Family as the core value: Sergei Kiriyenko and Tatyana Golikova supported the initiative to make the All-Russian Wedding Festival an annual event

---

On July 8, the Day of Family, Love, and Fidelity, the II All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts" opened at the National Centre RUSSIA. As part of the festival’s opening, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Tatyana Golikova and First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko met with married couples in a warm and friendly tea-party setting. The central topics of discussion were love and family values. Participants talked about government support measures for young and large families, the secrets of lasting marriages and raising children, and also shared their impressions of the first and second All-Russian Wedding Festivals. They proposed making the festival an annual event.

Twelve families of all kinds gathered at one table — young couples and those who had celebrated their golden wedding anniversaries, large families and those who had just become parents. In her welcome speech, Tatyana Golikova highlighted that the All-Russian Wedding Festival had already become an established tradition.

"Last year, 220 couples from across the country were married during the RUSSIA EXPO. Many of those families already have children. It is encouraging to see that Russia is returning to the tradition of large families. If ten years ago only 18% of our citizens expressed a desire to have many children, today that number is 39%. Every second respondent believes that the ideal family is one with many children. Today, we will witness another 200 families from 78 regions getting married at the National Centre RUSSIA. You bring a special spirit to this place — a spirit of love, trust and strong bonds, which is felt throughout the entire programme of the All-Russian Wedding Festival. I hope that the families born during last year's festival and those formed this year will be strong and reliable, and that the men currently on the front line will know they are loved and awaited at home," said Tatyana Golikova.

In turn, Sergei Kiriyenko agreed that family holds a special place in Russian society, and it is evident at the state level.

"Last year, our President used the phrase 'Russia is a family of families,' and the more you reflect on it, the more it resonates. Indeed, the greatest value of Russia is every individual family. The stronger and happier each family is, the happier Russia will be as a whole," said First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko.

In the warm atmosphere of the tea gathering, the couples who are to be married at the II All-Russian Wedding Festival shared their impressions and love stories. Semyon Slepchenko and Oksana Leonova from the Irkutsk region met thanks to the Movement of the First — both work at the regional branch. For a long time, they were simply colleagues, until a heartfelt conversation on the eve of the New Year blossomed into love. Another New Year’s miracle happened to Sergei Ryndin and Natalia Ovsyannikova, staff members of the Stary Oskol District Children's Hospital. While preparing a New Year celebration for young patients, they realised they were meant for each other. Sergei and Natalia brought to the festival postcards made by their young patients for all newlyweds.

The foundation of two other families was laid through true patriotism. Miroslav Skonin and Angelina Denisenko from the Donetsk People’s Republic, members of the Terek Cossack Reconnaissance Brigade, met and fell in love while serving in a combat zone. Alexander Dyachenko and Valeria Kravchenko from Kaliningrad are ONF (People’s Front) volunteers who support the families of participants in the special military operation. Fyodor Bykovsky and Irina Nagibina from Sevastopol serve their country: Fyodor is a career military officer, and Irina is a government employee.

Another couple's story proves that family is the foundation for preserving the traditions of different peoples in a multi-ethnic state. Yevgeny Fisikov and Olga Semyonova, who was born and raised in Khakassia, honour their national heritage — during their wedding ceremony, they will showcase Khakassian culture and traditional costumes.

Sergei and Irina Shirokikh from the Kursk region, who have been together for 51 years, shared the secrets of a long and happy marriage with the newlyweds. They have preserved their love through mutual respect and care for each other's interests.

Families who took part in the I All-Russian Wedding Festival are already welcoming children into the world. Yelizaveta and Timur Badmayev from the Republic of Buryatia are now raising their six-month-old son Amir. They proposed making the All-Russian Wedding Festival an annual event and starting a new tradition — passing on the family hearth "Heart of Russia" from the couples of the previous festival to the new ones, as a symbol of continuity and strong family bonds. Tatyana Golikova and Sergei Kiriyenko supported these ideas.

Other families with children also shared their experiences. The long-awaited son of Natalia and Konstantin Kaynov from the Moscow region was born thanks to the social project "New Life." Support measures are helping large families: parents of five children, Dmitry and Yekaterina Bauer, are participants in the corporate demographic programme "Our Children," implemented at the Azot plant in Kemerovo. Irina and Maksim Moiseyenko from the Krasnoyarsk region — a teaching dynasty and winners of the 2020 All-Russian competition "Family of the Year" — are raising seven children in a creative atmosphere.

To raise children with dignity, it is essential to preserve and support traditional values. This belief is shared by Fabrice and Isabelle Sorelin, who moved to Russia with their children from France ten years ago. This year, all members of the family became Russian citizens. When asked what lies at the heart of family happiness, Isabelle Sorelin said that every family has its own secret.

"I would emphasise that mutual understanding between spouses is essential. It's also important to find time for one another. Of course, we have children who require a lot of time and attention, but still, every two months my husband and I try to spend some time alone — go out somewhere, relax, and strengthen our love in this way," said Isabelle.

Fabrice Sorelin proposed offering additional benefits to property owners who rent out their premises to large families, including land tax relief. Tatyana Golikova noted that support measures for large families are among the most important and expressed her gratitude for the proposal.

During the meeting, young couples also shared their proposals and initiatives to improve social and family policies. Alexander Dyachenko and Valeria Kravchenko proposed the creation of a navigation project for patriotic education, so that university and college students could easily choose relevant directions. Sergei Kiriyenko approved the initiative and asked for the project concept to be submitted in writing later. Natalia Kaynova expressed her gratitude to the Protek charity foundation for its help in addressing infertility, and stressed that such support is needed at the highest level.

At the close of the meeting, Tatyana Golikova and Sergei Kiriyenko wished all the couples to carry their love throughout life and to raise their children with dignity so that the new generation could become the stronghold of Russia.

The II All-Russian Wedding Festival is held with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives and takes place at the National Centre RUSSIA from July 8 to 10. During these three days, over 200 couples from all regions of the country will register their marriages. The programme for the newlyweds includes a yacht trip along the Moskva River, a festive procession accompanied by their guests along a picturesque embankment to the National Centre RUSSIA, a photo session, marriage registration in a ceremonial setting, and the symbolic passing of the family hearth.

Alongside the ceremonial events, a cultural and educational programme has been prepared for the festival participants. Musical concerts are held for newlyweds and their guests, featuring performances by popular artists and music groups such as Nansi & Sidorov, NILETTO, Uma2rman and others. All attendees are welcome to take part in various workshops, as well as public talks with renowned historians, journalists, psychologists, musicians, stylists, beauty experts, and heads of wedding agencies.