The National Centre RUSSIA to welcome international and cross-cultural couples to its wedding festival for the first time

The wedding festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts" by the National Centre RUSSIA is reaching an international level. This year, alongside couples from across Russia, the mass wedding ceremony bringing together more than 100 couples will, for the first time, include international and foreign couples.

"The All-Russian Wedding Festival grows larger every year. This time, we have a particularly special occasion: for the first time, international and foreign couples will say 'I do' at the National Centre RUSSIA. Our celebration is becoming international, proving that true love unites not only families but entire nations. Our space was created to shape the image of an open and confident future. It is a great honour for us to hold the event at which couples willing to unite their lives will be made one by the bonds of marriage, regardless of the regions or countries they come from. We are delighted to become part of this beautiful occasion and give our guests a celebration creating memories that will last a lifetime," said Anastasia Zvyagina, Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA.

The first international couple who decided to marry at the National Centre RUSSIA are Bogdan Petruk, a citizen of Kazakhstan, and Alina Kalita from Russia, both living in the city of Samara. Like many other couples, they will take part in the ceremonial mass wedding on 8 July, the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity.

"We want to get married at the III All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts" because we value traditions. Our relationship began exactly five years ago on 8 July, the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. We see special meaning in this date: the infinity of love, a strong family and a peaceful life together. We believe our marriage will embody all of these things," say Alina and Bogdan.

Bogdan was born in Uralsk, Kazakhstan, into a family of a teacher and an oilfield foreman, while Alina comes from Surgut. Both were raised in families that place great importance on strong family ties. For Bogdan, his elder brother, who often stepped into a fatherly role while their father worked away from home, has always been an example to follow. Alina looks up to her grandparents, Valery Nikolayevich and Galina Alexeyevna, who applied to register their marriage just three days after meeting and carried their love through a lifetime, inspiring children and grandchildren alike.

The couple met in Samara, where both had moved to study. For Bogdan, it was not only a new city but also a new country. In the summer of 2021, his phone ran out of battery, so he was standing in the centre of Samara looking lost. Alina noticed him and offered help. Bogdan was immediately struck by her kindness and, as he puts it, "the most beautiful green eyes in the world". Alina admits she approached him because he looked "exactly like the ideal image of a future husband" she had imagined. Alina is a committed volunteer and organiser of charitable initiatives, and helping people is an important part of her life. Both sweethearts also come from families connected to the oil industry.

The couple plan to bring many of their family traditions into married life, especially as the traditions of their families are remarkably similar. Bogdan's family widely celebrates the Kazakh holiday of Nauryz with large gatherings and traditional beshbarmak prepared by his mother. Alina's family comes together every New Year, with relatives travelling from different cities to celebrate together. Looking ahead, the couple dream of having four children, living in the centre of a large city, and spending weekends at a country house enjoying peace and family time.

"We grew up in different countries, but our outlook on life is surprisingly similar. For us, family is a place where there are no secrets, where people help one another and love unconditionally. Most importantly, family is the union of two lineages woven together into something even stronger, preserving values and continuing traditions," they say.

Photo: From the personal archive

Another couple saying "I do" at the festival will be Farid Ismailov and Vera Pravdina, both citizens of Kazakhstan. They both are creative persons and work in the East Kazakhstan Regional Theatre of Drama and Operetta. They met after a concert when Farid approached Vera and asked to take a photograph with her. Their friendship soon developed into a romantic relationship, and they have now chosen to formalise their union at the III All-Russian Wedding Festival.

"Why do we want to marry at the All-Russian Wedding Festival? Because Moscow brings together dreams, destinies and people, and the festival makes this moment truly unforgettable. It is a unique opportunity to experience our wedding day as if it were a film — a film about our love," say Farid and Vera.

They believe that an international family offers an opportunity to understand each other better through exploring each other's cultures and celebrate twice as many holidays. The newlyweds-to-be mark the Kazakh holiday of Nauryz with traditional beshbarmak and celebrate the Russian Maslenitsa with pancakes. Friends are often invited to join generous festive gatherings. One of the couple's favourite traditions is hosting themed evenings with national flavour, when different cultures are expressed through food, music, costumes, songs and dance.

Photo: From the personal archive

Alexander Kudritsky and Zulfiya Gilemkhanova from Kazakhstan will also join the celebration of love at the National Centre RUSSIA. They first met when they were 16 years old. Alexander spotted Zulfiya from a balcony as she returned from a competition carrying a certificate. Although they later spent time with the same friends, a relationship did not develop at the time. Alexander moved to Primorye, while Zulfiya got married.

Years later, they met again after Zulfiya found herself raising two young children alone. Alexander supported her, surrounded her with care and became a father figure to her children. The couple later had a child together. Today, after 28 years together and raising three children, they have decided to officially register their marriage at the All-Russian Wedding Festival.

"When we saw the announcement for the III All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts", we immediately felt connected to the idea behind the project. We decided to formalise our long-standing union in our historic homeland. It is symbolic that our daughter's family is expecting a baby this July, and in response to that wonderful news, we decided to surprise our children with the news of our own official marriage registration," say Alexander and Zulfiya.

More than 100 couples from across Russia have already joined the All-Russian Wedding Festival. On 8 July, the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, the central event will be a mass wedding ceremony bringing together couples from all corners of the country. The celebration will also feature the transfer of the flame from the "Heart of Russia" National Family Hearth. There, the couples who married at previous festivals will pass on the symbolic flame from Murom, the city associated with saint patrons of marriage Peter and Fevronia, to newlyweds.

On the second day of the festival, 9 July, newlyweds, their guests and anyone interested in wedding traditions will have a chance to attend educational lectures and enjoy a special gastronomic and musical programme.

The III All-Russian Wedding Festival is organised by the National Centre RUSSIA in partnership with the Moscow Government and the Moscow Civil Registry Office.

The first All-Russian Wedding Festival took place in 2024 as part of the International RUSSIA EXPO, where 221 couples were married. In 2025, the event was held at the National Centre RUSSIA, where a further 206 families were formed. The festival has since become an annual tradition and will continue to be held on the Day of Saints Peter and Fevronia.