Ukraine Brides

A typical Ukrainian wedding is very colourful and varied. It is a complex affair and usually lasts for 2 or 3 days, but there are a number of traditions that take place before the wedding and that a Ukraine bride would like to keep.

First of all, there is a so-called “dohlyaduny” or formal engagement. The groom with his friends comes to his bride’s place and asks her parents for permission to marry her. Now everything is arranged beforehand and the custom is purely formal, but it goes back to ancient times when “dohlyaduny” was an official proposal to a Ukraine bride and her parents had to decide whether she’ll get married or not.

The length of an engagement can be different – from a month to half a year or even more. During this time much has to be done. A couple makes a list of guests, choose a restaurant and think over the menu. They also have to choose a photographer and video operator, toastmaster and a church for the wedding. A Ukraine bride also has to choose a wedding dress. Ukraine brides prefer white dresses, but now ivory and pale pink dresses have become popular.

Sometimes a Ukraine bride wears such extraordinary garments as a “vyshyvanka”, a national Ukrainian embroidered shirt. An indispensable part of a Ukraine bride’s dress is a bridal veil. Though in many European countries it’s a matter of taste, for Ukraine it’s a must. The Bride groom’s clothes don’t have to meet any strong requirements. He usually wears a suit and a tie, but he may get married in shirt and trousers, with or without a tie.

The wedding usually takes place on Friday or on Saturday. The evening before the wedding the Ukraine bride and her groom have to spend separately. A groom has a stag-party and a bride invites her friends for a “divych-vechir” (hen party). In the morning, the bride groom goes to his fiancée’s place. Through an old tradition, he has to pay “vykup” for a bride. A bridesmaid (Ukraine bride has only one bridesmaid) thinks out different contests for a bridegroom and if he fails, he has to pay.

If he passes the test, he may see his bride. After “vykup”, the wedding procession goes to civilian registry office. You may have a ceremony in a church, but you must register first. A ceremony in church is very popular with Ukraine brides, but it’s a very important step for most of them. By Orthodox believing, a wedding in church means that the couple will be together in the heaven, no matter whether love lasts or not.

After the ceremony the couple and their guests have about 3-5 hours, which they spend making photos. The dinner may be held at a restaurant or at home, it depends on the number of guests and means. The Ukrainian bride is in the centre of everyone’s attention - and not only because she is the most beautiful lady. Everybody is looking forward to stealing her shoe or the bride herself! The person, who managed to do this, can ask a bridesmaid and a best man for anything he wants. Dancing and singing lasts till the dawn. The wedding continues next day.

A good time is usually had by all!!