150 couples started families by registering their marriages in a grand ceremony at the III All-Russian Wedding Festival in Moscow
On the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, 8 July, a ceremonial marriage registration for 150 couples from across the country was held at the National Centre RUSSIA in Moscow. It became the main event of the III All-Russian Wedding Festival. The newlyweds received congratulations, while the cultural programme created a truly festive atmosphere.
"We are at the National Centre RUSSIA, which was established by order of our President, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Thanks to him, we have gathered here, and the entire space is dedicated solely to you. The III All-Russian Wedding Festival is a unique event with no equivalent anywhere in the world. And it is possible only in our country. You are all different: each of you has your own traditions, customs, language and culture, but, as our President says, 'our strength lies in unity'. You are all united by love, and very soon you will also be united by family. The whole country is watching you: thousands of people are following the livestream, television reports and photographs from the festival. And I am certain that, thanks to you, someone will find the courage to declare their love, propose and decide to start a family. This is how traditions are born. I would like to recall the words of the great Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky: 'Love is not a feeling. Love is an action, quiet and simple.' Each of you is taking precisely such an action. Thank you for sharing with the entire country and the whole world what is most precious — love, fidelity and courage — and reminding us that true happiness lies in family. Remain faithful to each other, be happy, and may Russia grow stronger and happier with every passing day thanks to your families. Happy holiday!" said the Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, Natalia Virtuozova.
During the ceremonial marriage registration, under the guidance of Anna Mironova, a host of ceremonies at the Wedding Palace at VDNH, the couples signed the marriage register and exchanged wedding rings.
"The Day of Family, Love and Fidelity is a special holiday that inspires couples to take the most important step in their lives. A landmark event took place in Moscow today: in the ceremonial atmosphere of the III All-Russian Wedding Festival, staff from the capital's civil registry offices registered the marriages of 150 couples from across Russia. More than 1,000 couples will get married in the capital today at wedding palaces and off-site venues," noted Svetlana Ukhaneva, Head of the Moscow Civil Registry Office.
The newlyweds then had to make their first joint family decision — what inscription to leave on a commemorative plate, one of the gifts from the National Centre RUSSIA. The personalised tableware, created on the day of the marriage registration, will preserve the memory of one of the most important events in the lives of the young families.
After the newlyweds' first wedding dance to the song "The Heavens Know", performed by married couple Regina Todorenko and Vlad Topalov, the newlyweds were congratulated by their relatives, loved ones and friends. The moment was especially touching for Ruslan Vishnyakov and his wife Varvara. The groom had dreamed that his best friend Alexander Vorobyov would be by his side on his wedding day. They met while submitting documents to the military recruitment office, served together in the same company and became like brothers during that time. Alexander is currently carrying out combat missions in defence of the Motherland. He recorded a congratulatory video in verse for his friend. As the heartfelt lines played on the screen, his fellow serviceman appeared on stage and finished the poem in person. He then firmly shook the groom's hand, fulfilling his long-held dream of sharing one of the most important days of his life with his closest friend by his side.
The culmination of the celebration was a performance by singer Mot, as well as the interactive "We Do" number featuring the Globalis Symphony Orchestra, the Vertograd Folk Instrument Orchestra, the Paraskeva Ensemble, the Koshkin Dom Event Ballet, musical theatre performers Emil and Yekaterina Sales, festival couple Artyom Kuba and Anastasia Borodina, and other newlyweds.
The ceremony was filled with smiles, kisses and tears of joy. Vladimir Skrytnik and Polina Lutsenko from the Republic of Crimea noted that the celebration had been very impressive.
"We want a vibrant life! And we decided to begin it with a big, exciting event, so that we would have something to tell our children. When we applied, we had no doubt that we would enjoy it here. We believe that a strong family requires inner strength, as well as values that guide us every day. For our couple, the three most important words are love, appreciate and give thanks. Mutual support and helping one another are also very important. The families we were born into and grew up in each have five children. We hope to carry on the tradition and have five heirs," Vladimir and Polina shared.
Another newlywed couple from the Moscow Region, Maxim Yakovlev and Yulia Karpikova, also shared their emotions: "We represent Russia: diverse, dear to us, rich and vast. We cannot even find the words to describe how much we enjoyed everything at this festival. We watched what it was like in previous years: it was wonderful and beautiful. And for new couples, capturing an event like this here is also very meaningful and truly grand."
This year, the branches of the National Centre RUSSIA in Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk and Khanty-Mansiysk also joined the III All-Russian Wedding Festival, with ceremonial marriage registrations held there as well. A total of 186 couples married at the Wedding Festival, 150 of them in Moscow.
The I All-Russian Wedding Festival was held in 2024 as part of the International RUSSIA EXPO. Since then, the event has become annual. It is organised by the National Centre RUSSIA jointly with the Moscow Government and the Moscow Civil Registry Office.
Those who did not manage to apply and start a family this year can do so next summer. Applications for the IV All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts" opened on 4 July.
Event photobank
On the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, 8 July, the III All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts" opened at the National Centre RUSSIA and its branches.
Newlyweds from Nyagan, choreographers Yuri Osovin and Viktoria Khmyrova, took part in the production.
Moscow residents greeted the future newlyweds and congratulated them on their upcoming weddings.
