A dowry is certain valuables or property that is allocated by the bride's parents for her marriage. In the modern world, such traditions have undergone dramatic changes, but have not yet disappeared. So why do they give a dowry for the bride?
Even in the writings of ancient times there are references to dowries. In those years, girls from rich families married in order to complement their husband. At the same time, the main purpose of ancestral beauties was to continue the lineage of two families.
Renewal of forgotten traditions
The custom of preparing a girl’s dowry exists in many world cultures, including Ancient Rus' and modern Russia.
The volume and quality of the dowry depended on the well-being of the family, but even poor people always had a minimum of things. The set included wedding decorations (dress and jewelry), bedding, and dishes. Without a dowry, a girl's chance of getting married was significantly reduced. The preparation of the contents of the chest began from childhood. The bride and mother created towels, tabletops, shirts, and pillows with their own hands. These accessories were decorated with embroidery in the form of various patterns in accordance with the ethnic symbols characteristic of a particular region. The dowry was necessarily made with one’s own hands. Not a single girl was exempt from work, regardless of social status - the daughters of peasants, boyars and princes sewed.
When the dowry had to be transported, a special list was compiled and kept in the parental home or with the matchmaker. According to this list, the groom had to redeem the dowry - this guaranteed that things would be preserved under any circumstances. The future husband automatically transferred his status to the girl; in addition, the groom owned a plot of land.
How to set up a photo zone
Not a single modern wedding is complete without professional photography, videography, and amateur photographs. To make wedding photos and scenes look amazing, you need to take care of creating a photo zone. This could be decorations in the style of:
A free-standing tent, photo wallpaper in the form of an original painting, an elegant table with a tea set and a pair of armchairs decorated with fabric and flowers are perfect for these purposes. Three-dimensional figures can be made from foam plastic, wire, and then painted or decorated with fabric, paper, and other materials. Live birds in a cage, kittens, dogs and other pets who will agree to pose with the newlyweds and their guests will also be useful.
DIY wedding decorations are a fun, creative challenge. Jointly thinking through decorative details, searching for the most suitable design solutions and calmly working with your hands brings people together and helps the bride, groom and their relatives get to know each other better. By decorating a wedding celebration with their own hands, the newlyweds not only save money, they get a unique opportunity to surprise their loved one, create an original interior to their own taste and rightfully be proud of the results of their work and imagination.
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Do modern girls need to prepare a dowry?
This issue is resolved on an individual basis. From the birth of a girl, few people today prepare things for a dowry. It is more common to buy everything for the life of a young family after the wedding with donated money. But this is not only a costly matter in financial terms, but also in terms of time, which may not be very convenient, since young people will immediately want to live separately, and not wait until everything is settled. Modern girls can also accumulate a dowry even before the wedding, but it can be not only things needed in everyday life, but jewelry, expensive interior items, etc.
It is impossible not to discuss in the context of a dowry such an issue as payment for a celebration. Who usually pays for the wedding? Often the families of the bride and groom are divided equally. But if all the expenses are borne by the girl’s relatives, then this can be considered her “dowry.” In this case, all expenses for arranging your home can, with a clear conscience, be transferred to the shoulders of the groom.
DIY wedding decorations - essential wedding accessories
A wedding is the most important, long-awaited holiday for two lovers. And, of course, the young people want to spend it at the highest level so that this solemn day becomes the very best and will be remembered for a long time. That is why the design of the banquet venue, the decoration of the cortege and traditional accessories is given no less attention than the outfits of the bride and groom. To achieve a great result, it is not at all necessary to hire professional decorators. Wedding decorations can be created with your own hands. It is enough to choose the desired style, purchase materials and show a little imagination.
This decision justifies itself not only in financial terms. The images and style developed by the newlyweds and their loved ones are always expressive and unique. They are strikingly different from the design solutions that are verified to the smallest detail and from the usual boring design solutions, because hired performers work mainly according to a certain template. By allowing their own feelings and imagination to open their wings and take off, young people create their own world in which they feel as comfortable as possible.
Photo of the bride's dowry
Should I collect the chest or not?
The ancient tradition is gradually being forgotten, so parents rarely prepare a dowry for their daughter. Now everything you need is bought after the wedding with donated money. Whether or not to collect a chest of household items is up to each family to decide for itself. Nothing prevents brides from collecting a small symbolic dowry - jewelry, linen, interior items, etc.
What must be transmitted
Even if a dowry was not collected from an early age, it is worth compiling at least a symbolic list in order to pay tribute to the tradition:
- bed sheets;
- glasses, frying pans, pots, saucepans, sets and other kitchen and table utensils;
- sets of towels and bathrobes.
The things from this modest list will be enough to ensure that you don’t come into married life empty-handed. The dowry must be new. To prevent purchases from hitting your budget, you should purchase things gradually over the course of several months before the wedding.
