Wedding ceremony of the future took place at the RUSSIA EXPO on the Voronezh Region Day

On January 13, one of the most unusual wedding ceremonies in the history of the RUSSIA EXPO took place on the Day of the Voronezh Region. It harmoniously combined the traditions of bygone days with the latest technologies. The wedding ceremony showed how marriage registration without a passport, but with the use of biometric data, can take place in the future. Such a project is currently under development. Teachers from the village of Novaya Usman, Voronezh region, became lawful husband and wife - 22-year-old English teacher Roman Babaev and 21-year-old elementary school teacher Darya Chernykh. 

The newlyweds work in Novaya Usman secondary educational school No. 5 Evrika. They got married at the RUSSIA EXPO in front of the whole country by winning a special contest held in the region. "We were offered to participate in this contest, and we did not refuse, we did not stand aside, we tried our luck - and we are very happy that now we are here", - said Roman Babaev. "We have been waiting for this moment for a long time, and we are very happy that our wedding ceremony was held in such an unusual way, and that all our relatives came along with us. Thank you, RUSSIA EXPO", - added his beloved Darya Chernykh.

The guests of the Exposition saw the most striking elements of traditional wedding rituals typical for the residents of the Voronezh region. One of the most significant elements was the decoration of a fir tree, accompanied by wishes for the young: this evergreen tree was considered a wedding tree by our Slavic ancestors. And, of course, it did not go without a mock bride price, lively songs, ditties and round dance, standing of the bride and groom on a coat that was turned inside out as a symbol of prosperity and happy life in a new family, blessing of the young people with icons, symbolic binding of hands of the bride and groom with a rushnik towel and traditional festive loaf. Artists of the regional ensembles Terem and Radoves' helped to convey the national flavor of the Voronezh wedding.

Photo: Stanislav Krasilnikov /Fotohost-RIA News agency

Before the traditional Mendelssohn wedding march played and the official wedding ceremony began, the guests of the Exposition witnessed a staged procedure of identification of the persons getting married by their biometric profile using the Unified Biometric System. Thus, the newlyweds became the first residents of the country who took part in the demonstration of the future project of confirming the identity to the civil registry office employee not by means of passports, but by means of biometrics. Passports of the bride and groom have been a prerequisite for identity verification before the state registration of marriage for many years. Today is the eve of the old New Year! Miracles happen, and the viewers of the Exposition were able to see a project of a wedding ceremony that will take place in the near future, when the bride and groom can be identified by their biometric profile.

Photo: Stanislav Krasilnikov /Fotohost-RIA News agency

The right to be the first to congratulate the newlyweds was traditionally given to their parents. The guests of honor at the wedding ceremony also said warm words to the new family. The welcome address from Dmitry Grigorenko, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, Chief of Staff of the Government of the Russian Federation, was read by Vladislav Povolotsky, General Director of JSC Center of Biometric Technologies: "Your wedding is truly unique: you have become the first couple in Russia, whose marriage is sealed not only by love and respect, but also by demonstration of advanced technologies. But we are sure that even in the age of advanced technology the power of true love will remain unbreakable. May this happy day be the beginning of a string of happy and wonderful events in your new life together".

The gift from the region was presented to Roman and Daria by the Governor of Voronezh region Alexander Gusev: "Today is a very important and significant day in your life, and your wedding, on the one hand, is held in a very unusual atmosphere, but it is very solemn. And today all the guests of this big house called the RUSSIA EXPO congratulate you and wish you happiness and great success in life. I am sure that thanks to your feelings you will be able to keep your family for many years to come, and, carrying these feelings through life, you will tell your children and grandchildren about what happened today on this stage".

Project Manager of the of the ANO «Directorate of the Exhibition of Achievements "Russia"» Yulia Stoyanova joined in the congratulations: "We are very happy to see you here today, and we are very happy that you and the whole Russia shared your celebration. Your tears are sincere emotions of happiness, and we are also happy to share this touching moment with you. I wish your family life to be filled with love and warmth, and that children's laughter sounds in your home. And I am sure that you will bring up your children to be wonderful, decent people - after all, you are teachers! Love and harmony to you!".

The event was held in Pavilion No. 75 as part of the Voronezh Region Day at the RUSSIA EXPO. At the end of the ceremony, representatives of the Bank of Russia, CBT and VTB Bank gave the newlyweds a tour of Pavilion No. 71 Smart Finance, informed them about interactive mechanics and ways of accruing digital game rubles, and presented them with memorable gifts.

The International RUSSIA EXPO is the most important achievements of the country gathered on one platform. During the entire time of the Exposition, guests are welcomed with cultural events, a rich business and educational program. The expositions of 89 Russian regions, leading federal agencies, corporations and public organizations are presented to the visitors. The exposition takes place at VDNH in Moscow from November 4 to April 12.