How much does a wedding in the Orthodox Church cost and what is needed for it?

Important little things

This category includes items that newlyweds usually do not pay attention to until the last day, and then in a hurry choose the first thing that catches their eye. It is their acquisition that should be taken care of first. First of all, we’ll make a list, and we’ll move through it sequentially to calculate the total cost. List of important little things :

1. Candles for weddings.
2. Shawls.
3. Cushion for rings.
4. Icons of the Savior and the Virgin Mary.
5. Pectoral crosses that newlyweds should have.
6. A piece of white linen or towel.
7. Headdress for the bride.
8. Church wine.

Candles

This is a necessary attribute of a wedding. For a long time, while the priest is performing the ceremony, the newlyweds will hold lit candles in their hands. They are quite large and beautifully decorated. Later, during various family holidays, many consider it necessary to relight this wedding fire. The choice of specific candles is purely a matter of taste. Their cost can fluctuate greatly. Here everything depends on the shape and quality of the candles themselves, because they can be made from natural wax, which is somewhat more expensive than artificial paraffin. In addition, the decorations used for decoration also play a role. So, depending on all these factors, newlyweds will pay from 200 to 2,000 rubles per couple for wedding candles.

Find out all the rules for getting married in the Orthodox Church from our article. In this review, we will tell you which hand the wedding ring is worn on. Here: https://banquettes.ru/prazdniki/religioznyie/drevnerusskie/krestinyi/osnovnyie-pravila-rebenka.html - you can read the rules for baptizing a child.

Handkerchiefs

The tradition that requires covering the hands of young people during a wedding is quite old. Its meaning is purely practical. Scarves are used so that the newlyweds can hold candles without fear of getting burned or dirty. In addition, the witnesses will hold special crowns over the heads of the newlyweds. In most cases, this should not be done with open hands, so handkerchiefs are useful here too. Therefore, four of them need to be prepared. Almost always these are thin fabric rectangles decorated with embroidery and lace. Their cost may vary depending on the fabric and decorations. You can also purchase special potholders designed specifically for this purpose in church shops and specialized stores. The cost of one handkerchief can start from 100 rubles. The average price for a set of two pieces is about 350–400 rubles. Special potholders are much more convenient. Their cost is higher - about 800–900 rubles per pair.

Ring pad

It is used to make the wedding ceremony even more beautiful. This pillow is usually small - its edge is about 15-17 cm. In terms of design style, it is desirable that it matches the candles and handkerchiefs for them. The average price is approximately 350 rubles, and it depends directly on the materials and the quality of the work itself. So, for example, a handmade pillow will be much more expensive – from 1000 rubles.

Icons

Not a single wedding can take place without icons of the Mother of God and the Savior. After all, they symbolize that the bride and groom become king and queen for each other. It is advisable that these icons be pre-consecrated. Both of them are made in the same style and usually come in two classic sizes - 31 by 27 cm or 24 by 20 cm. The materials used are also different. The cost depends on many factors, most of them have already been mentioned - size, materials, quality and type of work. The average price for a “small” set ranges from 15–20 thousand rubles . Larger icons will cost more - about 24-30 thousand rubles. More expensive options reach 100 and even 200 thousand.

Pectoral crosses

At the wedding ceremony you must only wear a cross. Usually baptized Orthodox Christians have this thing. But if the cross is lost, then you definitely need to buy and consecrate a new one. In many cases, these objects are made of wood or silver, less often - of gold. Depending on the complexity of the work and materials, the price will vary greatly. Wooden crosses made of valuable wood can be equal in price to silver ones. Sometimes they are even more expensive – from 3–3.5 thousand rubles. Gold and platinum – from 5–6 thousand.

Wedding towels

You definitely need two of them. The newlyweds will stand on the first towel. The second is necessary so that the young people’s hands are tied together. This tradition is necessarily included in the ritual. It is precisely because towels have different purposes that they will differ from each other. The second should be more subtle and gentle, so that the bride and groom feel comfortable. However, it is still advisable to maintain a uniform design style. The cost of such towels ranges from 2–3 thousand rubles per piece. However, hand embroidery, lace and hemstitching can significantly increase this amount.

Bride's headdress

The bride's head must be covered, since the entire ceremony is performed in the temple. This can be an ordinary veil, just not too long and fluffy so as not to set it on fire with candles. Even a regular light-colored headscarf or headscarf will do. However, more often brides prefer more sophisticated and comfortable special bonnets or capes for weddings. They are made of thin translucent fabric and decorated with lace. There are options entirely lace. The average cost of a bonnet or cape is about 3–3.5 thousand. However, simpler scarves and scarves will be much cheaper - from 500–600 rubles.

Wine

For a wedding, wine is also required, which is used for a ceremony called the “cup of fellowship.” Wine is a symbol of a strong, wonderful drink into which the water of the relationship between spouses will turn year after year. The most common and classic option is “Cahors”. “Sherry” is also often used, which, like the previous variety, belongs to red fortified wines. The cost of wine directly depends on the producer and aging. The minimum price for a bottle of a good drink is about 700–800 rubles.
More expensive wines can cost newlyweds 7–10 thousand.

How to prepare and choose a place?

At the first stage, you should choose a temple in which you will seal your destinies into one. It doesn't have to be an ornate church. Some newlyweds, on the contrary, choose small rural parishes, for example, those where they were baptized.

Your own feelings under the shadow of the temple are extremely important. You should feel calm and grace, but if you don’t like or are worried about something, then perhaps you should look for another church. Pay no less attention to the priest who will perform the ceremony. The priest should inspire trust, show favor and understanding, teach and tell you about the important points of the sacrament, and not reproach you for ignorance of the canons.

