Today we attended the wedding of a young couple from our church – Kolya and Lena. Unexpectedly I got roped into opening the door for the bride to come in for her wedding march. I am not sure that this young couple were listening a great deal the pastor as he spoke they keep looking at one another and smiling. We dropped off our kids at a friend’s house which was a blessing and made for a quiet enjoyment of this lovely event.

The cutest bride in the world. SMILE!

The kiss after the pronouncement of being man and wife.

The young couple proudly walking the aisle after having taken their vows.

Nina a friend of ours was married today. She is a lovely bride. Her husband is the brother of her best friend. She met him at her girlfriend’s wedding exactly six months ago to the day.

A happy bride on her wedding day.

Sasha in the waiting room at the wedding palace.

The couple and their parents.

A wedding done Russian style…

My former colleague and friend Zakhar and his fiancée’ Katya are getting married in true Russian style – the ZAKS wedding. ZAKS or the wedding palace is the Russian civil ceremony where most Russians hold their weddings. St. Petersburg has a hand full of these palaces scattered throughout the city. The couples often march in under a recorded (sometimes live) musical accompaniment and then a woman often conducts the ceremony. It usually takes around 15-20 minutes, after which the couple and their guests are promptly herded out of the palace and the next lucky couple begins their ceremony. This palace where my friend was married is the most prestigious in town and sits on the embankment of the Neva River. Riding to church we passed it one morning and counted 7 limousines waiting outside for the couples to finish their ceremonies.

This is a picture of the couple making their entry into the wedding hall.

Here is a shot from the back of the room.

This is the final shot before the lovely couple kisses.