Latvian wedding. Latgalian wedding in Ukrainian traditions. How Russian citizens can register marriage in Latvia

Latvia is one of beautiful countries The Baltic States, which, in addition, is rich in romantic wedding traditions, as you will see below.

Wedding traditions of Latvia. Latvian wedding

• Since ancient times, there has been a tradition in Latvia to celebrate weddings in the fall with a new moon or with full moon. This custom, according to antiquity, promises the newlyweds a happy and prosperous life.
• In the old days, the wedding day was the last for the girls, when they had the right to put a wreath on their heads. After entering into marital relations, married girls were not allowed to.
• Then came the fashion for the veil, and with it another ritual appeared, observing which, exactly at midnight in the presence of guests, the bride had to take it off. Instead of a veil, a scarf was put on the girl's head and an apron was tied. In turn, the groom put on a hat. This ritual meant the entry of the young into an independent family life.
• for many married girls special value. Most of them tremblingly keep their wedding dresses, as a kind of symbol of their marital status.
• Especially beautiful tradition in Latvia is a must for a young couple to visit seven different bridges. This rite, according to local beliefs, is designed to provide the newlyweds with a happy and prosperous life. Crossing the bridge, the newlyweds launch a balloon into the sky with one of their cherished desires, sincerely hoping for its soon fulfillment.
• But this is not all the rituals associated with the bridge. Newlyweds attach a castle to the railing of the bridge , on which, as a rule, the names of the newlyweds are written. This tradition means that from now on a loving couple is bound by strong bonds of marriage.
• Approaching the last bridge, without fail, the groom carries his chosen one in his arms. Isn't it romantic??
• Wedding table in Latvia is a wealth of traditional dishes that are prepared strictly following the recipes of the Latvian cuisine. Undeniably, as the first course at weddings, it is customary to serve broth and meat pies for them. The second is veal rolls, steaks, etc. Well, at the end, the guests are delighted with a dessert, namely, a chic wedding cake.
• In the old days, weddings were celebrated with quite on a large scale , and often the festivities on this occasion dragged on for several days. Today, modern weddings in Latvia are usually celebrated more modestly.

Latvia is a great place to have a wedding if you want to have an outdoor ceremony. While traveling around this country, I regularly meet wedding corteges and small, purely family, exit registrations, and local residents literally find a place for a photo shoot "by the road." Take a look at Ķemeri Park, for example. Even on the swamp path you can take amazing wedding photos if this path is so picturesque =) The main thing is to stock up on repellents =)

Ceremony Options

Most Latvians adhere to two types of celebration. The first type is the "Baltic" wedding, paying tribute to the traditions of these places. The newlyweds and guests wear oak wreaths and national costumes, their cars are decorated in the same style, and the photo session takes place in nature.

The second option is a secular wedding or a church wedding. Sometimes a wedding includes both marriage and wedding ceremonies. For a banquet, they book a restaurant or a cafe, and a photo session is carried out in a studio, on the streets of Riga, or they go with a photographer to especially picturesque places. Great shots are also obtained in winter, when the "demand" for weddings is obviously lower than the rest of the year, and you can save on many services.

Offers and prices

Since Russians often travel to Latvia, and there are many Russians and Russian speakers living here, finding a photographer and a wedding agency where they will speak Russian with you will not be difficult. If we are talking about the cost of the celebration, then everything depends on the budget you have.

For example, there is the Baltic Beach Hotel, located in Jurmala, where weddings are often organized. Below are photos of the hotel outside and the banquet hall, then - a snapshot from the portfolio of photographer Yuri, who filmed the wedding of Inna and Pavel organized in this place. Unfortunately, neither the hotel nor the photographer directly informs about the cost of their services, but asks to contact them. I got the impression that this is not the most budget option, but definitely not a premium class.

All the reviews I found about the cost of a wedding in Latvian castles, on yachts, in fashionable restaurants, as well as the prices for invitations, food and drink and, most importantly, wedding dresses were compiled before the introduction of the euro in Latvia. If you estimate at the exchange rate when switching from lats to euros (1.422 euros for lats), it turns out that a dress could be sewn for several hundred euros up to 45,000 euros, and the cost of renting a castle ranged from several tens of euros per hour (without food) up to several thousand euros in 4 hours with food.

Naturally, everything has risen in price over the past years, but, compared to Russian prices, Latvia remains a very economical option for a wedding celebration. For example, I know a couple who preferred Belarus to Russia and saved significantly on expenses. I read similar stories of brides on Latvian forums, but married beauties are modest about expenses =(

Preparation plan

If you have decided that you want to celebrate your wedding in Latvia, I offer you a step-by-step action plan for organizing this celebration.

Firstly, turn on word of mouth and the theory of six handshakes =) and look among friends, acquaintances, friends of friends and acquaintances of acquaintances for those who got married in Latvia. They will tell you about the pros and cons and shed light on the cost of this event.

Secondly, contact the Latvian wedding agencies and find out which of them is ready to give you a tour of the places available for rent. Such a service should not be expensive, and may be free.

Thirdly, go to Latvia and visit those places that you have looked at in advance on the Internet. Compare the photo with the original, study the infrastructure, ask the locals about wedding banquets and ceremonies that are held in a particular city.

Fourthly, during your trip, visit the ZAKSS and marriage palaces of Latvia or any administrative state bodies and find out what is needed for a marriage registered in this Baltic country to be recognized as valid in Russia.

The Latvian folk wedding ritual, like the wedding of any other nation, takes shape over many centuries. It often retains many features that arose at various stages of the historical development of society. As the well-known Soviet ethnographer L. Ya. Shternberg pointed out, “in this whole complex complex, which includes many rites - social, legal, economic, religious, magical, etc., the features of many layers coming from the deepest antiquity and developed under a variety of historical and cultural influences. On the example of a Latvian wedding, we are convinced that these elements sometimes continue to exist with greater or lesser fullness long after the conditions that gave rise to them have been lost or transformed.

Changes in rituals occur for various reasons, among which the most important is the restructuring of the socio-economic life of the people. A very important role in the development and formation of various forms of life, including the number of customs and rituals, is played by interethnic contacts, as a result of which peoples mutually enrich their way of life.

The material at our disposal indicates that by the beginning of the 20th century. on the territory of two selected ethnographic regions of Latvia, a single cycle of wedding ceremonies was formed, consisting of the following stages 2: 1) choosing a bride (nolakosana, lulu); 2) matchmaking (precibas, svatsanas); 3) conspiracy (derlbas); 4) wedding (kSzas); 5) after wedding ceremonies (atkazas).

