There are other differences in wedding customs. In Russia, the bride and groom stay attached to each other the entire time they are at the reception. They literally hold hands the entire time.
My wife got extremely upset with me each time I would get up and leave her alone for a moment at our wedding. One time, I was trying to help some elderly relatives of mine get some food. After once or twice, I gave up and sat next to her.
We did not circulate around and talk with people who came to the wedding, as is the custom in America.
In Russia, each person approaches the wedding table and offers a toast. You must drink a toast with each person who comes to the table. By the end of the reception, you are dead drunk on your feet.
No one came to the table and offered a toast. My wife thought that this was rude of my guests. My guests thought we were rude for not going around to greet everyone personally.
Russians wear the wedding rings on the right hand, as opposed to Americans that wear their weddings rings on the left hand. When my wife travels to her homeland, she switches her wedding ring from her left hand to her right hand; otherwise ?everyone will think that I am a widow rather than married.?
In Russia, it is the custom that other male guests may ?capture? your wife and hold her for ?ransom.? The bridegroom must entreat the other guests to help him gather enough money to ransom his bride. The capture and ransom are somewhat tongue in cheek, but are real enough that you won?t get your wife back without paying the ransom.
We tried to have a similar type of event at our wedding, but none of the American guests understood what was going on. After her ?capture,? we passed the hat to raise the ransom money, which substituted as a kind of ?money dance.?
After we passed the hat three times to raise the ransom money, I had to sing for my bride.
My wife?s name is Aksana, and I adapted the Richie Valens? song, ?Oh, Donna? as a song I could sing about my missing girl, Aksana. Okay, it?s a reach, but it worked somewhat. However, the whole thing came off like a skit in ?Our Gang.?
So much for trying to inject a Russian custom in an American wedding.
Russians usually drink until late in the evening ? sometimes until dawn. The family of the married couple is not supposed to leave until the last guest leaves.
For Russians, a successful wedding is one where everybody must be drunk. Having plenty of food is typical for any Russian function, and a wedding is no exception. If you have enough liquor and food, the reception will be a success.
Drinking was minimal at our wedding. No one needed a liver transplant after the reception, so by Russian standards, it was a failure.
My parents are elderly and wanted to leave before dark so they could drive home.
They can?t see to drive at night anymore. My wife begged them not to leave the reception ?so early before the other guests left.?
My parents felt they had to leave so they weren?t a danger on the road. My wife felt as though my family ?abandoned us.?
John has been successfully married to a Belarussian wife for over five years. He has traveled extensively through Russia and other CIS countries. He will tell you why you should consider Russian women, how to meet them, how to bring your special woman home, and how to survive married life. http://www.russian-luv.com/emigrating.html
Discover How to Present a Wedding Speech They Will Never Forget
How wonderful to be able to express just how you are feeling in your heart to the wedded couple in a well put together wedding speech. Having to give a speech in front of a group of people for some folks is a fate worse than anything they could possible imagine, including death. If all is done properly there is no reason that a wedding speech needs to be a fearful thing.
Free Wedding Planning Websites for Brides and Wedding Planners Now Available from KeepandShare.com
Free wedding planning sites make it easy to share files, calendars, documents, photos and ideas between couples, guests, relatives, caterers, and wedding planners.
11 Things to Remember in Planning Your Wedding
Every woman dreams of her own wedding. May it be a small gathering in a picturesque orchard, a grand ball in a gigantic castle or a funky wedding along the coastline, she wants it planned and tailored to her wishes.
Items to Remember When Reciting a Wonderful Wedding Speech.
Long or short, a wedding speech is a wonderful way to express the feelings from the heart that well up during the good times during a wedding. The majority of people who would be called upon to give a speech would feel the same about that as walking off the end of a plank into the ocean. A great time will ensue when you have to give a wedding speech if all is done in the correct manner.
Brides And Florists Shift Demand From Fresh Flowers To Silk Wedding Flowers
Slowing economy shifts demand from real flowers to silk wedding flowers without losing any quality. Brides and florist use silk flowers in place of fresh cut flowers to save money while quality is so realistic even a bride cannot tell the difference.
With the Summer drawing to a close now really is the time to fnd that perfect wedding florist: hints and tips
You could even go so far as it have your wedding remote and exotic, meaning guests will have to travel miles which will also keep the numbers down, but those that do come will come because they want to, not just for a free lunch.
Wedding Videography
Wedding Videography is quickly becoming for the most part, the most exciting part of planning the wedding and, is quickly becoming the most popular thing to have at the wedding
Well, what is Wedding Videography
Wedding Decor Idea
When you plan your wedding decors, it is important to pay special attention to detail. Wedding decors can make or break the overall appeal of your wedding. It should be a reflection of who you and your husband are. The colors of your decor should complement each other, just as it should with your backdrop. They can lend a few special touches to the entire wedding, and help create a special atmosphere.
Groom's Wedding Gift Ideas
To give a special present to the groom, there are many things that need to be considered Also, there are many questions that need to be answered
Rose Petals Add The Perfect Touch For A Wedding
Rose petals will add luxury to a wedding day or any other special occasion. Why settle for throwing ordinary rice when instead you can make the wedding so much more romantic by tossing rose petals?From your flower girl spreading a path of rose petals down the aisle to the happy couple being showered with rose petals upon completion of the services they add that little touch that will make this day special.
Celebrating Wedding Anniversary With A Limousine
Planning for a date for your anniversary is good way of showing how much you love your spouse, especially if you have been together for a long time. As we all know that a lot of couples are filing a divorce because they cant really work it out. So, celebrating a wedding anniversary with a class is vey rare now a days.
Wedding Planning Tips - Make A Plan To Spend Fewer Than $1000 On Your Own Wedding
Your wedding has been decided but you have to do all in just $1,00000
Embassy Pro Books Announces Launch of Photo Book Reseller Program for Professional Wedding Photographers
Embassy Pro Books, North America?s photo book manufacturer for professional photographers and graphic designers, is very pleased to announce the launch of a reseller program for professional wedding photographers.
Wedding Reception; From Trendy to Traditional
Wedding receptions are not as formal as they once were, more and more couples are foregoing the expensive catered wedding receptions and coming up with some innovative ideas on how to throw them.Wedding receptions were traditionally held at the house of the parents of the bride, or in another part of the church, or a rented hall.
Wedding Anniversary Symbols
Most people are aware that significant wedding anniversaries such as 25th and 40th are linked to precious stones, in these cases silver and ruby. However, it is less well known that all anniversaries up to and including the 15th, and then every 5th anniversary, have their own particular symbol.