Couples from more than 50 Russian regions apply for the III All-Russian Wedding Festival
The III All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts" brings together couples from across the country: applications have already been received from more than 50 regions, covering all federal districts. Couples can apply and become part of this grand celebration of love and family traditions, which will take place at the National Centre RUSSIA on 8 and 9 July. Applications are accepted on the official website of the National Centre RUSSIA until 22 May.
The festival programme will focus on the unity of couples, shared values, and culture. The main event of the first day will be a ceremonial simultaneous marriage registration for couples from all over Russia, held on the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. Among the ceremony participants will be couples from different corners of the country, each with their own story, dreams, and understanding of family happiness.
Alexander Zakharenko and Yelizaveta Guseva from the Primorye Territory met through a group of friends and spent their first evening talking until midnight — as if they had found each other after a long separation. According to the couple, they share common interests: travelling in their home region, reading, cooking, and SUP trips. Every year they participate in the nationwide "Immortal Regiment" campaign.
"Our dream is to create our little world, our fortress, where harmony, support, and genuine love reign. We want the doors of our home to always be open for our loved ones, and for family celebrations to bring together everyone we care about. We dream of a home filled with the sound of children's laughter, the aroma of baked pies, and joyful bustle; we dream of a large, happy family where there is enough space at the table for everyone; we dream of love for all, from which warmth and support never run out," say Alexander and Yelizaveta.
From a joke to a proposal — just one step, as shown by Anastasia Borodina from Moscow. She was the host at the opening ceremony of the National Centre RUSSIA branch in Vladivostok, where she announced the III All-Russian Wedding Festival. As a joke, she said she would like to participate, and her fiancé Artyom Azarov took it as a hint and proposed. Artyom, an artist and songwriter, had conducted a choir of newlywed men at the II All-Russian Wedding Festival. He shared that, inspired by that experience, he decided not to delay his proposal, and to quickly change his status from bachelor to respected husband.
"Our ideal future is when each of us reaches heights in our solo careers, while sharing success with each other. It is when there is balance between performances, tours, and family; when every day is filled with laughter, joy, and love, even if it is not a holiday, but just an ordinary Tuesday. It is when we fulfil each other's dreams, become more mature, and raise our children," share Artyom and Anastasia.
Vladislav Altaryshev and Emilia Tanisheva are a couple from the Altai Republic. Emilia is Altaian, Vlad is Teleut, a member of one of Russia's small-numbered indigenous peoples. They studied at the same school and even rode the same bus every morning, but met only after enrolling at a university in Novosibirsk.
"Life seemed to push us toward each other, so being together feels like our destiny. We have been together for four years and want to marry at the All-Russian Wedding Festival. Getting married on the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity is very symbolic. For us, family is support, understanding, forgiveness, and bringing joy to each other. It is about giving to someone else what you have saved for yourself," say Vladislav and Emilia.
The story of Vasily Shcherbakov and Larisa Denisenko from the Donetsk People's Republic began with a simple "hello" online and grew into a strong love. According to the couple, they share not only common interests but also a desire to make the world better: they engage in charity work and humanitarian missions in Donbass. Vasily proposed to Larisa in Moscow on Sparrow Hills, with his daughters from a previous marriage present — making the moment, in his words, truly emotional and touching.
"Family is shared stories, traditions, laughter, and arguments, after which you always reconcile. It is like the roots of a tree: you can grow tall and travel far, but the roots always give you strength and remind you where you come from and who is waiting for you. Family is a home in the world of people. It is not always perfect, but it is yours, the one you always want to come back to," say Vasily and Larisa.
Kirill Dzizenko and Anna Schmidt from Kaliningrad found each other many years ago, and since then their paths have been inseparable. Together they completed school and university, and now step into family life hand in hand.
"Family for us is love, support, trust, care, and respect. It is a readiness to face joys and challenges together. We are united by many things, such as music — not just a hobby, but a special part of life. We write songs together and inspire each other. Family traditions are equally important. One of our main traditions is gathering the whole family for holidays. This tradition is kept in both our families, and we will definitely continue it in ours. We want to build a strong union, travel extensively, but also create a warm and cozy atmosphere at our home. And it goes without saying, we dream of children to fill our lives with even more meaning, joy, and happiness," share Kirill and Anna.
On the first day of the festival, newlyweds will not only enter family life but also receive a particle of the flame from the All-Russian Family Hearth "Heart of Russia" from Murom, the birthplace of Saints Peter and Fevronia, the patrons of marriage. The flame will be passed on by couples married at previous festivals. On the second day, lectures, masterclasses, gastronomic shows, and tours of the expositions at the National Centre RUSSIA — "Journey Across Russia" and "Geography Lessons" — will take place.
At the III All-Russian Wedding Festival, couples will present not only the depth and strength of their feelings but also the cultural diversity of Russia. A key requirement for newlyweds is the inclusion of elements of national costumes in their wedding attire. This year, for the first time, ceremonial marriages will take place not only in Moscow but also at the National Centre RUSSIA branches in the Primorye Territory, the Krasnoyarsk Territory, and the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area — Yugra.
The I All-Russian Wedding Festival took place in 2024 as part of the International RUSSIA EXPO, with 221 couples married. In 2025, the festival was held at the National Centre RUSSIA, adding 206 more families. The event has now become annual, celebrated on the feast day of Saints Peter and Fevronia.
Ahead of the 9 May holiday — Victory Day — Vasily Shcherbakov and Larisa Denisenko from the Donetsk People’s Republic submitted a marriage registration.
he Day of Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of Russia is being celebrated in our country for the first time on 30 April.