Each of these stages of the wedding at the beginning of the 20th century. was a whole complex of customs, rituals and beliefs associated with them, supposedly contributing to the successful completion of the whole business as a whole. It was in these customs and rituals that regional differences were most observed. Their specificity was determined by the peculiarities of the economic development of the regions, the ethnic composition of the population, confessional characteristics and other factors. It should be noted that the differences in the wedding of different regions by the beginning of the 20th century. were also varying degrees the preservation of the ritual, which makes it possible in one region to identify elements that did not exist in the period under study in another, and, therefore, to accept them as specific to the first.

Information relating to the beginning of the 20th century indicates that the wedding ritual has undergone significant changes. The main result of the transformation of the wedding at the time of the study is its reduction in time and the combination of stages with similar functions. This process affected wedding rituals in both regions. As a rule, the combination of individual stages of the wedding leads to the loss of the former meaning of one of them, and in the future - to its disappearance altogether.

The materials at our disposal for two cities (Ludza and Kuldiga) make it possible to single out two variants of the Latvian traditional wedding that existed at the beginning of the 20th century. To classify the wedding ritual, depending on the objectives of the study, various features can be put forward, for example, the terminology of wedding rites, folklore, etc. As defining features, we were interested in features that would allow us to capture in the Latvian wedding rituals of the studied regions not only local features, but and stage differences associated with the development of the wedding ritual. To determine the options for a wedding, we put forward the following features: 1) the place of the wedding (the house of the bride and groom, or only one of them); 2) the nature of the wedding train: they go to the church (church) separately, each from his house or the groom comes for the bride, and they go together; 3) the time and place of the ceremony of removing the veil and wreath and tying the headdress married woman- micosana - at midnight on the first day at the bride's house or on the second day at the groom's house. These signs characterize the form of the wedding ritual, which, following the terminology adopted in the Latvian folklore literature, can be divided into two variants - short wedding(isSs kazas) and a long wedding (garas kSzas).

The proposed features are closely related. So, for example, when the wedding is celebrated only in the house of one of the people entering into marriage, then, as a rule, the bride and groom go to the wedding together. The ceremony of removing the veil and wreath is performed in this case at midnight on the first day of the wedding. Thus, the definition of the form of the wedding according to the first sign is made, in essence, taking into account all three signs.

The analysis of the collected information makes it possible to conditionally characterize both selected options: the 1st (isas kazas) and the 2nd (garas kazas).

All available answers about those that existed at the beginning of the 20th century. weddings, taking into account the main feature - the wedding venue - are divided into equal shares - 50% celebrated the wedding only in the house of the bride (1st option), 50% - in the house of the bride and groom (2nd option).

Thus, we can state that both variants were equally common at the beginning of the 20th century. In Kurzeme, the first option was the most common (it accounted for 83.3% of all responses from the population of Kuldiga), in Latgale - the second (100% of the responses from the population of Ludza). It should be noted that the wedding, which takes place in both houses, is an earlier stage of this ritual and was common not only in Latgale, but also in other regions of Latvia. In Kurzeme, the termination of the wedding celebration both in the bride's house (izdotenes) and in the groom's house is attributed by researchers to the third quarter of the 19th century.

Our materials also allow us to judge the close connection that existed in the Latvian wedding between the first and second of the features we put forward. At the Kur-zemstvo wedding, the groom came for the bride, and they went to church on the same wedding train. According to the survey data, 97.0% of weddings of the older generation in Kuldīga were celebrated in this way. In the second version, which was widespread in Latgale, the bride and groom, each with their own train, went to the crown separately (87.5% of weddings of the older generation in Ludza).

The specific combination of the first two signs is reflected in the performance of the main rite in the wedding ritual - the rite of removing the veil and wreath (micosana) and tying a scarf. Since in Kurzeme the whole celebration was held in the bride's house and the young woman moved to her place of residence within a week after the wedding, the micosana ceremony was performed at midnight on the first day of the wedding. In the second version, this ceremony, as a rule, took place on the second or third day of the wedding in the groom's house. The description of a Kurzeme wedding dating back to an earlier period shows that in the past, in Kurzeme, too, micosana was performed on the second day in the groom's house.

Thus, approaching the wedding ritual from the position of classifying it according to form, we can conclude that the features that distinguish Latgalian and Kurzeme weddings at the beginning of the 20th century were common to both regions of Latvia in the past. The differences were mainly in the fact that in Latgale the old forms of the wedding ceremony were kept longer than in Kurzeme. The economic backwardness of the region played a significant role in this, due to which the isolation of the patriarchal life was preserved here for a longer time.

Differences in the Latgalian and Kurzeme wedding ritual were also manifested in its other elements, in a multitude of customs and rituals, unequal in degree of preservation and different in ethnic nature. One of the characteristic moments was the most common places where young people met. In Latgale, parties that were held in the house of one of the young people were a popular meeting place. Young people not only from their village, but also from neighboring ones gathered at the parties. Here they danced to the accompaniment of an accordion, sang songs. Long-term contacts of representatives of different nationalities living nearby, which were absent in Kurzeme, contributed to the formation here of collective forms of pastime, characteristic of Russians and Belarusians.

One of the elements of the traditional wedding ritual was often matchmaking. The data we collected indicate that matchmaking in the early 20th century. It was very common in Latvia, especially in Latgale: 43.5% of the weddings of the older generation (60 years and older) in Ludza were played with matchmaking. Matchmaking was much less common in Kurzeme: only 28.6% of the weddings of the population of Kuldiga of the same generation were preceded by matchmaking. According to informants, matchmaking in Kurzeme was more common among the wealthy population, who sought to strengthen their financial condition through an advantageous marriage. Matchmaking in Latgale was of a twofold nature: they went to get married, having clarified in advance the expected outcome or without any pre-training. In the first case, marriage was given great importance: the groom took with him valuable gifts (ring, scarf) for the future bride. As a rule, in this case, they also agreed on the organization of the wedding, down to the smallest detail, and most importantly, about the dowry (piurs and pasaga). In Latgale, two types of dowry were distinguished: piurs and pasaga. The piurs included the bride's personal items, mostly made by herself - clothes, homespun bedding, towels and other items. The value of this type of dowry depended not only on the material security of the parents, but also on the hard work of the girl herself. The dowry of the second type - pasaga - included more significant material values ​​that determined the basis of the well-being of the future family. It was this part of the dowry at the beginning of the 20th century. often played a decisive role in choosing a bride and marriage. This type of dowry included furniture, livestock, etc. The value of such a dowry depended entirely on the financial condition of the bride's family.

The collected materials show that in 79.5% of the weddings of the older generation in Ludza and 61.7% in Kuldiga the bride had a dowry. However, the presence of it can be considered more as an observance of custom than as a requirement necessary for marriage. Thus, from the older generation, 66% of the population of Ludza and 80% of the population of Kuldiga believe that dowry did not play a decisive role in marriage, and only 34% of the population of Ludza and 20% of the population of Kuldiga considered dowry necessary.

