Features of a Soviet-style wedding celebration

A wedding photo is both an artistic picture, a family heirloom, and a document imbued with the spirit of the times. In our selection of photos of the celebration, taken from 1925 to 1990. Among them are original village fun, with an orchestra and round dances, Komsomol, modest farmsteads, with noisy feasts and an accordion player, "demonstrative" non-alcoholic, daring and romantic city weddings.

At all times, the scope of the celebration depended on family wealth and social traditions. Of course, the Soviet era left its mark on the event, but in different parts — especially in the villages — their own traditions of celebration with ritual dances, bride buybacks and other features were preserved. You can track the chronology of weddings using old photos.

Often the wedding became the subject of shooting for the classics of domestic photography. For example, made in The Vyazniki photo "For grandchildren" by Vladimir Lagrange was published in the magazine "Soviet Union" and it was seen in more than 100 countries. Also among the authors whose works are included in our selection are such outstanding photographers as Alexander Steshanov, Rustam Mukhametzyanov, Vsevolod Tarasevich, Vladimir Sokolaev and Igor Palmin.

It is worth noting that those who have been in Many foreign masters also did not miss the opportunity to take a wedding picture. Below there is a wonderful shot from the registry office of Elliot Erwitt, as well as street shots of the newlyweds Henri Cartier-Bresson and Ferdinando Shanna.

In the registry office, Uzbek SSR, 1925. The author of the photo: Zelma Georgy Anatolyevich.

"Calmly, I'm shooting!.." Ukrainian SSR, 1938. The author of the photo: Arkady Shishkin.

Wedding in the house of the Mishukovs. Congratulations to the young-Lyubov Mishukova and Vasily Skrylnikov from fellow villagers. Stavropol Territory, 1952. The author of the photo: Oleg Knorring.

A village wedding. The village of Mikhaltsy, Northern Bukovina, Moldavian SSR, 1940. The author of the photo: Georgy Petrusov.

Wedding feast in the hut. The village of Mikhaltsy, Northern Bukovina, Moldavian SSR, 1940. The author of the photo: Georgy Petrusov.

The wedding band. The village of Mikhaltsy, Northern Bukovina, Moldavian SSR, 1940. The author of the photo: Georgy Petrusov.

A wedding in the village. Pskov region, Porkhovsky district, d. Zhitovo, June 1, 1946. The author is unknown. Photo from the archive of Olga Pavlovna Karelina.

Wedding on the farm, 1950s. The author of the photo: Arkady Shishkin.

Newlyweds Marusya and Vasil Makarenko, 1950. The author of the photo: Oleg Knorring.

"Children of different peoples". Wedding in the hostel. Foreign students. Gubkin Moscow Petroleum Institute. Moscow, 1954. The author of the photo: Oleg Knorring.

At the wedding. Ukrainian SSR, Chernivtsi region, 1960. The author of the photo: Vsevolod Tarasevich.

At the wedding table. Chernivtsi region, Ukrainian SSR, 1960. The author of the photo: Vsevolod Tarasevich.

Guests at the wedding. Chernivtsi region, Ukrainian SSR, 1960. The author of the photo: Vsevolod Tarasevich.

Registration of marriage. Chernivtsi region, Ukrainian SSR, 1960. Photo author: Vsevolod Tarasevich

The wedding of Valentina Tereshkova and Andriyan Nikolaev. Moscow, November 3, 1963. The author is unknown.

Valentina Tereshkova and chief designer Sergey Korolev during the wedding of Tereshkova and Andriana Nikolaeva. Moscow, November 3, 1963.

Azerbaijani wedding, 1965. The author of the photo: Lev Borodulin.

"And the childhood remained", Moscow, 1965. The author of the photo: Zvyagelsky.

Russian wedding, 1967. The author of the photo: Lev Borodulin.

Bratsk, 1967. The author of the photo: Elliot Erwitt.

Wedding of Olga Burdeiko and Andrey Garvish, Kamchatka region, 1967. Photo author: Nikita Kozlovsky

At the wedding. Leningrad, 1965-1979. The author of the photo: Vsevolod Tarasevich.

"In the clouds", Moscow, 1969. Authors: Nina Sviridova, Dmitry Vozdvizhensky.

Wedding at Eric Kistenev, Moscow region, village. Protvino, 1969-1974. The author of the photo: Vsevolod Tarasevich.

Northern wedding, 1970. The author of the photo: Oleg Poleshchuk.

Vzglyad, 1970-e. The author of the photo: Vsevolod Tarasevich.

Textile workers, 1970. Authors: Nina Sviridova, Dmitry Vozdvizhensky.

Wedding, 1970. The author of the photo: Vsevolod Tarasevich.

Irkutsk, 1972. The author of the photo: Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Komsomol wedding, 1975. The author of the photo: Eduard Ettinger.

An accordion player at a wedding. From the series "Gorodok", 1975. The author of the photo: Yuri Rybchinsky.

The bride and groom, Tatar ASSR, Yelabuga, 1978. The author of the photo: Rustam Mukhametzyanov.

Happiness. Moscow, 1978. The author of the photo: Rustam Mukhametzyanov.

A rural wedding. Kuzbass, 1979. The author of the photo: Vladimir Sokolaev.

Wedding, Kolomna, Moscow region, 1981. The author of the photo: Igor Palmin.

A driver with his car decorated with wedding flowers and a doll is waiting for the bride and groom after their wedding. Odessa, Ukraine, 1982. Photo by Ian Berry.

An "indicative" non-alcoholic wedding. Chelyabinsk, January 4, 1986. The author of the photo: Boris Klipinitser.

An "indicative" non-alcoholic wedding. Chelyabinsk, January 4, 1986. The author of the photo: Boris Klipinitser.

An "indicative" non-alcoholic wedding. Chelyabinsk, January 4, 1986. The author of the photo: Boris Klipinitser.

"Autumn wedding". Tatar ASSR, D. Tat Suuk-su, 1987. The author of the photo: Rustam Mukhametzyanov.

"For grandchildren". Wedding in Vyazniki, 1986. The author of the photo: Vladimir Lagrange.

Leningrad, 1987. The author of the photo: Ferdinando Shanna.

The first morning, 1987. The author of the photo: Boris Gavrilovich Mikhalevkin.

A village wedding. The village of Chereshenka, near Chernivtsi, Ukraine, 1988. The author of the photo: Bruno Barbie.

The first snow, 1990. The author of the photo: George Dmitrievich Rozov.

Morning of the bride. Sheshuyevo, Bryansk region, 1990. The author of the photo: Sergey Sukharev.

Wedding in the Elokhovsky Cathedral, Moscow, 1990. The author of the photo: Alexander Steshanov.