From "Cherry Season" to Verona: the romantic love story of Özge Gürel and Serkan Çayoğlu

Some love stories begin on a film set and end up lasting longer than any series. The story of Özge Gürel and Serkan Çayoğlu began in 2014 on the set of the romantic comedy "Cherry Season" ("Kiraz Mevsimi"). The two colleagues were simply friends at first, but the friendship slowly grew into real love. Serkan later admitted that he fell in love almost without realizing how it happened.

"Cherry Season" was loved far beyond Turkey: in 2016–2017 the series aired on Italy's Canale 5, becoming the first Turkish series on Italian television. So it is no coincidence that Italy became a special place for the couple. According to Serkan, Italy holds a place in both their hearts, and they dreamed of holding their real wedding there.

For more than seven years they walked side by side, growing up and discovering each other, until the time came to make it official. In June 2022 the couple got engaged, and in July 2022 the lovers were married in Karlsruhe, Germany, where Serkan's family lives. Only relatives and close friends attended the intimate ceremony. Serkan said they had first thought of something simpler, but once their families joined in the preparations the celebration turned into a proper occasion. The main wedding, he added, was still to come, in Italy.

In August 2022 the dream came true: Özge and Serkan held their wedding in Verona, the city associated with the legendary lovers Romeo and Juliet. For the celebration they chose the historic Villa Rizzardi, a villa among the vineyards of Valpolicella, half an hour from Verona. The photos of the couple in their wedding attire, which they later shared on social media, delighted their fans.

More than four years have passed since that day, and the story that began in a cherry season goes on.