The solution of the issue of dowry and holding a wedding during matchmaking suggests that matchmaking in Latgale by the beginning of the 20th century. largely merged with collusion, which had its functions in the past.

In the event that they went to woo without finding out the answer in advance, this ceremony was of a different nature: the matchmakers could not be accepted, their proposals could be rejected. Usually, the rejected matchmakers went on the same day to woo other girls. If both parties came to an agreement, then it has not yet been developed in detail. In this case, the matchmaking after some time was followed by an agreement.

The role of matchmakers was most often played by the father or mother of the groom (in 60% of weddings with matchmaking, recorded according to the older generation of Ludza, and in 75% of the same weddings of the older population of Kuldiga). However, the requirements imposed on matchmakers necessary for the successful completion of the case (the ability to maintain a conversation, resourcefulness, wit) were the reason that in 40% of cases of matchmaking, the older population of the city of Ludza and in 25% of cases - the city of Kuldiga resorted to the help of other persons (usually family) - relatives, friends, etc. There were also rare cases when they used the services of professional matchmakers.

In the commission of matchmaking at the beginning of the 20th century. the preservation of a number of very ancient elements is traced. In the appeal of matchmakers to the girl's parents (talking about searching for a runaway sheep, the desire to buy a cow, etc.), among Latvians, as well as among some other peoples, echoes of buying brides can be traced. It is possible that the custom of the Latgalian wedding is indirectly connected with this, according to which the groom threw money into the first glass offered to the bride during the matchmaking. Russian wedding custom"to pay for dishonor" recalls the custom that existed in Latgale during the period under study to return gifts and pay for drunk vodka in case of a failed wedding. The proximity of the Latgalian and Russian wedding rituals is also indicated by terminology, for example, the name of matchmaking is lat. svatasanas.

In contrast to the Latgalian courtship in Kurzeme (precibas) by the beginning of the 20th century. largely lost its traditional features. Its purpose is to obtain the consent of the bride's parents to the marriage. However, here, too, conspiracy sometimes persisted, usually carried out a week after the matchmaking.

The information at our disposal reinforces the idea that courtship existed here mainly among the wealthy population. This is evidenced by the nature of the collusion, which often merged with matchmaking, in which the central issue was not so much the discussion of the order of the wedding celebration, but the establishment of the bride's dowry (its composition and size). Often, at the same time, the groom's family was given a list of things included in the dowry. In the Kurzeme wedding, it was not possible to ascertain the existence of any rituals performed immediately before the wedding.

In the Latgalian wedding, as in the Russian one, there was a pre-wedding custom of dressing up a wreath (vaiqaga pusk / xsana), reminiscent of a Russian bachelorette party - the bride's farewell to the village, crying at parting. Matchmakers, friends, girlfriends played a big role in the Latgalian wedding: the name of these wedding rites in Latvian is clearly of Russian origin: svats, druzka, podruska, podrocka. The importance of the bride's brother and uncle on the mother's side was also great: the brother, in white gloves, put a wreath and veil on his sister's head before her departure down the aisle, and the uncle threw silver money into the bride's stocking. The retention of the role of the bride's brother and uncle in these customs is seen in the literature as a relic of the avunculate.

The custom, characteristic of both regions, of setting up a gate of honor (goda varti) in front of the wedding train, which the imprisoned father must redeem, also resembles the ancient custom of buying brides, although by the period under study it had long acquired a comic character. At the house where the wedding took place (kazu nams), the parents met the bride and groom with bread and salt and beer or vodka.

It is interesting to note that in the custom of meeting the bride and groom with bread and salt, the moment collective creativity participants, which is revealed in many different manifestations of the traditional.

So, the custom of welcoming the newlyweds with bread and salt in Kuldiga is recorded by us in the following variants: in some cases, the parents of the bride at the entrance to the house where the wedding is held, give the young people pieces of bread sprinkled with salt to eat, in others, the planted mother with a tray in her hands treats young people and guests with bread and salt before sitting down at the refectory table, and thirdly, young people and guests are treated to bread and salt already at the table, putting a round plate of salt into which those present dip pieces of black bread. In Ludza, it was possible to ascertain the preservation of an ancient custom characteristic of a Russian wedding - shedding the bride with oats.

In a Kurzeme wedding, a rite of checking the labor skills of the bride and groom was widely used before entering the house where the wedding was held: the bride was allowed to darn or knit a stocking, the groom was given to saw and split firewood, etc. The coincidence of this rite to this moment also speaks of the transformation of the wedding ritual: according to older sources, the rite of verification of labor skills was performed after the bride and groom were recognized as husband and wife. In Kurzeme, it was also very common to lay a narrow white linen path under the feet of the young couple before entering the house, symbolizing the smooth and happy life of young spouses in the future.

An indispensable moment of the Latgale wedding was the presence at the feast of a large number of uninvited guests (stomaci) who wanted to look at the young couple. For 60.9% of the weddings recorded by us, committed at the beginning of the 20th century. population of the city of Ludza, these uninvited guests were present - stomaci. Their duty was to sing songs, glorify the groom, bride, guests. As a rule, "stomachs" were not invited to the table, but were treated in the corner of the room. For singing songs, they threw sweets wrapped in a handkerchief across the table. Stomachi were not deprived of such wedding pleasures as dancing.

The culmination of the entire wedding ritual was the ceremony of initiation of the bride and groom into husband and wife (micosana). The widespread occurrence of this rite is evidenced by the fact that it was observed in Ludza in 90.9%, and in Kuldiga in 75% of all weddings of the early 20th century, which we learned about from the words of informants of the older generation. In the ideas of the people, the bride and groom become husband and wife only after performing the micosana rite - removing the wreath. Such an attitude towards this rite reinforces the idea that a church wedding violated the entire wedding ritual and was performed, as it were, side by side.

An interesting ritual element is associated with the micosana rite: the relatives tried to hide the bride (zog llgavu) from the groom and his relatives, and removing the veil and wreath from the bride and putting on her cap (cepure, aube) or scarf as a symbol of a married woman while singing ritual songs occurred only after the groom found and redeemed the bride. This custom, apparently, should be considered as an echo of the struggle between the relatives of the bride and groom. In Latgale, the bridegroom or his mother played the main role in the ceremony of removing the wreath, in Kurzeme - the planted mother.

After micosana, the young woman gave gifts to her husband's relatives (pflra dallgana). The custom (pagasts) was also preserved, when guests put money intended for young people on a plate. Since in Latgale, as is known, the wedding took place both in the house of the bride and in the house of the groom, pagasts took place in both houses: in the house of the bride, her relatives put money, in the house of the groom - his relatives. From the descriptions it can be seen that earlier this custom was celebrated many times during the entire wedding.

