Russian Wedding Ceremonies

  A Russian wedding day begins with the bride at home. She and her closest friends and female family members dress together. Her friends either help her do her makeup and hair, or they spend a few hours at the spa. When she is almost ready, her groom makes his way to her home to collect her.  

The Ransom

Upon arriving at the bride's house, the groom is met by a series of challenges. These challenges include physical feats of strength and strategy, as well as embarrassing questions posed by various bridesmaids. One such challenge might include a bridesmaid handing him a napkin filled with lipstick kisses. The groom must choose correctly which is his bride's kiss, or he will be forced to pay a fine. Whenever he fails to succeed at a challenge, he must pay this fine in cash, jewels, or sweets. Once he finally arrives at the door, he knocks. The bride's parents answer and present to him his "bride." This is typically a male member of the family dressed up in a gown with a veil covering his face. At this point, the family demands yet another ransom payment, this one slightly more substantial. Finally, after everyone is satisfied with his performance and his payments, the groom receives his real bride. It is time to travel to the registry office (ZAGS). A train of cars, typically black sedans or limos, awaits the groom, the bride, and her family and friends. The bride and groom must travel in separate cars to ZAGS.  

A Russian Wedding Ceremony

For some Russian couples, the civil ceremony at ZAGS proves sufficient. After the papers are signed, they set off on their Tour of the City and then straight to their recption. Other couples add a more traditional church ceremony to their wedding day. A traditional Russian wedding ceremony in a church includes two important rituals, the Betrothal and the Crowning. The Betrothal comes first, right after the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. During the Divine Liturgy, the priest blesses the couple's wedding rings by placing them on Holy Table (altar). Next, the bride and groom stand side by side at the entrance to the sanctuary. The priest offers a blessing and hands them each a candle. They will hold the candles throughout the ritual. Next, a deacon offers a series of prayers and petitions for the couple. Finally, the priest says two more brief prayers of blessing over the couple and slips the rings on the ring fingers of their right hands. The priest offers yet another prayer and speaks a few words about the Biblical symbolism of the wedding rings. While the rings remain as an outward symbol of their union in public, it is the Crowning that serves as the sacred rite that makes the marriage sacred.  

The Crowning

I wrote briefly about the Crowning in a previous post. Here I will add a few more comments. The Crowning begins when the priest leads the couple to stand on a brand new rose-colored cloth. Standing on the cloth, a symbol of their new life together, they publicly confess that they are marrying each other of their own accord and that neither of them have been promised to another. Another series of petitions are spoken, and the priest again offers several lengthy prayers. At this point, ornate golden crowns are held aloft over the bride's and groom's heads for several minutes of silence. Finally, they are lowered onto their heads. While the couple stands with the crowns upon their heads, the priest shares readings from the Bible. More petitions and prayers are offered, and then the couple shares a drink from a common chalice of wine. Next, the priest wraps a stole around their hands, binding them together, and leads them to walk around the Bible three times. At this point, the ritual is complete. The priest offers a benediction and signals the dismissal. As they leave the church, their guests shower rice, chocolates, and coins over their heads. Sometimes, butterflies are released as a symbol of good fortune. Once outside, the bride and groom release either balloons or two white doves to symbolize their union. The bride also releases a balloon with her maiden name written on it. Finally, the groom gathers his bride into his arms for a long romantic kiss in front of everyone. From here they climb into a limo or hired car for their grand Tour of the City.