European-style wedding: design ideas and photos

Basic details of a European-style ceremony

According to the wedding scenario, this type of wedding differs from typical options in the following nuances:

• after receiving a proposal from a man, an official engagement is announced;
• stag and hen parties are held the day before the wedding or 2-3 days before it;
• photographing newlyweds before the wedding;
• meeting at the ceremony site, most often at the registry office;
• conducting a wedding photo shoot after the main events;
• wedding celebrations and buffet receptions in natural conditions;
• departure of the newlyweds on a trip after the ceremony.

The key difference between the chosen style and its Russian counterpart is the script. It includes both a variety of entertainment events and a more relaxed competitive program. Such weddings look elegant due to the successful combination of many small nuances. Often people turn to cultural experts for advice on holding a celebration. Their advice helps make the celebration closer to the desired original. Also, such weddings are characterized by the absence of a toastmaster, who is replaced by an entertainer. His main tasks include coordinating the wedding with lighting from one part of the ceremony to the next.

Venue of the banquet part

In Russian realities, a wedding usually begins with a visit from a makeup artist and bridesmaids to visit the bride. Everyone helps her get ready mentally and physically before the ceremony. You can invite a photographer to capture memorable moments of the cathedrals in photos.

In a European style, a wedding has a different scenario from the very morning. For training purposes, a couple of hotel rooms are rented separately for the young couple. Or a room is rented only for the hero of the occasion. The second difference is the presence of two photographers to record the preparations of both the bride and groom. Also, in European weddings, dowry is not observed. The difference lies in the fact that events of this level are less often than others held directly in the registry office.

Tips for creating the image of newlyweds

In European style, it is customary to stick to the classics, and weddings are no exception. It is advisable for the bride to choose an outfit richly decorated with rhinestones and jewels, floor length and a standard white color. The nuances of the bride’s image for a European wedding are as follows:

• floor-length dress with a train;
• The white color scheme of the dress is considered traditional;
• the presence of a long veil and decoration of the outfit.

Brides prefer styles of dresses with closed shoulders and the absence of bold cutouts in the neckline. A girl's bouquet can be made from various flower arrangements. You can choose an exclusive, expensive option, or limit yourself to a simple composition of wild, available flowers. Beads or ribbons are used as decoration for the legs, but often it is completely absent.

It is advisable for the groom to choose a classic suit or tuxedo. If such options are not available, you can opt for a high-quality suit - a three-piece suit in black or white.

Recommendations for the appearance of witnesses

At such a wedding there are 3-4 witnesses. In general, their number can reach 10 people, 5 on each side. For the overall harmony of the picture, it is necessary to think through their image and its compatibility with the heroes of the occasion. It is best for girls to wear dresses that are either completely identical, or at least the same color and style. Such an idea is difficult to implement due to both the personal preferences of the girls and their body type. Therefore, general details will be an excellent replacement for strict compliance. It’s easier for young people: it’s important for them to choose the same suits of the right size. Men's suits are allowed to match only in color.

The main condition is that the groom must stand out among the witnesses present. The groom's friends can also add a bright accent in the form of a bow tie or tie. Such images not only distinguish the witnesses from the total number of guests, but also create spectacular shots for a photo shoot.

Guest attire and meeting place

If there is no wedding stage, guests are advised to gather at the location where the main part of the ceremony will take place. It is best to paint outdoors in natural conditions. An employee of the registry office, upon prior request, goes to the location of the future wedding. The completeness of the picture will be recreated by the arch and pedestal.

From films, you can recall another distinctive feature of a wedding of this style. Guests are seated in 2 large rows, and the bride and groom walk to the altar between them. To create such an environment, you only need a path to the altar, natural or artificially designed in the form of a red covering. Chairs for guests are placed on either side of it. The groom should wait for the bride near the arch.

If you refuse to hold an outdoor ceremony, you can hold the painting and wedding on different days, notifying guests about the changes. The role of a civil registry office employee can be entrusted to a special figurehead. Invitations are distributed after all the main nuances have been thought out. It is also worth considering the dress code for guests. After all, the photographs should turn out harmonious. Evening or cocktail dresses are recommended for ladies, and formal business suits for men.

How to have a wedding abroad

Having decided to tie the knot in another country, you can go in two ways: organize everything yourself, or use the services of a travel or wedding agency. You also need to decide how you see the wedding being held, whether it will be staged, or whether everything should be official and real.

Required documents

The Family Code of the Russian Federation in Article 158 states that Russian citizens have the right to register an official marriage on the territory of another state if it is formalized in accordance with its laws.

