“To be together on earth and in heaven . These are probably the thoughts that guide most couples who come to church and decide to receive the sacrament of marriage. What is the cost of this event in the modern world?
The average price range for a wedding in Russia is from 1000-3000 . In famous churches in large cities, the cost can reach up to 7,000-10,000 rubles , while in small churches the price may not reach 1,000 rubles .
What does this cost depend on? What nuances and attributes must be taken into account? Let's look at it in more detail.
What do you need for a wedding in a church?
Firstly, the readiness of the newlyweds. Organizing this sacred ceremony is possible only with the voluntary consent of the bride and groom .
The second condition is belonging to the Orthodox Church. It is impossible to marry the unbaptized, and it is pointless. If one of the newlyweds is of a different faith, then the wedding may be permitted provided that the children born in the marriage are baptized in the Orthodox Church.
The third condition is the presence of a marriage registration document . The Russian Orthodox Church does not allow people to get married before the wedding, fearing that one of the newlyweds may already be legally married? But after the wedding, even if you have been married for 15 years, you can get married at any time.
Organizing a celebration is a troublesome task, involving a lot of conventions. For example, it may be difficult to choose a date: weddings are prohibited on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, as well as during Lent. Therefore, if you are not married, but definitely decided to get married, you must first decide on the wedding date, and only then apply for marriage registration; and if you are already married, then choose the wedding day according to the church calendar.
Living spouses in a civil marriage without registration should know that if they want to get married, the priest will require documents confirming the official registration of the marriage at the registry office. No matter how long you live together, before the consecration of the union in the church, you must have your passports stamped.
Both newlyweds and married couples need to take into account some rules regarding appearance: chastity in clothes and makeup is harmoniously combined with the solemn church interior and a touching, spiritual ceremony. Pectoral crosses are required, and the bride's head must be covered.
The list of prohibitions on weddings is small:
- Marriage between close relatives is not allowed.
- The sacrament is allowed to be performed only three times. A fourth church marriage is prohibited.
- A couple cannot be married if one of the newlyweds is married to another person.
- Weddings with godparents are prohibited.
- Weddings of persons over 80 years of age or with a large age difference are possible only with the permission of the bishop.
- Church marriage between persons who are in a civil relationship is prohibited. For example, a father cannot marry his adopted daughter.
Temples in Northwestern District
Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Pokrovsky-Streshnevo
Where:
Volokolamskoye sh., 52, bldg.
1 How to get there:
metro station “Sokol”, trolleybus 12, 70, tram 6 to the stop “Pokrovskoye-Glebovo”
Contact details: Conditions:
The cost of a wedding without a choir is 1500 rubles.
Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God Quick to Hear on Khodynka Field Where:
st.
Marshala Rybalko, house 8, bldg. 2 How to get there:
metro station “Oktyabrskoe Pole” (the first car from the center), exit to the right then left, then walk along the street.
Sokolovskogo to st. Rybalko 8 (10 min walk). Contact information:
, www.hramskor.ru
Conditions:
The cost of a wedding without a choir is 1,500 rubles.
Wedding sets
In addition to spiritual preparation, attention should also be paid to the external side. The sacrament will require certain attributes.
Photos of the wedding set
Here's a list of what's included in the wedding package:
- Icons: the Savior and the Mother of God. They are selected in the same style. A wedding pair of icons becomes a family amulet for many years , carefully stored and passed on from parents to children.
- Wedding rings are a symbol of eternal love. They must be given to the priest in advance so that he can consecrate them.
Gold ring, SL (price on link)
- Candles that the newlyweds hold in their hands throughout the ceremony.
- The towel on which the newlyweds stand remains in the church after the ceremony. It should be white and symbolizes a cloud that seems to lift the couple to heaven. After all, marriages take place there.
- The union towel is a symbol of marriage, with which the priest ties the hands of the bride and groom.
- Handkerchiefs used by witnesses to hold the wedding crown over the head of the bride or groom. The crown is a symbol of God's blessing.
Photo of the wedding crown
- Handkerchiefs for candles. The candles are lit throughout the ceremony to prevent wax from dripping onto the bride’s hands and elegant dress; the candle is wrapped in a handkerchief.
- Wine (Cahors). After the Lord's Prayer, the young drink from the same cup. This symbolizes the complete unity of the spouses, their willingness to drink together all the joys and sorrows of life. After this, the priest circles the couple three times around the lectern. The circle is a symbol of eternity.
Wedding towel
Any manufacturer offering wedding accessories takes into account all the wishes of customers. The factory-produced set is high-quality, elegant and includes everything you need. However, given the exceptional importance of the event, which usually happens only once in a lifetime, it is better for the bride herself to make towels and handkerchiefs with her own hands, embroider them, putting her soul and the desire for a happy family life into every stitch. In addition, the ornament embroidered on a towel is not simple; each of its elements carries a certain meaning.
Previously, girls from an early age and before marriage prepared their dowry, sewed, embroidered
Based on the quality of the handicraft, the groom's relatives assessed the skill and talent of the future wife at the bride's show.
DIY dowry
Tradition of parental blessing
- the groom and his parents come to the house of the bride’s parents and ask them for their daughter’s hand in marriage;
- upon consent to marriage, parents on both sides bless the newlyweds for a family union: the groom with the icon of Christ the Savior, the girl with the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos;
- the young make the sign of the cross and kiss the holy images;
- handing over icons, parents say that the time of raising children is over for them and with faith and hope they entrust their children to the all-powerful intercession of the Lord and Mother of God;
- icons, after the Wedding, are placed in the red corner, in the house where the bride and groom will live - these are the first icons of their family iconostasis.
