You do not know how to conduct the upcoming marriage or are tired of foreign traditions, firmly gaining ground both in modern everyday life and in familiar events? Then a Russian-style wedding, modest, wide in scope - this is exactly what you need! Recreating the national flavor to the smallest detail, you will arrange for yourself and your guests a real celebration of the Russian free soul. Our article will introduce the reader to some traditions and plunge into a world where daredevil reigns, dancing and fun.
Check out the story
It must be remembered that a wedding in the Russian folk style takes the newlyweds and their guests to the traditions of medieval Russia from the 16-17th century. Check out the story, stock up on accessories from that era. To stylistically withstand the whole event, order a bachelorette party in an old manor, where an embroidered sarafan, scarves and kokoshnik will be an indispensable attribute of the clothes of all guests. Girls will weave braids to each other and trust secret secrets. An ideal place for a bachelor party will be a trip to a Russian bath.
Do not forget about matchmaking
If you have already begun familiarizing yourself with the history of weddings, then you probably noticed about the many traditional rites. And the wedding begins with the matchmaking. In time immemorial in Russia, it was customary to send mummers-in-law to the house where the bride lived. For the ceremony, the matchmakers will have to stock up on a freshly baked loaf, small money, a staff, as well as a towel for the match-dressing ceremony. Traditionally, matchmaking is not complete without a glass of honey, vodka and snacks. A towel after a wedding is customary to be deposited with the newlyweds.
When to hold an event?
There is an opinion among the people that a wedding in the Russian style is most appropriate in the summer or in the fall, when the harvest is finished and the tables are bursting with food donated by the nurse. In olden times, weddings on Krasnaya Gorka, the first Sunday after Easter, were also widespread. Unions concluded at this time were considered unusually strong and happy. Well, due to the fact that in Russia the longest is the winter period, it is not a sin to celebrate a wide wedding, where three horses will be an indispensable attribute, taking the newlyweds to register for a sleigh.
Wedding invitations should be styled
If you are planning a wedding in a folk style, then you have to work hard on invitations. There are several options for how to arrange wedding invitations in the Russian style. It is worth discussing this moment with a professional photographer, and he will arrange a real photo shoot in folk costumes for the newlyweds in advance . Believe me, no one has had invitation cards with the image of the bride and groom in the style of the event. In your area you will become a kind of trendsetters. Also in the text you can use Old Russian words, an ornate font with painted pictures in capital letters.
Give up limousines and modern cars
A wedding in the Russian style excludes the presence of modern vehicles. Agree that the groom leaving the limousine, dressed in a folk robe, will look ridiculous. The bulk of those invited will gladly proceed to the registration room, accompanied by musicians to songs, dances and jokes. Many of the guests themselves will gladly pick up folk songs and go to dance. As a vehicle, depending on the time of year, you can order a sleigh drawn by horses or a carriage. The stylized transport is decorated with bells and fresh flowers, the cabman is dressed up in a painted shirt.
What can you put on the bride and groom?
A wedding invitation in the Russian style implies a dress code for all guests as well. This point needs to be discussed in advance, and it is best to make a list of requirements in invitation cards. If you do not have ready-made suits, and you do not know what is appropriate and what is not in the clothes of the newlyweds, then our advice will come in handy for you.
The bride must abandon the traditional wedding dress that came to us from Europe. The main colors of a simple cut and long dress are red or light blue. The outfit may include prints, patterns, as well as embroidery in a folk style. Shoes or boots should also be red. The bride’s head, as a rule, is decorated with a wreath of wildflowers, or braids with flowers woven into them and bright satin ribbons. The bride’s makeup should also be designed in a style where bright cheeks, red lipstick and black eyebrows are indispensable touches.
For the groom, a Russian-style wedding suggests putting on a shirt with national patterns, canvas pants and boots, an elegant wide embroidered belt, as well as a hat with a visor, decorated with a bright large flower.
Where to organize a photo shoot?
Surely in your area you can find interesting historical buildings, churches, cathedrals, temples, other monuments of architecture and architecture. You can also arrange a photo shoot on the background of untouched clean nature, lovely birches on the edge of the forest or on the coast of a quiet rivulet. All these pictures will become the pride of the newlyweds and will be passed on from generation to generation, as a family heirloom.
Russian-style wedding: where to hold the celebration?
You will be extremely lucky if you can rent a restaurant of Russian cuisine as the venue for the event . The interior stylistics is already designed in the Russian folk style. Excellent dishes from the main chef will relieve the headache of the housewives about the upcoming holiday menu. The restaurant staff will already be dressed appropriately. But what if all you had enough finances to rent was a regular banquet hall? In this case, you yourself have to do the decor. A wedding in the Russian style cannot be held without the appropriate attributes. We suggest you follow some of the tips described below:
- As a decoration of the hall, you can use old horseshoes, ribbons and bouquets of ordinary wildflowers (cornflowers, daisies, poppies).
- On tables, place tablecloths embroidered with folk motifs, as well as napkins in red and white colors.
- Replace chairs with long carved wooden benches.
- Dishes should also be made in folk style. Find wooden cups and spoons decorated with painted patterns. Place clay jugs on the table, and use traditional wooden goblets instead of glasses and glasses. Berries and fruits can be served in real birch bark tueski. Traditional dishes for cold appetizers can be replaced with decorative bast-stylized bast shoes.
- Wedding cake can be ordered based on Khokhloma painting or with decorations in the form of heroes of Russian folk tales.
What should be the entertainment?
If you want to be sure of the success of the holiday, invite as a leading experienced toastmaster who has his own experience in this field. A wedding in the Russian style, the scenario of the whole event, as well as the success of the whole action directly depends on the invited artists, buffoons, and harmonists. Nobody will like a feast with regular contests and attractions, keep this in mind. If you want to spend an unforgettable fun holiday, trust the professionals who know about all the pitfalls, trends and secrets of such stylistic events. A chic decision is seen by the guest orchestra of guslars, but, unfortunately, such musicians are far from affordable for everyone. However, a remote balalaika player can be invited to the company of accordionists.
If you want to conduct some competitions yourself, discuss all the nuances with the host, because in such a case it is better to avoid amateur performances. For example, traditional bag jumping, archery, folk dances, as well as a competition for the best ditty fit in well with the theme of the evening. Surely an experienced specialist will advise you many more other memorable non-standard contests, just those that can stir even the most inveterate skeptic from among the invited guests.
Conclusion
We talked only about some of the main stylistic directions of the wedding celebration in the Russian style. Recently, celebrations of folk weddings are becoming increasingly popular among young people. And this is not surprising, because our people are returning to the roots.