If you are a church member, then there will be no problem. Get married with your priest, to whom you go to confess. This is the best solution. If your acquaintance with Orthodoxy began not so long ago, then be prepared for a short interview. The priest must make sure that, firstly, you understand what the sacrament is, and are not chasing a fashionable, beautiful ritual, and secondly, you are ready to bear the bonds of marriage. You can discuss other controversial issues with the priest - about appearance, photography within the walls of the temple, the best date.

People who are getting married not for the first time will have to make additional preparations. Depending on the situation, either ordinary repentance with a blessing for a second marriage, or permission from the bishop will be required.

Dress

So, all the little things are taken into account, the newlyweds have nothing to worry about. However, there are still a few mandatory points that should be mentioned, even though they are usually thought about from day one. The first and most important on this short list is the wedding dress. After all, it is the bride’s outfit that is the key element both at the wedding and at the wedding. In addition, it has some restrictions due to which it may differ from the wedding dress.

There are several strict rules regarding style that must be strictly followed when choosing. The color can be almost any. After all, a white dress for a bride is a European tradition. Here white symbolizes purity and purity.

Traditional for the wedding ceremony in an Orthodox Russian wedding is a red sundress. So what should a bride think about when choosing her outfit? Here is a short list of these requirements:

• closed shoulders;
• lack of cleavage;
• closed back;
• arms closed to the elbows (better below);
• The hem should be low to hide your legs.

In an open dress, some of these points can be taken into account with the help of a cape, but it is better if the outfit fully complies with the existing rules. The cost of a wedding dress can vary greatly. Inexpensive outfits can be purchased for 5–10 thousand rubles. If the bride wants to have something exclusive, then the cost will reach 30–50 thousand rubles and even exceed this amount.

How to choose a date?

When choosing a date, you should use the church calendar or consult with the priest. In any case, it is not possible to schedule an ordinance for Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. Great Lent, Easter and Maslenitsa weeks, the twelfth, patronal and great church holidays fall out completely. In addition, weddings never take place at night.

Women should remember one more detail - during menstruation it is strictly forbidden to be under the arches of the temple, so when choosing the date of the sacrament, check your own calendar.

If we take into account folk signs, then May is excluded - “you will suffer all your life,” and the most favorable period is summer, especially August.

Rings

Rings usually don't seem to be a problem. However, like a dress, they have some special features for a wedding ceremony. The exchange of rings is the symbolic central element of the entire wedding ceremony. It is with their help that two people – a man and a woman – are united into one family. Recently, newlyweds have stopped strictly observing traditions and are increasingly choosing gold rings for both. In many cases, they are decorated with precious stones and made from several precious metals. The Orthodox Russian tradition requires something completely different.

• Firstly, no combination of metals in one product.
• Secondly, the surface must be smooth.
• Thirdly, the men's ring should be gold, and the women's silver. This symbolizes two principles, the sun and the moon.

The cost of wedding rings depends not only on the metal used, the complexity of the work, and the presence of jewelry. The salon where these wedding jewelry will be purchased also plays a significant role. It is important to buy them on the same day in the same place. Thin simple rings without engravings and inserts can be bought quite inexpensively - 3-6 thousand rubles. More massive products will be somewhat more expensive - about 10 thousand. If the newlyweds want their wedding rings to be inlaid with precious stones, then their cost can exceed 100 thousand.

What documents are needed?

For the wedding itself, you will only need stamped passports and a marriage certificate from the registry office. Those remarrying will additionally need permission from the bishop and a divorce certificate.

Things are more complicated if you decide to get married not in Russia, but in another Orthodox country. Then, in addition to everything else, you will need:

• certificate of baptism in the Orthodox faith;
• a certificate from your parish, with which the priest will confirm that you can get married;
• birth certificate;
• international passport.

All documents must be translated into English and notarized.

Price of the ceremony itself

According to the laws of the Orthodox Church, the wedding ceremony itself cannot be paid for intentionally. However, more and more often, churches began to charge a fee even for this procedure. If, when asked about the cost, the priest answers that it is free, then it is worth putting a small amount as a voluntary donation. Usually it is not too expensive - from 1000 to 3-4 thousand rubles. However, in large temples the fee can be higher - over 10 thousand . This is due to the fact that there will be expenses for church decoration, a professional choir, the absence of other wedding couples nearby, and much more.

We have prepared many wedding competitions for guests - fun and interesting. If you are interested in what kind of engraving to make on wedding rings, we will give you examples of inscriptions. Here: https://banquettes.ru/prazdniki/religioznyie/drevnerusskie/krestinyi/chto-mozhno-podarit-malchiku.html - you will find out what you can give to a boy for christening.

In conclusion, it is worth saying that photography or video shooting is usually prohibited in the temple. Therefore, you will have to spend money on paying for the services of operators and photographers after the ceremony is completed. In the following form you will find a lot of interesting things about the sacrament of marriage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1zPnmhGPzo

How much does a church wedding cost?

A similar question interests everyone who is preparing to go to the altar, but it sounds completely wrong.
It is important to understand: the sacrament of wedding itself does not and cannot have any monetary value, that is, it is carried out absolutely free. of leaving an offering in the church after the ceremony . Previously, young people were supposed to bring freshly baked bread wrapped in a linen towel to the temple as a sign of gratitude.

Today, the gratitude of young people is more often expressed in monetary terms - as much as they can. There are, of course, some approximate limits (from 500 to 1500 rubles).

It is better to clarify this delicate point with your priest: the accepted donation size may depend on the locality, the specific church , the position of the local clergy, etc.

Everyone’s financial situation is different, and sometimes newlyweds are not able to make a large donation for the sacrament. In any church they will treat this with understanding: after explaining the situation to the priest, the young people can leave an amount feasible for them.

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