Putting the young to bed was accompanied by special rituals and actions associated with ancient beliefs. Usually they were accompanied with music; the bed was made by the future mother-in-law, for which the young one gave her bedding (sheets, a blanket). The next morning, the young people were awakened by music, noise, screams. In Ludza, there was a ritual of breaking pots at the bedside of the young or on the threshold of the room where they slept. The following days of the celebration passed mostly without ritual actions.

As mentioned above, on the second day of the Latgale wedding, the young people moved to the groom's house - to their future place of residence. There were some symbolic actions that meant the end of the wedding celebration was approaching: the hostess served sour cabbage soup on the table, the owner put a barrel plug on the corner of the table as a sign that the beer had been drunk. After that, the guests dispersed.

The wedding usually lasted three days. Of the post-wedding ceremonies, atkazas, arranged a week after the wedding, reminiscent of Russian "otvodina", were preserved for quite a long time. The nature of the wedding ritual determined the order and place of this subsequent celebration. In Kurzeme, where the transfer of young people to their place of residence and the transfer of dowry took place the following week after the wedding feast, atkazas were celebrated in the house where the young would live, that is, in the house of the husband's parents. In Latgale, where the bride's move (and the transfer of the dowry) to the groom's house took place on the second day of the wedding, atkazas were sent to the bride's parents.

Wedding rituals that existed at the beginning of the 20th century. in selected regions, retained a number of elements of magical origin that accompanied the main actions wedding ceremony.

Judging by the material collected, most of all, rituals with remnants of protective magic were preserved, but their significance was already at the beginning of the 20th century. lost. These include, for example, such customs as leaving the wife's belt on the stove in the house of a young husband; leave a belt or mittens young on the first Saturday after the wedding in the bath; on the morning of the second day of the wedding, beat the pots; the bride's brother in white gloves to dress her in a wreath; prohibition when transporting a dowry to carry an uncovered bed; hang bells on the team of horses in the wedding train; the groom to bring the bride into his house, stepping on a plank or spread out canvas; throw donations - nods (belts, ribbons, mittens) on the way to the church: into the river, at the crossroads and in the room where the bride changes into a full wedding dress.

Approaching these actions from a psychological point of view, they should, apparently, be attributed to the apotropaic type of magic. The initial meaning of these rituals is to propitiate the spirits of the young husband's house with gifts, to drive away evil spirits with noise (beating dishes) or the sound of metal (bells), to eliminate the undesirable effect of spirits on the bride, who was considered especially susceptible to their influence. E. G. Katarov also refers to this type of magic the widely used custom of closing the road with honorary gates in order to prevent the penetration of evil spirits along with the newlyweds into the house where the wedding will take place. However, the existence of the custom to demand a ransom at the gate of honor speaks, in our opinion, in favor of the fact that this rite can rather be considered a relic preserved from the distant times of the existence of a tribal or rural community, a relic of the purchase of wives.

The imitative and initial type of magical actions include the custom of showering the bride with oats, which symbolized well-being in the future. family life, as well as a special attitude to the choice of planted parents; it was believed that if the planted parents are good, then living together young will be good. Wedding ceremonies, which retained vestiges of love magic, were mostly imitative in nature. These include the following actions: the bride, getting up from the table before leaving for the crown, had to pull the tablecloth so that all the girls - her girlfriends would get married this year; for the same purpose, the sisters (girlfriends) had to touch the bride's veil when she crossed the threshold of the house before leaving for the wedding; the bride put money into the groom's shoes in order to rule in family life in the future; behind wedding table they raised the child in front of the bride, saying: “Learn, Annushka, to nurse a child, this year it is destined to be different, next year you will have to do it yourself!” If the newlyweds wanted to have a son, they put an ax, a saw under the bed, if they wanted a girl - knitting, a rake. When the bride was taken away, a broom was tied to the groom’s house, to a sleigh or wagon, so that all the girls of the village would get married this year eternal love 18. As an element of love or fishing (imitative) magic, one should consider the already rarely preserved at the beginning of the 20th century. the custom is to serve grains of dry peas 1U on the wedding table, symbolizing fertility and family well-being.

Less preserved elements of fishing magic. Information related to this type of magic can also be interpreted as the actions of protective magic. So, the custom of meeting the young with bread and salt symbolizes well-being in the future life; however, bearing in mind the "cleansing" value of salt, this custom can be attributed to protective magical actions. In favor of the latter interpretation is the fact that the mother-in-law sometimes put bread and salt under the pillow of the newlyweds. In this case, salt performed apotropaic functions. As a guarantee of good luck in household affairs, one should consider the custom according to which the guests closed the chimney and well in the groom's house and asked the bride to light the stove or bring water; the bride managed to do this only after she sacrificed a belt, braid, mittens as a sacrifice to the stove or well. However, these actions can also be interpreted as the aforementioned test of the bride's labor skills (darning of socks and other activities). On the desire to provide magically rich life the bride, is evidenced by the custom of putting money in her stocking, which was done by her uncle. By their nature, these customs are imitative or initial. And, finally, as an element of fertility magic (and from this point of view - commercial) can be considered widespread at the beginning of the 20th century. the custom of putting the young to sleep in the crate. The great importance attached in the past to different peoples The first wedding night, which allegedly contributed to fertility in general, is indicated by E. G. Kagarov.

Among the agricultural peoples, such as the Latvians and their neighbors, the crate was the main repository of all property, so it can be assumed that spending the wedding night in the crate was considered as a magical act aimed at increasing the fertility of the fields. But, on the other hand, the barn, due to its economic functions, was usually empty for a long time of the year and was often the place of residence of the girl before the wedding. Therefore, the meaning of this custom can be understood not so much as magical, which already at the beginning of the 20th century. was faded as much as rational.

All elements of the Latvian wedding, which were attributed magical origin, by the beginning of the 20th century. lost their original meaning and were performed more to enhance the entertainment and emotional side of the traditional ritual. It should be noted that customs and rituals similar to those described are found among other peoples and are objectively not specific to Latvians, however, the Latvians themselves perceive them as such.

The analysis carried out indicates that at the beginning of the 20th century in the selected regions, in general, there was a single wedding ritual. Its unity is especially noticeable in that layer of wedding rites, which can be considered the most ancient. This layer of rites is related Latvian wedding with the wedding of other peoples, especially Slavic ones. The differences are of a later origin and are associated with the specifics of socio-economic development, as well as with the formation of the ethnic composition of the population of the regions. These reasons determine the greater or lesser completeness and specific nature of the observed complex of customs and rituals and make it possible to single out two variants in the wedding ritual - Latgalian and Kurzeme.

Checking into the registry office and getting drunk in a restaurant is too commonplace. This event can be made truly unforgettable and original by going on a trip to one of the former republics of the USSR. Wedding Hollywood tracing paper and Soviet marriage traditions, of course, are present everywhere in one form or another. But in each of the now independent countries, their own wedding traditions have been preserved or revived, which we would like to briefly talk about.

