Pride, traditions, dreams: newlyweds of the All-Russian wedding festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts" received special awards at the National Centre RUSSIA

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On the final day of the II All-Russian Wedding Festival at the National Centre RUSSIA, an award ceremony was held for newlyweds whose examples make a significant contribution to the development of the country and the promotion of family values. The couples were congratulated by government officials, representatives of public organisations, the media, and the cultural sphere.

Each couple who took part in the collective marriage registration during the All-Russian Wedding Festival was unique in their own way. However, out of more than 200 applications, the organisers selected 10 couples to receive special awards. The ceremony was hosted by celebrity couple Vlad Topalov and Regina Todorenko.

Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Olga Petrova presented the coveted statuette in the nomination "Professional Pride" to Vladimir Kanareikin and Maria Smirnova. The couple have been together since the age of 16 and now work as teachers at the same school. After getting married at the festival, they now represent not only a family but also a professional partnership.

"The impressions from the festival are magical and overwhelming! We had originally planned a standard civil ceremony in the registry office in Mytishchi, but when we were invited to take part in the festival, we immediately said yes. We prepared especially for the event, looked for outfits, although we had to organise everything while renovating our school. This is the first time we've won an award like 'Professional Pride.' We’re proud to be teachers and happy that our work was recognised and appreciated," said Vladimir Kanareikin.

For love built on shared values and the desire to make the world a better place, the organisers honoured Khetag Gozoyev and Anastasia Deineka. Khetag is a junior sergeant in the emergency service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and has been awarded a medal for his selfless contribution to the mutual aid campaign "We Are Together." His wife actively participates in the youth non-profit organisation of the North Ossetian regional branch of the All-Russian Student Rescue Corps and volunteers to support the front. The award was presented to them by Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, Natalia Virtuozova.

Newlyweds Khetag and Anastasia shared their impressions: "For us, participating in the festival is very meaningful because it is an extraordinary way of tying the knot and creating our family. And for the country, it matters because the All-Russian Festival is a large-scale event that draws attention from both the younger and older generations. The festival is a major contribution to the development of the country and each individual — we must say a huge thank you to our great nation for making this project possible."

For their determination to combine family life with their professional careers, Danila Kazarov and Anna Chaplanova received an award from Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA Anastasia Zvyagina. Just two days earlier, the couple had passed their state examinations at Ryazan State Medical University and became certified paediatricians.

"The festival is a chance to share our emotions and our love not only with friends and relatives but with the entire country. We felt immense support from the audience, the organisers, and the other participants. We heard so many kind wishes — it was incredibly touching. It’s hard to imagine any other place than the All-Russian Wedding Festival where people look at their partners with such sincerity and glowing eyes. And it’s wonderful that all these moments are being recorded and broadcast live, because everything here is filled with love, and that feeling is something we want to share with others," said Danila Kazarov and Anna Chaplanova.

Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs Grigory Gurov took to the stage at the National Centre RUSSIA to thank Miroslav Skonin and Angelina Denisenko for their unity and loyalty to the Motherland. The couple are active participants in the special military operation and serve in the Terek Cossack reconnaissance brigade.

In the category "Big Family — Big Love," the winners were Stepan Izosin and Yelizaveta Gorchakova. Both the bride and groom grew up in large families and envision themselves as parents of a big family in the future. The award was presented to them by the creative couple Nansi & Sidorov. Yuri Sharabarin and Yelizaveta Karpuk were recognised by the organisers as an exceptionally harmonious creative duo. The couple perform in the State Cossack Song and Dance Ensemble "Stavropolye," which carefully preserves the musical traditions of the Stavropol region. The well-deserved statuette was handed to the newlyweds by the founders of the federal project on the development of Russian cuisine "Gastronomic Map of Russia", Yekaterina and Eduard Shapovalov. Military veteran Oleg Mysov and his wife Larisa Kutseva were honoured in the category "Love Beyond Time" for their courage to start a family later in life. Their award was presented by the DJ couple Arif and Nata.

For building a family born from childhood love, the organisers recognised Artem Kireyev and Yelizaveta Gimbut. The couple have known each other since the age of 7 — they were classmates at the school affiliated with the Russian Embassy in Vietnam. But over time, they realised they wanted to start a family in Russia, because here it is "calm, reliable, and warm." The couple received their award from Irina and Sergei Shirokikh — a couple from the Kursk region who have been married for 51 years. Two awards in the category "In Love With Their Work and Each Other" went to Ruslan Gulamov and Darya Chernyakina, and Sergei Kukartsev and Anastasia Zagryadskaya. Ruslan and Darya work together at PJSC AvtoVAZ, while Sergei and Anastasia are employed at the Siberian Chemical Plant. These couples demonstrate that working together brings people closer, and a shared passion for one's profession can grow into a shared love for one another. The couples were congratulated by Deputy Head of the Presidential Directorate for Social Projects Alexei Zharich.

Special gifts for the newlyweds were prepared by the National Centre RUSSIA. The young couples will be able to set off on wedding journeys along some of the most fascinating routes across the country. Stepan Izosin and Yelizaveta Gorchakova will explore the sights of Novosibirsk and enjoy a stay at the Mira Termy health resort. Oleg Mysov and Larisa Kutseva will go on a two-day tour of Yekaterinburg from their native Saratov region. Ruslan Gulamov and Darya Chernyakina will experience the hospitality of the Samara region as part of the "Find Your Gold" tourist route. Miroslava Skonina and Angelina Denisenko will travel across the Ryazan region, visiting the Sergei Yesenin Museum-Reserve. Danila Kazarov and Anna Chaplanova will discover the beauty of the Kirov region on a two-day tour titled "Gateway to the Russian North. Artem Kireyev and Yelizaveta Gimbut will swap the atmosphere of their native Moscow for the stunning landscapes of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania.  Vladimir Kanareikin and Maria Smirnova will have the chance to broaden their horizons by travelling from Dubna in the Moscow region to the mysterious Yamal Peninsula. Sergei Kukartsev and Anastasia Zagryadskaya will visit the Smolensk region. Yuri Sharabarin and Yelizaveta Karpuk will delve into the history of the Lipetsk region on the tour "Merchant Yelets." And Khetag Gozoyev and Anastasia Deineka will immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the picturesque Leningrad region on the route "Stories and Secrets of Medieval Vyborg."

The awards ceremony was interspersed with musical performances, and the programme culminated in a joint appearance by all the artists and the Sretensky Monastery Choir with a symbolic piece entitled "Family."

The project is supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.