The Happy Wedding

Bride and Groom: The Courtship & Wedding of

Russian Weddings 

Russian wedding today: a unique bouquet of different cultures

Nowadays, Russian weddings come in a variety of different forms. They can contain elements of a traditional Russian wedding and also hints of a European or American-style wedding. The latter have become more and more popular and modern in recent years. True Russian weddings are unique in the fact that they are always lavishly played out! We say “played out,” as a Russian wedding ceremony is usually conducted as though it were a theatre spectacle where there is a script and everyone knows their role. 

In times gone by, a form of courtship would have taken place to secure the union of the happy couple. By tradition, the groom’s parents would ask the bride’s parents for their daughter’s hand in marriage for their son. Nowadays, this tradition has become practically extinct and only from time to time will the groom ask the bride’s parents for their daughter’s hand in marriage or request an approval of their union. 

Wedding ceremony

As part of the Russian wedding ceremony, people still enjoy the tradition of ransoming the bride. Before the young couple leave to go to the ZAGS (Registry Office), the groom must go to his future wife’s house where he will be greeted by friends of the bride, relatives and guests. They organise various fun games for the groom, like, for example, asking him challenging risque questions, persuading him to carry out certain tasks and demanding a Read the rest of this entry »

As the first true act of marriage, the ceremony is the soul of your wedding. Whether you prefer a service that is steeped in tradition or completely outside the box, it will have more significance to you and your fiancé (not to mention your guests) if you give it your own personal touch. Even choosing a wedding site will have an immense effect on the ambience and environment of the most beautiful occasion in your life.

You can personalize your wedding – or not – to any degree you’d like. You can choose to use the traditional ceremony, vows and readings, taking deep satisfaction in those traditions, or you can personalize readings, hymns or musical selections. Just make sure you’ve discussed any desired personalization with your officiant well beforehand, so there is no misunderstanding as to what you can or cannot change.

You’ll want to think carefully about the music selections that will play during the ceremony. Do select songs that are meaningful to you and your fiancé, as well as to your families? You might even consider using music that reflects your ethnic heritage, songs that friends have written or those that remind you of significant moments in your courtship. Even a humorous tune, such as Frank Sinatra’s “Love and Marriage,” can be poignant and special.

Choosing the right readings will help the ceremony stand out. Why not use an excerpt from a favorite children’s book or a song Read the rest of this entry »