Azerbaijan wedding marathon

Modestly, in a small circle of family and close friends, celebrating a wedding with a visit to the registry office is not in Azerbaijan. Large-scale celebrations are most often held in the summer, when migrants return home to marry. The only break in the wedding marathon is the Muslim fasting of Ramadan.

A wedding in the countryside and a big city are not the same thing. An ordinary village wedding is about five hundred guests, relatives and fellow villagers. Everyone needs to be fed and watered. For most of the population, alcoholic beverages are not forbidden, which does not prevent everyone from feeling like Muslims. In the village, of course, there will be nothing of pork on the table, but vodka will flow like water. The traditional ritual in the village is divided into two celebrations: male and female weddings. The groom has his feast, the bride has hers. Weddings are often held under a canvas roof in special large tents. In larger and richer villages, special premises are often built for weddings and funerals by the whole world.

Paying for the installation of a tent, feeding and drinking hundreds of guests who cannot be invited is an expensive pleasure even in the countryside, where you can slaughter a few of your own rams or a bull. Usually guests pay for the wedding - according to a long tradition, everyone brings money as a gift. Relatives and wealthy pay for two or three places at once. Poor relatives, who must be invited, may not pay for themselves. As a rule, wedding celebrations are fully paid off by the guests.

Both in cities and in villages in recent years, young people, as a rule, enter into a religious marriage at the same time - kabin or nikah.

In capital Baku, the diversity of traditions and their symbiosis are simply striking. At almost any wedding, Jewish “Seven-Forty”, twist, retro medley and the most modern songs of world hits sound. In Baku, the average price for a seat in a restaurant is 50 manats (about the same in dollars). An ordinary wedding is 200-300 guests and the celebration thus costs $10-15 thousand.

Armenia: Sabbath, Magarych and Tarosiki

Modern armenian weddings necessarily accompanied by rituals that came from antiquity. Early in the morning, a kavor with a kavorakin (planted father and wife) come to the groom's house. A wedding suit should be decorated with a green-red braid - “narot”. These colors symbolize life and marriage. Cavor has to pay the entire wedding for the so-called "sabbath": for the stolen shoe, for the bride's brother to remove the dagger from the doorway and let the young people out into the street, for the bride's dance. Today, these traditions of “extortion” of money, popular in Soviet Armenia, are almost not observed, but the most expensive gift for the newlyweds should be made by kavor.

By noon everyone heads to the church. In Armenian tradition, it is not customary to go to the registry office on the wedding day, but the wedding is obligatory. A motorcade rushes through the city, often stopping at its central Republic Square. On the lawns in one of the central parks of the city, which was called the Park of Lovers, they arrange photo shoots.

After the wedding in the temple, the kavorakin gives the unmarried and single "tarosiki" - baskets of sweets, symbolizing the passing of the baton of marriage. When leaving the temple, the newlyweds are showered with rice and petals.

From the temple, the newlyweds go to the groom's house, where they are met by his mother. She puts Armenian lavash on the shoulders of the bride and groom, gives them a spoonful of honey, a handful of nuts and sprinkles them with sweets. To cross the threshold of the house, the newlyweds need to break plates with their heels. A boy is placed on the bride's lap so that the first-born of the newlyweds is also a boy. Then the newlyweds go to a restaurant, where guests are already waiting for them. If less than a hundred guests have come, the wedding is considered small, it will receive great glory if there are one and a half thousand guests.

On the tables there is certainly khorovats - Armenian shish kebab. It is brought on skewers by waiters, performing a national dance, and be sure to receive magarych from the godfather of the newlyweds. To the music and dancing, the guests first demonstrate gifts, and then bring them to the newlyweds. Usually it is gold jewelry or money. In addition, the parents of the bride hand over the dowry. It can be furniture, household appliances, an apartment, a car or a round sum of money. A wedding costs the groom an average of $5,000. Sometimes the costs are shared equally with the bride's family.

Traffic rules for brides in Belarus

In Belarus, bridesmaids dressed up the bride not in the parents' house, but in a neighboring hut. The sign said that the bride should not be taken across the street, so they chose a house that was on the side of their native. The principle of choice was simple - you can’t dress up a bride in a widow’s house or a divorced home, in a house where children died, a fire or other misfortune happened.

The bridesmaids braided a young braid, put on red boots, adjusted the dress, tied up the bride with a self-woven belt. The last thing they put on was a veil. A wreath was attached on top, in which there was always a rue - a symbol of innocence.

They bought the bride at a bargain, then went to the temple. The groom and his friends got into one wagon, the bride into another. The cortege consisted of seven wagons. In the temple, the young stood on a special towel, under it lay a red belt and two copper nickels. After the wedding, these things were taken away and kept for life. Visiting the graves of ancestors was an obligatory tradition of Belarusian weddings. In Soviet times, this was transformed into a tour of memorial complexes, monuments of the revolution and mass graves.

When the young people returned home, they had to “pass seven bridges” along the road (at the same time, the groom carried the bride in his arms along each bridge). Nobody had to cross the road. From the wagon, the newlyweds must step onto the bedspread. Young people are greeted with bread and salt and two glasses of alcohol. The guests shower the young with grain. A wedding usually lasts three days. In the end, in the old days they divided the loaf between relatives, and the daughter-in-law was tied with the attributes of the female share - a scarf and an apron.

A wedding in Belarus costs about $2-4 thousand. Renting a good wedding dress in Minsk will cost $300, a suit for the groom - $300-600. Renting a restaurant for 60 people with food and alcohol will cost $3,000 in the center of Minsk.

Royal wedding of Georgia

Georgians saw a real ancient wedding in 2009, when representatives of two different branches of the royal family, David Bagrationi-Mukhraneli and Anna Bagrationi-Gruzinskaya, got married in the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi. The dynastic marriage was performed according to ancient rituals: the newlyweds marched under crossed sabers, during the feast they sat on a raised platform, accepting gifts and congratulations.

In the old days, the institution of matchmakers successfully operated in Georgia, who looked after marriageable girls in sulfur baths, in the market, in the theater. The dowry of Georgian women consisted of clothes, household utensils, jewelry, and also - chess - a sign of their education. The expenses for the wedding were covered by the groom's relatives. On the day of the wedding, the groom went up to the roof of the house and released a white dove into the sky. On the threshold of the house, the newlyweds were offered goblets with wine, into which the rings of the newlyweds were lowered. "Bitterly!" Shouting is not customary at a Georgian wedding. The activity of the guests is manifested in the ability to proclaim toasts.

