A place of strength, unity, and love: the II All-Russian Wedding Festival has opened at the National Centre RUSSIA
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.
Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, explained the concept of the Department Store to the distinguished guests.
Couples in love from various regions of Russia have arrived in Moscow to take part in the brightest event of this summer — the II All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts".
Another working meeting of the organisers of the II International Symposium "Inventing the Future," scheduled for October 2025, was held at the National Centre RUSSIA.