Such a union is considered valid in Russia and is legally no different from the one concluded in our country. However, this does not apply to Egypt, Thailand, China, and the UAE. If you like one of these countries, then the wedding procedure will have to go through at home, but the staged ceremony and celebration can be organized “outside”.

In addition, some countries with which Russia has concluded agreements to register the marriages of their citizens put forward additional conditions for future spouses who want to formalize relations on their territory. You will need to stay in France for at least 30 consecutive days until this point, and Switzerland, Germany and Austria reserve the right to provide a response to your marriage application within up to six months.

Before registering a union, carefully and thoroughly study the laws of the city where the event is planned. Often within one country, the family code in different cities has significant differences.

The standard package of required documents includes:

1. Russian passports and color copies (first page, page with marital status and registration).
2. International passports and color copies of the first pages.
3. Certificates from the registry office stating that neither the man nor the woman is currently legally married.
4. In case of remarriage - a divorce certificate, in case of widowhood - a death certificate of the previous spouse.
5. If one of the newlyweds changed his surname - relevant documents about this fact.
6. Certificates from the registry office stating that there are no official reasons for denying a couple marriage (they are not relatives, are not an adoptive parent or adopted child, etc.).
7. If a third party will deal with documentary issues, a power of attorney authorizing the right to perform this action.
8. Birth certificates.
9. A certificate indicating parental permission to marry if the bride or groom has not reached the age of majority.

Copies of these documents must be translated into the official language of the country where the marriage will be registered and certified with an apostille seal.

However, this list may be supplemented in accordance with the current laws of the selected country.

Once the official wedding ceremony is behind you, you will have to wait some time, sometimes up to 6 months, before you are given a marriage certificate, and it will also need to be legalized in the territory of the issuing state in order for it to be considered legal in Russia.

There are additional nuances:

1. In a number of countries, it is not necessary for a wife to take her husband’s surname; this desire should be notified additionally.
2. A couple's divorce can only be filed in the country where the registration took place.
3. By getting married in some states, you also automatically agree that in the event of a divorce, all property acquired during your married life will be divided in half.

The procedure for submitting and receiving documents, as well as bringing them into a form that gives them legal status, is painstaking, responsible and time-consuming.

The absence of just one stamp or signature can be a reason for refusal of registration and ruin everything, and often in order to submit an application, you need to speak not only English, but also the local language.

Therefore, from a purely practical point of view, it is better if a wedding agency does this; the price for such a service starts from $1,500. An alternative option is to legally register the marriage at home.

A staged ceremony does not have any legal weight, but it allows you to avoid paperwork, save a decent amount intended to pay for all relevant services and taxes related to documents, create a solemn atmosphere, and in addition eliminates the slightest connection to the place of the wedding; it can be held even on the bottom of the ocean.

Organization of the celebration

When planning a wedding abroad, most often it is scheduled for the entrance, this time is enough for the guests to share the joy of the event with you.

Then the couple can return home, stay in place to relax, or go on tour. A wedding abroad does not involve a large circle of guests. Usually it is attended by parents on both sides, a witness and a witness. The wedding budget increases in proportion to the number of guests.

You should worry in advance about how the invitees will get to the desired place, and book tickets for round-trip flights. You can also stipulate who pays for travel and accommodation, the guest or the newlyweds. It is customary for the inviting party to bear these costs, but it varies.

You also need to resolve the issue of accommodation, choose a hotel, make reservations for rooms for young people and guests.

If you decide to do all this yourself, but have never been to this country or visited the hotel you have chosen for your stay, then there is a significant risk of discovering upon arrival that the rooms look far different from the ones in the picture, and the service does not correspond to the declared level .

To avoid disappointment, it is advisable to find reviews from people who vacationed there; in general, they will give a plausible description.
Next, you need to choose the place where the ceremony will take place. In the official version of the location, it is the Russian consulate or a local municipal building.
In the production - the seashore or ocean, an ancient villa, a luxurious castle - whatever your imagination tells you and meets your budget. But it needs to be adapted to the wedding: photographer, musical accompaniment, wedding arch, chairs for guests, food and drinks, flowers and decor, host, entertainment program - you want to organize all this at the proper level. You will also need waiters, a makeup artist, and a hairdresser.

You’re confident that you can handle it yourself, despite the fact that it’s a foreign country—wonderful!

If you have doubts, contact a wedding agency. They will take care of the decorations, tickets, and accommodation.