Like a hundred years ago, marriages in Georgia are usually made with the approval of parents. In the old days, the kidnapping of the bride turned into a blood feud. Now the theft will come in handy if there are no funds for a magnificent wedding. Subsequently, the "inconsolable" mother will forgive the "kidnapper" and call him "dear son-in-law."

Almost everyone gets married. Beautiful, solemn and patriarchal. The church rite does not provide for the resolution of property disputes. Wealthy people make marriage contract. Many lovers, including foreigners, seal their marriages in Sighnaghi - this small fortress town in Kakheti has been dubbed the city of weddings. Signing here is as easy as in Las Vegas. But European dresses and bouquets flying over the bride's shoulder cannot supplant the national spirit of the Georgian feast.

Citizens of average income usually celebrate weddings of fifty people, inviting their closest relatives. Few who celebrate at home prefer to rent a banquet hall. The scenario of the celebration is almost the same: the arrival of the groom to the bride's house, where a sweet table is laid, a wedding in a church, a trip to the ancient capital of Mtskheta, a banquet in a restaurant.

How much does a wedding cost? A banquet for 100 people costs an average of two thousand dollars. Music, singers, dancers - $300. A wedding dress made at a local fashion studio costs $200-300. Donation to the church, payment for the photographer's work, video shooting, an album with hearts, a calendar with portraits of the newlyweds and other expenses - a total of about $ 400 more.

"Zhar-zhar" weddings in Kazakhstan

Several beautiful old customs are preserved in Kazakhstan. When parents see the bride out of the house, they lay a white carpet - “ak zhol”. On it, the girl must go to her future husband, without turning around, so that the marriage becomes happy. The acquaintance of the bride with the groom's relatives is called "betashar". An embroidered scarf is thrown over the bride's face, and the folk singer - akyn - sings a song, urging her to be an exemplary wife and honor her husband's relatives. Akyn lists their names, and the bride bows to each. In response, relatives shower the bride with coins and sweets - shasha. The youth begins to sing the wedding song "Jar-Jar".

A ceremony is also provided for the groom. The most respected woman of the bride's family warms her hands over the hearth and lays them on the groom's face. The groom must transfer this symbolically transferred warmth to his house.

Kazakhs give gifts at the wedding not only to the newlyweds, but also to all the guests who came (Toibastar rite). These symbolic gifts are distributed to guests in gratitude for coming to share the happiness and joy of the young. Kazakh girls got married in traditional red national dresses, with a high headdress. But now more often they prefer white outfits of the Western type.

Marriage in Alma-Ata is not cheap. Two years ago, the grandson of President Nazarbayev, Aisultan, got married. The wedding consisted of two parts - national, with all the necessary rituals, and western, which was attended by about 700 singers and actors from all over the world. In particular, there were American rapper Kanye West, Lev Leshchenko, Gennady Khazanov and Maxim Galkin.

Modern kalym of Kyrgyzstan

In the old days, the Kirghiz had a rite of matchmaking for unborn children and babies - “white where”. Now this tradition has almost disappeared. The engagement is simple: if the groom put earrings on the bride, then be married. At the engagement, the groom gives the bride a dress, and she gives him a suit.

In Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, couples prefer a Western-style wedding. But some also use the traditional Kyrgyz bride's dress - white, long, with embroidered patterns, decorated with beads and sequins. Previously, a cap with a sharp top and a veil covering the face was put on the bride's head. She also wore jewelry made of gold and precious stones.

When the groom goes to the bride's house, children block his way. They pull the rope across the road and with songs, jokes, jokes, demand compensation for the bride. This is the ancient custom of "lasso tosuu". A ransom is also required for the groom's friends. It is offered by the bridesmaids of the daughter-in-law, otherwise the groom will not get out of the car. Kalym is a very common thing throughout Central Asia, although this tradition has been greatly modernized. The groom can give money to the bride's parents. They buy furniture, clothes, household goods - for the newlyweds.

At the end of the celebration, food is distributed to guests. Three days after the wedding, the young daughter-in-law spends in the house of her new relatives, sitting behind the curtain. You can look at her for a small fee and receive a bright scarf as a gift from her. The bride's new relatives bring her mother good gift- Corresponding akysy.

At the weddings of Central Asia, as nowhere else, the traditions of different cultures and times were mixed. Nearby, at the same table, centenarian aksakals in national clothes and young guys in fashionable clothes are sitting. tracksuits. One guest can come by camel, the other by Mercedes. Guests give envelopes with dollars to the young, sitting on antique carpets handmade. The age-old song of the akyn can easily be replaced by Alla Pugacheva, and her, in turn, by Madonna.

A wedding in Bishkek costs from $2,000.

Wedding bridges in Latvia

In the center of Riga there is a bridge where newlyweds certainly come. They hang a lock with their names on its railing, and throw the key into the water. Carry the bride across seven bridges - long tradition Latvian weddings.

The church ceremony is not obligatory in Latvia, and the celebration usually takes place according to the usual European standards. Although in Lately in Latvia, young people and guests often dress in traditional National costumes, and, in the manner of bread and salt, everyone is presented with bacon pies.

It is not necessary to register a marriage in Latvia at the registry office, according to the rules in force since 2013, this can be done anywhere. Many therefore choose the seashore, a beautiful park or an old manor. A beautiful ceremony with the participation of a priest can be held, for example, in Rundāle Castle or the romantic Jaunmoku Castle. An addition to the indispensable banquet are boating and horseback riding, costume excursions, flights on hot-air balloon. Often, as part of wedding ceremonies, a bottle is buried with a message to future children and grandchildren.

A modest average wedding in Latvia can cost 2,000 euros, the "ceiling" wedding budget no.

Lithuanians get married in churches, register in registry offices, but elements of pagan rituals have also been preserved in the traditions of the celebration. So, the parents of the young give their children a symbolic hearth. The hands of the newlyweds are tied with a ribbon, and strands of their hair are burned on a fire. At the same time, the bride and groom pronounce oaths, the guests are alternately poured from one jug, and at the same time they pronounce their toasts.

In their hearts, Lithuanians-Europeans remained Lithuanians-farmers, so on the second day of the wedding celebration they go to the castle (often to Trakai), ride horses and yachts, against the backdrop of peaked log estates they arrange a barbecue grill mixed with local national cuisine.

A wedding budget below 10 thousand euros is considered modest, a wedding for 20-25 thousand euros will be remembered for a lifetime. The Grand Prince's Hall at Kempinski, overlooking the Gedemin Hill in the center of Vilnius, can be rented for half a day for 550 euros, and the President's Room in it costs from 231 euros per day.

Large wedding table of Moldova

Today in Moldova it is fashionable to get married. However, the highlight of the wedding program is the Masa Maare ceremony - a large table.

