Blog-a-thon Day 5/10: Russian Weddings

We have been to two Russian weddings this summer.  Red and I enjoy attending weddings together as it reminds us of our own commitment to each other.  They remind us to continue to love and serve one another well.  One of my favorite memories from our wedding was Red's emotion as we saw each other for the first time as I walked down the aisle.  I remember our friend, Jim Garland, giving a great talk on Colossians 3.  I also remember kissing him for the first time in front of everyone at the wedding.  What is your favorite memory from your wedding?

Now, as promised, details about Russian weddings...

The morning of a couple's wedding, the groom comes to pick up the bride so that they can go to their registration.  However, it is not always that easy.  The bride's friends create tasks that the groom must complete in order to see the bride.  The tasks can be anything from singing to dancing to paying money to answering trivia questions, etc.  Once the bride's friends approve the groom is allowed to see his bride.

In Russia, everyone is married by the government at a "registration" at - are you ready for this? - Dom Brokesochetaniya.  They must be married by a government official, usually in a designated government building.  Every fifteen minutes there is another wedding.  The bride and groom enter the room together and stand before the representative.  There is a standard script and each person is asked if they take the other as their husband/wife, they exchange rings (in Russia they wear their wedding rings on their right hand, not left), kiss and sign the registration papers and take pictures.  The groom carries the bride out of the building and family and friends throw flower petals and coins (ouch!) and cheer as the couple gets into their decorated wedding car.  And then as that couple is leaving, the next is walking in and there is an employee sweeping up all the flower petals and coins just in time for the next couple to come out.  Russians are efficient! (when it comes to weddings at least)   For most Russians that is the only wedding ceremony.  They head off afterward to take pictures all afternoon around town prior to their reception. 

The Registration Room

This is where we were sitting

Note the car decoration...every wedding car has something similar here.  On the Fridays and Saturdays you see them all over town.

The officially married bride and groom with her maid of honor

 

If you look closely, you can see the lady sweeping things up in the background to prepare for the next couple

The weddings we attended were rare in Russia because they included a church ceremony following the government registration.  Everyone who attends the church is invited to the ceremony.  In many ways, it is similar to a Christian wedding in the States...there are prayers for the new couple, discussion of the Biblical roles of husband and wife (wives submit to your husbands, husbands love your wives), talk about leaving their former families to start their own family, etc.

 

Masha's mom cut the strings from Masha's aprong signifying she is letting her go to start her own family

Pastor Anatoli speaking

 

Both ceremonies we attended happened in early afternoon and then there was a several hour gap prior to the reception.

He cleans up nicely, I think!

Masha and Artur had a music themed wedding

5 interesting Russian wedding reception traditions...

1 - Kissing..."Gorka" which means bitter is shouted and the bride and groom are supposed to kiss/make out for 5-10 seconds.  In church weddings like we have been to, they say "Sladka" (Sweet) instead.  Red really likes this tradition and is trying to get it integrated into our life at home...randomly he will shout Sladka and won't stop until I kiss him!

2 - Funny games...no Russian reception is complete without audience participation.  At the first wedding, Red and I had a chance to participate in this part...I had to recognize Red just by feeling his ears...I got it right!  There were skits, a sand painter, videos, songs, dances, etc...Russians like entertainment.

Is that my husband...YES!

Red is impressed that I got it right

Love this man! SLADKA!

 

Giving away the bouquet...the last ribbon the bride is holding get it

Sand painting...so cool to watch

3 - Food...lots and lots of food.  When we arrived there were huge spreads of cold appetizers at each table.  We thought that was dinner, but then they started bringing out hot entrees of pork, fish and chicken.  Red appreciates this tradition!

4 - Gifts...There is a receiving line of sorts near the end of the reception and that is your chance to congratulate the new couple and give them a present.  As there are not usually wedding registries in Russia, cash is the most common gift.

5 - Vodka, Fighting and Bride-Stealing...As we have been told, Russian weddings are not complete without vodka, fighting and someone stealing the bride and the groom having to buy her back.  None of these things were present in the weddings we have been to so far, so we still have some things to see when it comes to Russian weddings.

Carrie & Red