A place of strength, unity, and love: the II All-Russian Wedding Festival has opened at the National Centre RUSSIA

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Family, Love, and Fidelity Day is one of the most meaningful days of the year to begin a new family life. On July 8, the official opening ceremony of the II All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts" took place at the National Centre RUSSIA. Over the course of three days, more than 200 couples from across the country will be married here. The festival programme includes wedding ceremonies, the ceremonial flame transfer of the All-Russian Family Hearth "Heart of Russia," and a rich cultural and educational programme.

The All-Russian Wedding Festival is a celebration of sincere love and a symbol of unity. Ahead of the opening, Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA Anastasia Zvyagina shared what makes this festival so special.

"For three days, the National Centre RUSSIA will be transformed into a space of family, love, and fidelity. Guests will experience the full diversity of our country's wedding culture — from national costumes to traditional cuisine, from educational lectures to workshops. We welcome not only newlyweds but also everyone who shares traditional family values. Through this festival, we hope that strong families will become a trend and a conscious choice for younger generations — as this is not only personal happiness and the continuity of generations, but also a significant contribution to the future of our country. We are especially grateful to the Moscow Government and city registry offices, with whom we are organising this important event," said Anastasia Zvyagina.

The festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts" will run from July 8 to 10 and is supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. On the first two days, over 200 loving couples from various regions of Russia will officially register their marriages in a festive atmosphere. A key moment of the ceremonies will be the flame transfer of the All-Russian Family Hearth "Heart of Russia." The flame was brought from Murom, one of Russia's oldest cities and the home of Saints Peter and Fevronia — the centuries-old symbols of love and fidelity. Newlyweds will receive the flame from couples who were married at the first All-Russian Wedding Festival in 2024.

A cultural and educational programme awaits the newlyweds, their guests, and all festival participants. The National Centre RUSSIA will host themed concerts, public talks, workshops, guided tours, and much more. 

Popular performers and music groups will take part in the concert programme, including Nansi & Sidorov, NILETTO, and Uma2rman. Speakers at the public talks will include well-known historians, journalists, psychologists, musicians, stylists, beauty experts, and heads of wedding agencies. Discussions on the history of weddings, culture and family values will be led by Nikolai Zharinov, Alexei Chesnakov, Vyacheslav Dubynin, and others.

At the workshops, participants will be able to showcase their talents and learn new skills. For example, they can create meaningful souvenirs such as the "Nerazluchniki" ("Inseparable") dolls, "Wreaths of Happiness," and other protective charms for the home. They will also be able to prepare the traditional Russian ceremonial dish known as "bannik" — a wedding bread sewn into a tablecloth. Guests are also invited to the "Culinary Art" gastro-presentation, where newlyweds will learn the secrets of making traditional dishes from Russia’s wedding cuisine.

All attendees will have the opportunity to visit the exposition of exclusive wedding outfits and view the creations of leading Russian fashion houses. Among the featured brands are Valentin Yudashkin, Alexander Arutyunov, Measure, GAPANOVICH, and Edem Couture.

Book lovers will enjoy the literary club "What to Read?!", where guests will discuss books about love, devotion and family relationships. The session will be moderated by professor at the Higher School of Economics and author of the Telegram channel "Chesnakov. Library," Alexei Chesnakov.

Newlyweds and all other guests can also take part in themed tours at the National Centre RUSSIA, exploring the expositions "The Birth of Scale" and "Journey Across Russia." These routes, viewed through the lens of family and love, reveal how the lives of individuals and the history of the country are woven into a single narrative.

The II All-Russian Wedding Festival will conclude with a vibrant closing ceremony. On July 10, newlyweds from across the country will be welcomed by distinguished guests, followed by a musical evening — a concert-immersion into the world of emotions through beloved Russian musical works of the 20th century. These pieces will be performed by Mariinsky Theatre soloist and international competition laureate Diana Kazanlieva, and international competition laureate and artistic director of the creative association "Overtone," Yakub Suvorov, accompanied by Natalia Dudik, principal accompanist of the Mikhailovsky Theatre.

The full programme of the festival is available on the official website of the NationalCentre RUSSIA in the "Events" section.