This service will allow you to avoid time-consuming hassle and enjoy the long-awaited day to the fullest, and the price for it is determined depending on how and where you want to celebrate.

The mentality of wedding hosts in most countries is different from the Russian one; a European host will not entertain guests in the same way as our toastmaster. If you want competitions, then you should take the host with you, arrange a ceremonial banquet and toasts from the guests - hire a local or completely ignore this character. A DJ is also preferable. He will quickly and adequately respond to what is happening, and not wait until he is told what needs to be done now.

In addition, a Russian knows what kind of music should be played at a wedding, but a European may not be able to cope with such a task.

You need to visit the wedding venue with him in advance so that he understands how to arrange the equipment and where to place the remote control. If you can’t bring a DJ with you at all, then hire only one who speaks Russian. Equipment rental costs $500-700, and the same amount for the person at the control panel.

A performance by a local cover band costs about the same per evening, a show band - from 200. For the best result, the team of videographers should consist of two, or better yet, four people, but since weddings abroad are planned long before the X date, it can It turns out that it’s impossible to find good and free ones.

Photo and video shooting in Russia is cheaper than abroad. So, in Canada, a photographer will charge about $1,000 for his services, but this is where you can find professionals of the highest level. To travel abroad, newlyweds and guests may need a visa. Don't forget to check in advance whether everything is state. Have you paid for your services, are there any overdue fines, etc.

When drawing up an estimate, it is worth including the cost of food for guests during their stay in another country, payment for travel from the station or airport to the place of accommodation and other related expenses.

Decoration of a festive banquet

If a European wedding is planned in the warm season, it is best to choose an open area. Both the river bank and a summer cottage site near natural conditions such as a forest area are suitable. If the weather is not pleasant, you can book a banquet hall. The style of the wedding ceremony area should be carried out according to the canons of the European style.

The basis of a European wedding is the unity and harmony of many details. Usually newlyweds focus on one color or detail of the celebration. It is advisable to think through any nuances. After the official style of the wedding has been approved, you can think about creating other nuances such as a cake, a banquet hall, and a motorcade. Stylish accessories will help create unity, both in the images of young people and in wedding decorations. It is important to think over the style of the menu, cards on the tables, decoration of the hall and images of the young people. In Europe, in the wedding planning process, the emphasis is not on the menu, but on the details of the entire decoration of the celebration.

Wedding in Italy

Passionate Italy attracts ardent hearts in love. On Italian lands you can hold an official and symbolic ceremony.

You can officially sign:

• In Rome, in the red hall of the Capitol, in the city hall, at Villa Lais.
• In Venice in the city hall.
• In Verona in the Palazzo Guarienti, in the castles.
• In Milan at the Royal Palace.
• In Florence in the Palazzo Vecchio.
• In Tuscany at the local town hall.

A wedding in Italy will not only fill you with positive emotions and vivid impressions, but will also give you as a souvenir the spectacular shots taken during a wedding photo shoot in Europe.

Banquet ceremony

Before holding a banquet, it is advisable to at least introduce the guests to each other by name, organizing a small buffet table for the introduction ceremony. In European style, this is often observed, because the invited guests and relatives to the wedding may not know each other. Also, acquaintance can be organized next to the buffet for greater comfort.

There is usually no common large table at such weddings. There are supposed to be several tables for 5-9 people. For such an event, it is recommended to order a full lunch or dinner. Food is usually served by waiters, and there are very few common dishes on the tables. The dinner procedure itself usually takes place within a few hours. The seating arrangement of guests should also be thought out in advance. You can seat them both by age and by the degree of familiarity with each other.

If a traditional European wedding takes place in an open area, you can limit yourself to a light buffet. This way you can emphasize the chosen European style of the event. In this case, several tables are set with a basic appetizer and waiters are invited in order to avoid crowding at the tables.

After 4-5 hours, and sometimes less, the main dish is brought out - the wedding cake. Here some people are holding a Russian competition, selling the right to the first piece. After another couple of hours, the European wedding comes to an end. This method will help not only save money, but also time. Especially if the couple goes on their first trip shortly after the ceremony. Also, European style is an excellent option for a celebration with a small number of guests.

History of the wedding cake

Even in ancient Rome, a cake was specially baked for weddings as a symbol of abundance. Moreover, it had to be broken right over the newlywed’s head so that the new family would have wealth and prosperity. The guests who managed to collect at least a few crumbs were lucky.