Who prepares the dowry
If earlier things were prepared by the bride herself and her parents, today those getting married can take care of arranging their life together if they have a stable income.
But very young bride and groom sometimes do not have sufficient financial resources and cannot do without the help of their parents. It is advisable to buy really necessary things for the newlyweds that are appropriate for the time. A Soviet-style teapot or a carpet with a tacky pattern is unlikely to find use. But the main role of relatives is moral and spiritual support for the young family.
Dowry chest
Collected items must be beautifully packaged. A special chest is used for this.
A wedding chest is a decorated box that holds a dowry.
The wedding chest was previously used to store the bride's belongings . It was called "cassone". Clothes and other accessories were stored in this container and given to the newlyweds. Now the bulky chest has turned into a neat and more symbolic suitcase.
Of course, like everything else at a wedding, the suitcase should be decorated for aesthetics. You can decorate your wedding suitcase with fabric, ribbons, flowers, rhinestones, etc.
Bride's dowry chest
Nowadays, when not all families collect a dowry, the wedding chest has been adapted into a piggy bank for collecting gift money during the solemn celebration of the marriage. This chest is made of thick cardboard and decorated with various elements.
The design of the chest should match the wedding one. Depending on the style of the celebration, it can be a wicker basket, a suitcase, a painted box, etc. As a rule, a witness monitors the safety of the chest.
Whether or not to prepare a dowry is a matter for each family. However, it is worth taking into account that this minimal set of household items will be a good help at the beginning of the newlyweds’ journey together.
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Dishes and household appliances
As for the dishes, you need to choose them very carefully, because the prepared food should always be tasty.
As a dowry, the girl will need to purchase 4 pots of different sizes to cook soups, cereals, and pasta. You will need 3 pans. One will be used for making pancakes and the other two - medium and large in size - for preparing food.
Also important: a regular or electric kettle, baking tray and other baking utensils.
It is better to purchase several table sets. One will be used every day, and the second for guests. They should include plates, spoons, saucers, cups, glasses, glasses. You definitely need to buy a set of knives and wooden boards.
The dowry may also include household appliances. Essential items include: refrigerator, stove, washing machine. Later they purchase a TV, a vacuum cleaner, a mixer and other necessary household appliances.
Decoration
Any girl should look great in front of her husband, so you should take care to include underwear, dressing gowns, shirts, cute home clothes, as well as outfits for going out in your dowry.
After all, a wife should not walk around the house in a mended robe, curlers and smell of borscht. Her image should be a reference in the eyes of her husband.
It's best to make a list of things you need and then expand on it. First of all, you need to focus on household supplies. Household appliances are acquired over time, but you need to start creating comfort in your home right away.
When choosing things you need to look at their quality. You don't have to buy everything expensive. The most important thing is that they last a long time.
The bride's dowry should not give the impression that the girl wants to show off her money. It should show her to be humble and caring.
Items prepared as a dowry must not be used before the wedding. After all, you need to bring something new into a new life, not something old.
Dowry for a Chechen bride
The main thing you need to know about the dowry of a Chechen bride is that, according to customs, the girl must take all her things to her husband’s house for four seasons, which she will wear for a whole year.
This composition includes the following.
- Fur coats, jackets, coats or raincoats.
- Tights, socks, stockings.
- Underwear.
- Gold jewelry.
And all this should be very beautifully packaged and folded, either in suitcases, or it could be a chest. Each item must be packaged in a separate plastic bag. So that when you open your luggage, your relatives see not a stack of things, but beautiful packages with bows.
Now in the Caucasus, these chores fall on the hands of the relatives of the future husband. But since this takes a lot of time, this is entrusted to specially trained people who can easily help you collect everything you need.
Decoration of the bride's home
If you are planning an exciting and exciting ceremony of ransoming the bride from her father's house, it is necessary to arrange the location of the action. It is usually held in front of the registry office, and, according to the rules, the groom sees his beautiful bride for the first time in magnificent wedding attire. But, before this long-awaited moment comes, the groom must prove his right to the hand and heart of his beautiful chosen one, and also demonstrate all his advantages. How is the scene decorated?
Favorite soft toys dressed as the bride and groom look charming, as well as paper flags with wedding symbols and lush fans.
What does a modern list look like?
Currently, young people are increasingly resorting to the option of purchasing things for family life after the wedding. But you can take care of this in advance, partially fulfilling the tradition. With the collected dowry, you can provide comfort for the first time after the wedding, until the apartment is fully furnished.
Appliances
This is a rather expensive category, so it is better to create a gift list, including the necessary household appliances, on the eve of the wedding. This will significantly reduce the costs of a young family on the purchase of various kettles, blenders, toasters and other small equipment.
The downside is that guests often duplicate each other's gifts; as a result, the bride and groom receive many of the same things. At first, you will need equipment for basic needs - a refrigerator, washing machine, vacuum cleaner, stove, TV, computer.
