The westernized wedding is seen everywhere, from movies to Instagram, we’ve gotten so used to seeing the glamorous bride in a big white dress, but how do brides dress on the other side of the world? And what do those weddings look like? These Russian wedding traditions are so fun you may want to adopt them all. From traditional ceremonies to playful games, the Russian bride sees it all on her big day.

Most Russian weddings begin with a Russian Orthodox ceremony. This ceremony starts with the Betrothal, or the first blessing performed on the couple at the entrance of the church. During this first blessing the couple will receive lit candles that they hold throughout the ceremony. These ceremonies are comprised of prayer and scripture readings. 

The second step in the traditional ceremony is the crowning. Crowns are placed on the couples head to represent the importance of the sacrament of marriage. The couple then drinks wine together, and they follow the priest around the lectern three times. This tradition represents the journey of marriage. Following the crowning the couple will exchange rings. Traditionally the couple would wear these crowns for eight days following the wedding, but now they are removed when the priest confirms the marriage. 

After the ceremony the really fun traditions begin. After the couple is announced as newly-weds the parents of the couple give each partner a crystal glass. They are supposed to smash them into as many pieces as possible. Every piece of the broken glass represents a year of happy marriage. Some brides also release a balloon with their maiden name on it following the ceremony. As the balloon floats away the bride is said to be accepting her new name. 

So what do these newly-weds look like? Traditional Russian wedding dresses used to be colorful. The color white wasn’t used in Russian wedding dresses until the 1960’s when Western culture began to influence changes in fashion and wedding wear. Traditional Russian brides wore mainly red, as white was seen as a sacred color for use outside of weddings. The traditional dress is made up of a sarafan and blouse. There is a particular headpiece worn by Russian brides. These metal framed headbands are decorated with rounded beads and gold thread. Though these are the traditional bridal styles, most modern couples choose a simple white gown much like what we see in the United States. 

Maybe the most fun of all their traditions, during a Russian Wedding, the couple goes on a mini “road trip” with their family and friends. During this trip they visit monuments and other important places around the city or town. In St. Petersburg the list of to-do’s may include photos at Senate Square, Peter Vassilevsky Island, and the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Sometimes these trips can take time, making some Russian weddings a two day affair with the reception taking place the following day. 

After the road trip, the reception is next for the couple. The reception is filled with silly games, pranks and other fun. Russian couples traditionally get married younger, before age 24, which may be the reason for these playful receptions. One popular game played at Russian weddings is a game called fill the glass. One bridesmaid and one groomsman are chosen by the bride and groom. The bridesmaid holds a glass between her legs, and the groomsman must hold a bottle of water between his legs trying to fill up the cup. These quirky games are sure to be a hit among guests, and make Russian weddings fun. 

The strangest of all the Russian traditions and games is kidnapping the bride. During the reception the friends and family of the bride will take her away from the groom. The groom must then pay a ransom for the return of his love. Most of the time this ransom is a bottle of champagne, a box of chocolate, or money. No matter what the ransom, the brides closest friends surely win with this game. 

Even the toasts at a Russian wedding have a playful spin. Most toasts will end with the word “gorko”. This translates to bitter, and implies that the wine the guests are drinking is bitter. The couple then must sweeten the drink with a kiss. The guests will all count for how many seconds the couple must kiss for. The longer the kiss the stronger the marriage. This game isn’t only fun for the couple, as guests must finish their drinks when the kiss has ended. 

Receptions are messy, but Russian brides have a different responsibility when cleaning up the space. When guests arrive at the reception they leave money on the floor. When the bride arrives it is her responsibility to clean it all up. This may seem like an awful chore for the wedding day, but at least they can keep the money they collect. 

As the couple prepares to leave the reception a final game is played between the bride and groom. A traditional bread is baked that has a high quantity of salt. This loaf is shared between the bride and groom, and each partner has to take a big bite. It is said that whoever takes the biggest bite will be the head of their household. 

Russian weddings are religious, playful, and colorful. A celebration of family and friends, these events are full of small traditions that can inspire you. From their many reception games, to their headdresses and crowns, Russian bride’s know how to have a wedding. 

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For more inspiration check out our Pinterest board about Russian Weddings!

Cover Photo credits: Weddbook