Planted parents - nanashi - go from guest to guest and collect money for a tray or in a special house stylized as a piggy bank. Nanash treats invited guests with wine, and Nanash collects money. The guest must say a toast, announce how much money he gives, and drink the wine presented to him. Usually, each toast is accompanied by a melody, which the guest orders, putting money for the musicians in a separate container.

Some prefer to simplify this part of the wedding evening. Guests are seated in pre-allocated places, where personalized envelopes lie next to the plate, where money should be put. Wealthy Moldovans, when inviting to a wedding, inform the guests how much the celebration will cost per person, making it clear how much to give. The amount of cash gifts at Moldovan weddings varies greatly: from 100 to several thousand euros. It all depends on the social status of the family organizing the celebration, on the venue and the status of the guests. The total cost of the wedding also varies: in restaurants and banquet halls more expensive than in canteen enterprises, bars and tents in the yard of rural houses.

Wedding gifts for newlyweds, in addition to money, are required to give nanashi. In rural settlements there are even gift lists that are followed very strictly. And the guests decide for themselves: they will limit themselves only to money or buy something else from household items.

On average, one seat at the wedding table costs 40-50 euros. An average wedding for 160 people costs 10-12 thousand euros.

Wedding feast of Tajikistan

In Tajikistan, before the wedding in the bride's house, a red pepper is hung in a conspicuous place, protecting from demons, a spoon and a knife - symbols of future children, a girl - a hospitable housewife and a boy - a brave warrior. The groom feasts in the house of the bride for three days before becoming her husband, and then, accompanied by friends, returns home, where the feast resumes.

Registration in the registry office is not required, but the Muslim rite "nikoh" is performed without fail. Mulla reads the Koran, prays. One by one, he will remove seven scarves from the bride's head, and confirm his consent to the marriage of the groom seven times. The newlyweds drink water from one bowl and after that they are declared husband and wife.

Three days of feasting in the bride's house, three days in the groom's house, hundreds of guests. Not surprisingly, the divorce rate in Central Asia is very low.

Two years ago, President Emomali Rahmon came to the registry office to congratulate 64 couples of newlyweds who were simultaneously getting married. These were grooms and brides from low-income families. Rahmon gave them wedding rings, suits, dresses and festive banquets. Well-known Tajik artists acted as toastmasters. Each wedding couple received a thousand dollars for Honeymoon. However, the President of the country has repeatedly insisted on asceticism during rituals, in 2009 he even signed a law prohibiting expensive rites and rituals. The head of the country regulated the duration of weddings and the number of guests. It is specifically stipulated that celebrations should be held outside working hours and last no more than a day.

A wedding in Tajikistan costs from $2,000.

Turkmenistan: wedding procession of limousines in headscarves

In Turkmenistan, nine days before the wedding, the bride's dowry is sent to the groom's house. These are utensils, clothes, carpets.

In the old days, the Turkmen wedding procession was very bright. Horses and camels were hung with jingling bells and scarves. Now the role of the wedding procession has been taken over by cars, but they are decorated not with balls and ribbons, but, like camels, with special scarves.

Preference in the bride's attire is given to ancient national jewelry. The bride's head is covered with a cape, almost entirely embroidered by hand with bright ornaments.

Kalym for the bride is discussed in advance. As a rule, it is money and gold Jewelry. But you can do without kalym, then the bride will have to be stolen. If the girl stayed the night with the groom, her parents will demand a wedding. However, all this is carried out by prior arrangement, otherwise the groom may have serious troubles.

Turkmenbashi Niyazov at one time even issued a decree “On the state kalym”. Each foreigner who decided to marry a Turkmen woman had to pay $50,000 to the state insurance fund. In addition, he had to pay $1000 for the wedding: buy ten rams for $30 each, buy a bedroom set for $300, ten gold rings for the bride for $100. Money was supposed to be a guarantee of providing for children in the event of a divorce. This law was later repealed.

Gender pilaf and copper pipes of Uzbekistan weddings

A wedding in Uzbekistan begins with pilaf. Men cook their own pilaf, women prepare theirs separately. The engagement is preliminarily held - “non sindidar”, when the parents of the bride and groom break the cake as a sign of consent to marriage. And registration in the registry office is preceded by an Islamic wedding ceremony - “nikah”, which is performed by an imam.

The bride and groom often dress national clothes. At the same time, the bride's side buys the outfit for the groom. The girl herself must constantly cover her face with a veil, protecting herself from the evil eye. Before the wedding, she performs the ceremony of farewell to her stepfather's house. The bride is escorted to the groom's house with beautiful songs.

In Tashkent, weddings are held in restaurants. Before entering, guests are invited to karnai - two-meter copper pipes. Most guests give gifts, and the groom - envelopes with money. When the magnificent meal is over, the young people will go to the groom's house, and the relatives will greet the arriving people with bows. Before entering, they are required to undergo a rite of purification - to go around a large fire near the house three times.

In Uzbekistan, the wedding is treated with trepidation. It is not surprising that here they begin to prepare children from childhood for marriage, save money for a wedding. All wedding expenses are borne by the groom's family. The tradition of mandatory bride price has not lost its relevance today.

Weddings are not cheap. There is a minimum of $10 per guest. Wealthy Uzbeks are already spending $20-40.

Wedding pickles of Ukraine

Modern Ukrainian wedding consists of local and western traditions. The ratio depends on the region and the social status of the newlyweds. The larger the city, the more “secular” the wedding will be.

In the villages, before the wedding, “bumps” are distributed as an invitation - special rich buns that look like small loaves. Especially for weddings, huge huts are sometimes built - long temporary structures made of tarpaulin. And if in the city all the food and drinks for the celebration are bought, then in the village they slaughter a pig, eat homemade spins from the cellar, drink moonshine of their own production.

It is customary to give money, gifts are made infrequently and mostly by order. In the city, the amount of $100 from the family is considered worthy; in the village, gifts are more modest.

Of the surviving and obligatory wedding traditions- the abduction of the bride herself, and then her little shoes during the holiday. For both require a ransom in the form of money, alcohol and entertainment. On the second day of the wedding, both in cities and in villages, they arrange fun with the participation of mummers and conduct the ritual of “bathing the mother-in-law”. If the weather permits and there is a pond nearby, the son-in-law and his friends can dip their mother-in-law there, in other cases they get by with washing the feet. A basin is placed in the middle of the hall, and the young one “washes” the new mother’s legs with water, nettle, soap, washcloth, emery and even ketchup. Then he puts new shoes on her feet with banknotes invested in them.

In Kyiv, an average-level wedding will cost about $3-5 thousand for 30-40 people.

Estonia: waxing moon weddings

Once upon a time, an Estonian bride had to knit 50 pairs of mittens, belts and other items of winter wardrobe for her wedding. This tradition has sunk into oblivion. But Estonia was the first of all the former Soviet republics to legalize same-sex marriages.