In England, during the era of the Crusades, the tradition was changed - a large number of pies were brought by guests and placed in the center of the table. It took a lot of effort for the bride and groom to reach each other across the entire mountain of pies and kiss.

Nuances of a wedding

A European-style wedding involves the absence of a toastmaster. Which can work to your advantage. After all, inexperienced beginners often spoil all the fun with inappropriate competitive programs. An experienced entertainer will reduce the risk of awkward situations and allow you to save a certain amount. In order to be confident in the experience of the entertainer, you can ask for a portfolio before ordering.

It is also important to think about the musical accompaniment of the wedding. It is advisable to select music that is melodic, light and according to your musical taste. If you have the finances, you can invite musicians to the wedding and organize live music. An additional pleasant little thing for guests will be a memorable gift in the form of a boutonniere or a bag with a photo of the couple and sweets inside.

Entertainment events are also included in the wedding program. True, they differ from their Russian counterparts and may seem boring to some. Often competitions are replaced by performances by invited artists. The main competitions are tossing the bride's bouquet and garter. You can organize mini-relay races, talent competitions and other parts of the entertainment program. The main task of the couple is to choose as many original entertainments as possible so that the wedding does not become banal and boring.

The European ceremony does not imply long celebrations and a table laden with food. Usually everything is limited to either a buffet in the evening or lunch in the afternoon. After the holiday, the couple goes on a trip or goes to a hotel room booked in advance. Some guests continue to celebrate in this case without the newlyweds.

Advantages and disadvantages

A wedding abroad has both positive and negative sides. The most significant disadvantage is the organization of the arrival of guests. To ensure their visit, additional material costs are important. Otherwise, someone will not be able to travel abroad on their own at the right time.

Of course, you can invite your closest relatives to the celebration, but then you won’t get a big wedding. If you are planning a magnificent event, the budget must be appropriate.

Typically, it takes several months, or even a whole year, to prepare for a wedding abroad. This is due to the fact that it is necessary to book the right place in advance and resolve a number of important issues.

1. Prepare documents (obtain a marriage license, submit an application, certify the papers, pay the state fee, obtain a certificate of citizenship, pay for the marriage registration certificate and its Russian-language copy).
2. Apply for a visa and purchase a ticket.
3. Order an agency that will assist in organizing photo and video shooting, choosing a country, restaurant, hotel, style of celebration).

A wedding abroad cannot be delayed, so if you want to make your marriage registration original and memorable, you need to act immediately.

Organization of a wedding photo shoot

Immediately before the marriage ceremony, the newlyweds go on a secluded walk away from the main crowd of guests. If you need help with the props, you can take a couple of witnesses or children from the invited guests with you. During this pastime, an official photo session is held. The advantage is that the couple can safely retire in such moments and behave as relaxed as possible. And the photographer’s task is to discreetly photograph memorable moments. In addition to unexpected photos, you can take a few staged shots with the guests after the walk.

After the photo shoot, you can ask the photographer to arrange the best photographs in a memorable book. or do it yourself. Such books become an excellent source of inspiration for the first and subsequent anniversaries.

To briefly summarize, there are several reasons for choosing a European-style wedding:

• if you have a decent wedding budget;
• the morals and temperaments of the newlyweds correspond to the style;
• holding the ceremony in natural, unobtrusive conditions;
• the opportunity to have a beautiful end to the past day.

At the climax of the wedding, the lights are dimmed and the cake is brought out to beautiful music. Traditional firecrackers and wedding lights are lit around the main sweet of the evening. The newlyweds are included in the organized circle of honor. To the applause of the guests, the couple cuts off the first piece, eats it, and kisses. Next, rose petals and a bunch of balloons traditionally fly to the couple. After the ceremony, you can receive a piece of cake from the couple for any symbolic amount of money.

European wedding cake design

In a European-style wedding, there is an already beloved tradition of catching the bride’s bouquet. The girl, turning her back to the guests, should intuitively toss her bouquet. According to tradition, the girl who catches the gift first will soon become a wife herself. Some people confuse the tradition and start snatching the bouquet from each other. But the sign only works on the first girl who gets it. Sometimes the bride, in a fit of generosity, herself gives a bouquet to the one to whom she wishes a happy marriage in the near future. The groom, having removed his bandage from his hand, must throw it to the unmarried young people.

A European-style wedding ends with the so-called dance of wishes. The couple dances a slow dance to the music, and at this time the guests offer them bright and sincere wishes that will help them in their future family life. Traditionally, after the dance, the couple leaves, accompanied by guests, either on a trip or to a booked hotel.