30.08.2026 13:21
The love story of Ali İsmet Yılmaz and Ariana Picton, which began in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, reached a happy ending with a wedding held in Kars. The groom, Ali, said they met Ariana through friends 3 years ago, adding, 'She didn't come to our first 3 dates for various excuses, but I insisted until the fourth and managed to bring her to Kars as a bride.' The couple had the humorous phrase 'From Las Vegas to Kars Vegas' written on the back of the wedding car.
28-year-old Ali İsmet Yılmaz, who is pursuing a master's degree in computer engineering in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, married 30-year-old Ariana Picton, whom he met 3 years ago, in his hometown of Kars.
On their wedding day, the couple Yılmaz and Picton had a humorous phrase summarizing their story, "From Las Vegas to Kars Vegas," printed on the back of the wedding car.
The couple, whose marriage was officiated at a ceremony held in a wedding hall in the city, danced afterward.
The wedding, which continued with Caucasian folk dances and halays from the Kars region, featured colorful scenes.
"SHE DIDN'T COME TO THE FIRST 3 MEETINGS, I CONVINCED HER AT THE 4TH"
In his statement to reporters, groom Yılmaz said that his adventure with Picton began about 3 years ago and stated, "After meeting through a friend of mine, I started our adventure 'From Las Vegas to Kars Vegas' by telling my mother, 'I'm bringing you a bride from Las Vegas.' After meeting Ariana, she didn't come to our first 3 dates for various excuses, but I insisted until the fourth and managed to bring her to Kars as a bride. We are excited; we have many relatives inside. Ariana is also excited, and it's wonderful to introduce her to different cultures, especially Kars' distinct cultures."
"EVERYONE I MET TREATED ME LIKE FAMILY"
Bride from Las Vegas, Ariana Picton, expressed her great happiness at the interest she received in Kars and said the following:
"We met through a friend; I canceled the first meetings, then my mother said, 'Maybe you'll meet your soulmate, go and see,' and now I'm in Kars. Everyone here is very generous, warm, and friendly. I am very happy to be here and to have our wedding here as well. I feel warmly welcomed here, and everyone I met treated me like family; they enabled me to have a wonderful experience."