A traditional Estonian wedding is, first of all, chants that describe all the rituals. Beer was considered the main wedding drink. As a rule, weddings were held in winter, when there was no field work, during the growing moon and lasted 2-4 days. On the first day, the bride left her parents' house. On the second day, guests gathered at the groom's house. Gifts for the newlyweds were brought in a special chest. On this day, an important event took place - a cap was put on the bride's head. After that, the girl was considered married and could not appear in public without an apron and cap.

Now Estonia is positioning itself as a country of wedding tourism and invites couples from all over the world. A wedding in Tallinn Town Hall (a unique monument of the Middle Ages) will cost 2,300 euros. The price includes the rent of the town hall, official registration marriage, fresh flower decor, printing, bridal bouquet and groom's boutonniere, rose petals, sparkling wine. If you invite 20 guests, you need to pay another 5,000 euros. For this money, guests will receive a hotel room for a day, this also includes a three-course wedding dinner, cake, wine and drinks.

You can have a wedding in a real castle by inviting 30 people there. It will cost only 7 thousand euros. In addition, Northern Europe is within easy reach from Estonia, which means that it will be convenient for newlyweds to include this country in their honeymoon tour around the continent.

Since January 1, 2013, changes in the civil law have been in force and now officially the marriage registration ceremony can be held in any places that are well-equipped for marriage registration. This innovation opens up wide opportunities for foreigners to hold a celebration in Latvia.

Based on Art. 57. Clause 1 of the Civil Law of Latvia, the marriage registration ceremony may take place in the premises of the registry office or other places equipped (!!) for this.

What is needed to conduct an exit marriage registration in Latvia?

To register a marriage in nature, when applying, the newlyweds must present documents confirming that:

The site chosen by them has the necessary equipment and is equipped for marriage registration;

The site for an outdoor wedding must be equipped with an entrance and a passage to the place of marriage registration, has a registration table, an arch or a dome for marriage registration;

It is advisable to have photos of the proposed place of registration and / or a plan for the realization of your dream - a sketch, sketch, 3D visualization of a decorated and landscaped place for registering a marriage;

It is also desirable to provide a map indicating the exact coordinates of the place of marriage registration.

In the event that you provide an incomplete package of supporting documents, the registry office employees have every right to refuse to conduct an on-site marriage registration ceremony.

Requirements for the technical equipment of an outdoor wedding in Latvia

An outdoor wedding must be equipped technically - namely, there must be a microphone and speakers / speakers. If not, the registry office registrar also has the right to refuse field registration marriage. One of the requirements of registry offices in Latvia is that the groom, bride, witnesses and those present must hear (!) the words of the registrar, otherwise the registrar cannot perform the function legally assigned to him.

And please, do not try to convince the registry office worker that when registering a marriage at sea in the presence of 100 people, all guests and the last rows will hear him (the registrar) even without equipment.

How much does an outdoor marriage ceremony cost in Latvia?

The state duty for the departure of the registrar to the venue of the wedding celebration is paid separately, according to the established tariffs (Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers).

For example, in Riga, an outdoor ceremony costs 300 euros, and it can only be held on the territory of the municipality. On average, during the summer season, employees of the registry office of Riga register at least two dozen marriages abroad.

The amount of the fee in other cities and regions - you can check on the spot.

Wedding in Latvia - by the sea, in a castle or in a forest... Dream or reality?

Exit registration of marriage in Latvia today is not just an official and strict ceremony within the framework of the registry office. This is a magnificent holiday, thought out to the smallest detail. Weddings with outdoor rituals - the possibilities know no bounds!

The main thing is to choose the right agency, which will arrange turnkey weddings of your dreams. Traditionally, wedding agencies in Latvia offer all wedding services together, coordinate and organize weddings of any scale, not only in Latvia, but also in the EU countries.

Where can I organize an outdoor wedding in Latvia?

Venues for weddings in Latvia are castles and estates, seashores, rivers or lakes, forests or parks, rural or urban flavors... The main thing is to be able to equip your chosen place in accordance with the requirements of the registry office (see above). Do not be lazy - discuss in advance with the employees (registrar registry office) all the technical details so that the main day in your life goes smoothly and without surprises.

What do you need for an outdoor wedding?

For your wedding you will need - a covered terrace in case of bad weather or an open area (for example, for a wedding by the sea), arches, tents, paths, various wedding decor...

Specialists of wedding agencies will be happy to help you with the selection and selection of all inventory, wedding accessories and decors. And the style and color combination for your wedding ceremony - it's only your choice!

For weddings at sea today they offer special wedding slippers. For guests - elegant beach slippers, decorated with flowers, rhinestones, ribbons, and for newlyweds - beach slippers that leave Just Married footprints in the sand...

Outdoor wedding in Latvia - what should be taken care of?

✓ Wedding Dress, jewelry(rings) and wedding decorations

✓ Catering - discussion of the menu of the event, design wedding cake

✓ Wedding decor - floral decoration, Wedding floristry, drapery of tables, chairs, tents and terraces with fabric, decoration of all wedding details in uniform style

✓ Wedding transport - executive class car rental, wedding helicopter, wedding carriage, buses and minibuses for guests...

✓ Wedding show program - musicians, hosts / entertainers, show program, fireworks / fireworks ...

✓ Organization of photo and video filming, rental of banquet equipment, tents, awnings, paths...

Weddings in Latvia for foreigners

Carrying out a marriage registration ceremony for citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries looks exactly the same, but with one small amendment.

In order for the marriage to be recognized as valid in the country where the newlyweds permanently reside, documents for marriage registration must be submitted to the Consulate of Russia/Ukraine/Belarus (country of permanent residence) in Latvia.

That is, it is the Consulate of the country of permanent residence that deals with the official procedure for registering a marriage, as well as issuing an official certificate of marriage registration.

How can citizens of Russia register a marriage in Latvia?

For Russian citizens, in order to apply for marriage registration at the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Latvia, it is necessary to fill out an application, attach copies of passports (of the bride and groom, a copy of 1 page of the passport and a page with a visa or residence permit), as well as the original certificate confirming that the newlyweds are not have barriers to marriage, and pay a state fee.

Registration of marriage at the Consulate is a legal procedure that takes no more than 10 minutes. Therefore, most often the newlyweds plan their wedding day in such a way that before the start of the wedding day they will call at the Consulate and officially put their signatures, and then they could already go to outdoor ceremony registration of marriage, which is carried out by the registrar of the registry office. An employee of the registry office reads out a ceremonial text, the newlyweds exchange rings and they are issued an official certificate of marriage registration.

If there is no desire or opportunity to go to the consulate for legal processing of documents on the day of the wedding, then this procedure can be done both a few days before the wedding and at any time after the marriage registration ceremony itself.

(Residence permit in Latvia on the basis of family reunification).