebrations and ceremonies are often held on different dates following the official marriage registration ceremony at halls, gardens, or beaches. Fake marriage officers work with couples to draft the appropriate speeches and script exactly how the event would take place, including entertaining guests, in addition to more standard and mundane functions such as presenting the marriage certificate and signing the register during the ceremony. Fake marriage officers mostly promote their services online.

“Couples organize different events to create memories of the wedding ceremony and to please their guests,” Barış Ay, president of the Confederation of All International Employers’ Association, “They request a fake marriage officer at their events. We frequently encounter advertisements online for symbolic wedding ceremonies. We recommend such events to be organized by professionals or event planning companies. One should not fall for every advertisement.”