- If one of the parents is not alive, then the survivor blesses;
- If parents are against marriage and do not want to give blessings, then you should contact your confessor and ask his advice on how valid the parents’ opinion is, is it based on selfishness or life experience and prudence.
Wedding candles
Fire in a church is a common thing; thousands of candles burn in the church every day, carrying the prayers, requests and gratitude of believers to heaven. But wedding candles are special. Their fire is a symbol of the love of two people uniting their lives before the Lord. They preserve the power of the prayer that the priest reads during the wedding sacrament. Considering that the ceremony lasts several hours, and the candles in the hands of the newlyweds must burn throughout the ceremony, they must be of the appropriate size and quality. No one wants the candle to go out during the wedding, because this is an unkind sign.
Paraffin or wax wedding candles are made with special care. They are decorated with ornaments, patterns, applied decorative elements and often look like a work of art. Accordingly, their price is higher than that of ordinary candles. You can, of course, use regular ones. In this case, you can figure out how to decorate them yourself so that they look elegant and festive. Making candles with your own hands is a creative process, the result is unique.
Photo of wedding candle
Most couples treat wedding candles like family heirlooms. And although the church does not impose strict requirements on what to do with them after the wedding and when to light them, the candles are taken home and carefully stored behind the icons in the red corner. They are rarely lit when the family is going through difficulties: forced long separation or disagreements. During a divorce, the correct thing to do is take the candles to church and burn them there.
Pseudo-church superstitions associated with weddings
- younger brothers/sisters cannot marry earlier than older ones;
- you cannot get married while pregnant;
- You cannot get married or get married on a leap year;
- a fallen ring or an extinguished wedding candle - portends all sorts of troubles, a difficult life in marriage or the early death of one of the spouses;
- the one of the couple who first steps onto the spread towel will dominate the family all his life;
- the one whose candle turns out to be shorter after the sacrament will die earlier;
- You can’t get married in May, “you’ll suffer for the rest of your life.”
How to prepare for a wedding in the Orthodox Church?
It is necessary, first of all, to prepare for the sacrament of wedding spiritually. People walk down the aisle with pure thoughts and an open heart. A line is drawn under the past life, a new family life lies ahead. This is the right time to review your past affairs and mistakes and prevent their repetition in your future life together.
Preparation rules include:
- fasting (fasting);
- prayer;
- confession;
- participle.
When the wedding location has been determined, there will be a conversation with the priest, who will tell you in detail how the ceremony takes place and what needs to be done the day before.
What do they ask at an interview? The main thing that the priest finds out during the conversation is: do the bride and groom understand the meaning of the sacrament? After all, this is not just a beautiful rite, it is the unification of two hearts, two souls, two lives before God. The two become one, forever, forever! The family is often called the small church , and the relationship between husband and wife is compared to the relationship between Jesus Christ and the Church.
An ardent but fleeting feeling of love between newlyweds is not enough to create a strong family; a readiness for self-sacrifice and daily work is required
It is not necessary to get married at the same time as registering your marriage. After living together for several years, checking your feelings and strengthening in the confidence of the right choice, you can sanctify your marriage before God. Preparing for a wedding for married people is no different; spouses should follow the same rules. People often ask, is it necessary to confess before a wedding? This is a mandatory rule and cannot be broken. Confession takes place separately, one on one with the priest. In fact, you are confessing not to the priest, but to the Lord himself.
Some features of the bride's clothing
- the bride must have a headdress covering her head (veil or scarf);
- shoulders must be covered (cape, scarf, veil);
- the dress is white. If people who have already been married for some time are getting married, or are getting remarried, then the bride is no longer required to wear a white dress;
- cosmetics - in minimal quantities.
- because If you also have to attend the Liturgy on the wedding day, then in total, in terms of time, it will take several hours. To keep you comfortable, consider wearing comfortable shoes.
How much does a church wedding cost?
The wedding ceremony, both in the Orthodox and Catholic churches, is paid. And although some churches have a price list for services, no one has set the exact price. In each individual case, the issue is resolved individually . The cost depends on the pomp of the ceremony. If you want the ceremony to be accompanied by a choir of singers and church bells to ring, then the price will be correspondingly higher. In principle, you can get married for free: for a regular ceremony, some churches do not charge a fee at all, but only voluntary donations, the size of which depends on your capabilities. In 2022, the price of a wedding in Russia ranges from 2,000 to 10,000 rubles and depends on the location of the temple and its significance.
Temples in Western District
Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Vorobyovy Gory
Where:
Kosygina St., 30
How to get there:
metro station “Vorobyovy Gory”, observation deck
Contact information: Conditions:
On average, the cost of a wedding with a choir is 5,000 rubles.
Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Trinity-Golenishchevo Where:
Mosfilmovskaya, 18A
How to get there:
From the Kievskaya metro station by trolleybuses No. 17, 34, by bus No. 119 (final stop at the station square, near the clock tower) - to the Troitse-Golenishchevo stop , (9th from the Station).
Contact details: Conditions:
The cost of a wedding without a choir is 2000 rubles.
