No strong perfume or cologne in consideration of attendees with asthma - for the gamers among you, you are still allowed, and encouraged, to shower (and touch grass)
We kindly ask you to refrain from posting photos of the couple on social media, please ask before posting if you must
No photography during the ceremony, but you are welcome to take photos at any other time as long as you are mindful of our professional photographers and videographer
FAQ
Please come to the ceremony in cocktail attire.
Keep in mind that the venue is primarily outdoors, the ceremony will be held on soft ground and most other areas are stone-paved with some gravel paths.
If you need some inspiration, checkout this pinterest board.
For our other events, come however you are most comfortable, Austin will likely have highs around 80F, typically peaking at 4PM.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is the main airport in Austin and the one we recommend flying to and from for the wedding weekend.
You could go to San Antonio if that is easier for you, but keep in mind you would need to drive about 90 miles north to get to Austin.
Dallas and Houston are both technically options, but they each require about a four hour drive south and west respectively.
In general we recomend staying near the "downtown" area as that has both a high concentration of things to do and places to stay.
Our venue is towards the south-west of the city limits, but should only be about 20 minutes by car from the general downtown area.
If you are looking to spend more time outside and/or want an easier time getting to the venue, we recommend looking south of the Colorado River.
Conversly if you want easier access to the downtown amenities, look to stay in the downtown proper north of the river.
If you just want us to tell you where to stay, check out the following:
These are just some suggestions, there are tons of options around, including lots of short-term rentals (AirBnB, etc).
For those who like to hunt for deals or unique places to stay, go right ahead.
Of course!
Here is a custom map with pins for all the major categories (food, attractions, hotels, venue).
Click on the rectangle in the top right to open in a new window which will also allow you to change the map theme in the bottom right corner.
In the words of our photographer:
The images [...] are not manipulated through editing, but done in real time so that you can see the magic in the moment. I won’t go into all the technicalities, but basically I “paint” light behind you with a giant led stick. The results are always different. The experience is fun. The result is a work of art.
Because you haven't asked yet!
Please send any questions our way and if they are broadly applicable we will add them here as well.
Thanks!
THE VENUE
Both Ohan and Merve love the outdoors, but the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center holds a special place in their hearts for more reasons than just the beautiful scenery.
After years of visiting the Wildflower Center together, Ohan proposed to Merve on May 12, 2023 on one of the Hill Country trails.
The Wildflower Center is home to numerous native Texas plants and has played a role in educating and cultivating Ohan and Merve's desire to preserve natural habitats for all organisms.
While most of the wedding events will occur near the courtyard, there are still a variety of beautiful trails and gardens to see.
Merve and Ohan encourage any curious guests to come as early as 4:30pm to explore the venue on their own before the event begins.
OUR STORY
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Ohan and Merve met in 2020 during an Overwatch tournament where they both entered as free agents and were put on the same team, Monkeys in Pajamas.
Their friendship blossomed through their time spent chatting while practicing and on the bench.
Finding it easy to talk to one another, they continued playing together after the tournament ended.
In 2021, Merve and Ohan became roommates and fell in love.
Today, they live in Austin with their two cats, Ashe and Quicksilver.
When they aren't busy with work and school, their favorite pastimes together are playing games, making each other laugh, cooking, working out, and bonding over their shared hatred of cilantro.
Ohan and Merve can't wait to celebrate their wedding with their friends and family.
This is where we went for our first date back in 2021. If you're not a fan of long lines, we also highly recommend Black's BBQ (yes, they're cousins).
If you do brave the line, be sure to also head back to the pits for a tour, the staff are always happy to show you around.
Our Favorites: sliced brisket, mac and cheese, cole slaw, baked potato salad, banana pudding
ThunderCloud is a local chain, this location is near Pease Park and the ACC Rio Grande campus.
A frequent stop last spring after weightlifting on the way to Merve's biology class at Rio Grande.
Our Favorites: Austin Club, New York Italian and Turkish Delight, all on whole wheat
They say everything is bigger in Texas.
The largest state capitol building by floor area square footage, and taller than the US Capitol in DC.
The stunning red granite structure is complemented by momument speckled grounds and the below-ground four-story extension on the northern side.
A pleasant wooded oasis along Shoal Creek just west of UT Austin.
The southern end of the park was recently renovated to expand the play structures and courts.
While the trail through the park continues south all the way to the Colorado River, ending beside Austin Public Library's central branch.
Zilker is Austin’s oldest metropolitan park, and covers over 350 acres south of the river from downtown.
The park include many ammenities such as swimming in Barton Springs, two hike and bike trails, sand volleyball courts, a disc golf course, and the Zilker Botanical Garden.
The park is also home to the famous Austin City Limits (ACL) music festival for two weekends every fall.
Mount Bonnell, also known as Covert Park, sits to the north-west of downtown.
As one of the highest points within city limits, the summit offers a sweeping view of downtown as well as the mansions along Lake Austin below.
Do not be daunted by the 775ft peak, most of the hard work can be left to a vehicle, only about 100 stairs are required under human-power.
Austin's trendy outdoor mall featuring 100 upscale and mainstream retail stores and restaurants, almost half of which are exclusive to the complex.
Apartments and offices are also scattered throughout, making the location an attractive one-stop-shop for many young professionals.
The Domain also houses Q2 Stadium, home field for Major League Soccer's Austin FC, the only professional sports team in town.
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REGISTRY
We are looking forward to celebrating with you on our big day.
Having you attend our wedding is the greatest gift we could ask for.
However if you are looking for something additional to give, please see our registries below:
