Russian Wedding Preparations

  Russian wedding preparations involve just a few traditions. In this order, the couple applies to the registry office, determines their venue and decorations, chooses their witnesses, chooses their attire and jewelry, and hires a car for the wedding tour. Meanwhile, their friends throw them bachelor and bachelorette parties.  

Registration to Marry

In preparation for a Russian wedding, a couple applies for their certificate of marriage. ZAGS, the official office of the registration of marriages in Russia, processes these applications and issues the certificates over the course of a few months. Couples are required to wait at least one month before ZAGS will issue a certificate. This ensures that couples who might change their minds will do so before the marriage becomes official. Once the certificate is issued, the couple is legally wed. However, most couples continue with a formal ceremony and reception. Of course, all of this requires some planning.  

Planning a Russian Wedding

Russian couples typically make all their wedding preparations in one or two months. The most important decisions include venue, attire for the bride and groom, and decorations. Russian weddings remain far simpler than American weddings, so they do not take as long to plan. During the planning, a bride chooses her witnesses, one or two close friends or sisters who bear witness to the marriage. The groom also chooses his witnesses ahead of time. For after the ceremony, a Russian couple hires a car for their grand tour of the city sites. Their plans also include choosing the sites to photograph on their tour, as well as choosing the restaurant they will convene to for their reception. Typically during the week before the wedding, the groom's friends throw him a bachelor party. In attendance, the groom's closest male friends. The spirit of the event is ribald, often involving much drink and antics worthy of a fraternity party. In the same week, the bride's closest friends throw her an all-female bachelorette party. Depending on the personality of the bride, this party may include frat party antics, as well. However, it may also run toward the more conservative, with tea, cakes, and gifts. These conclude the customary preparations for a Russian wedding.   ~ Angela Magnotti Andrews