Other items (water heaters, climate systems) will be purchased later.
Bed sheets
The bed is an important element in the life of a married couple, a place where they spend time alone. The sleeping block should be as comfortable as possible, and the bed linen should be beautiful and pleasant to the touch. It is worth preparing several sets of natural materials as a dowry. It is better if it is silk, satin or linen fabrics.
For wedding lingerie sets, pastel or muted shades with a pearlescent tint are usually chosen (depending on the texture of the fabric). Deep burgundy and red shades are also appropriate.
Pillowcases and duvet covers are decorated with ruffles, embroidery or floral prints.
Bed sets for young people are offered in stylish gift packaging.
Things or jewelry
In addition to things for home improvement, do not forget about personal comfort and beauty. Luxurious underwear and negligees will delight both the girl and her groom.
If we talk about everyday home clothes, then comfort and aesthetics are important here, so a couple of cute pajamas in the trousseau will also not be superfluous.
If your budget allows, you should add jewelry. Some families have a tradition of passing on family jewelry from generation to generation (from mother-in-law to daughter-in-law, from mother to daughter).
The dowry may include beautiful furniture, figurines and paintings.
Traditional wedding decoration
Before you start choosing designs and materials, you need to decide what additional accessories you will need for your wedding. The choice depends entirely on the scenario and format of the wedding; the preferences of the newlyweds are also taken into account, since there are no uniform requirements in this matter. Traditionally, the following accessories are prepared for a modern wedding:
All things should be made in the same style, so as not to introduce dissonance, but at the same time not look uniform. As decoration, you can choose a specific pattern, motif or set of materials, and repeat it with a variety of additional elements.
DIY invitations
If you create wedding decor according to your own taste, then you should make invitations for guests and relatives yourself. Usually they are sent at least 1-2 months before the appointed date to give the invitees the opportunity to decide on their plans, prepare a gift and outfit, and notify the newlyweds of their refusal or consent. Invitations are usually presented at a personal meeting. But it can be sent by couriers or mail, in a regular envelope.
The text can be printed on a printer, or a beautiful inscription can be made if there is a person in the family with good, legible handwriting. Another option is to use a stencil. They paste it onto a base made of a suitable material: a photograph of the newlyweds, thick fabric, a cut of wood, cardboard, a plank, plastic, etc., whatever the lovers’ imagination is enough for. They are decorated in approximately the same style with feathers, ribbons, beads and rhinestones, lace, and painted with patterns.
Cover for Marriage Certificate
The newlyweds go to the registry office to receive an official Marriage Certificate. A valuable document needs a hard cover so as not to wrinkle or tear it. Typically, institution employees offer to purchase folders produced in the printing house on site. You can also buy them at any office supply store. But, you can do it yourself.
For the basis take:
You can look for a suitable design on the Internet, or come up with it yourself.
Seating plan
If you are planning a crowded wedding, you cannot do without seating cards and a written plan. The procedure for seating guests left to its own devices is fraught with conflicts, awkward situations, and quarrels. Therefore, the list of guests is carefully worked out: who communicates well with whom, is familiar and friendly, in what environment the guest will be more comfortable. The plan, which indicates who should sit and with whom, is made on a large sheet of whatman paper or cardboard, decorated with cut-out paper figures, photos, flowers, branches.
Place cards with the names of the guests must be placed on the tables. To do this, just choose a beautiful font, a few curls or decorative elements for decoration. This can be a regular rectangle of thick paper, folded in half for stability. Or a flag on a stand, a miniature sign on a skewer stuck into a cake, gingerbread or candy. You can use a napkin clip, a tall glass with colored beads, or a flower bud as a card stand.
What was included in the dowry of the ancient Slavs?
A girl's dowry is a long-standing tradition that came from Kievan Rus. It directly depended on the material support of the parents, but even if the family was not rich, a minimum set had to exist. The dowry included: wedding attire, jewelry, kitchen utensils, bedding, including a blanket, towels and towels. If the future bride did not have such “baggage,” then it was believed that she would remain a lonely virgin.
Young girls took this moment so seriously that from an early age they began to prepare their own dowries. For this purpose there was a special chest in which homemade napkins, tablecloths, and shirts with patterned embroidery were stored. The bride had to prepare her wedding attire, embroider and decorate many tabletops and towels. An important part of the dowry were embroidered towels and belts - they were considered gifts for the future groom and his family.
The wedding bed had to be decorated by the bride herself, taking into account national motifs and symbols. Before the wedding, the girl had to sew a rag ball, which she would then give to the children for fun games. The ritual of collecting a dowry was mandatory in any family. Girls of merchants or boyars, princes or villagers, no one was exempt from hand-made tailoring. “Netkakha” was an offensive nickname for a young bride.
At the time of transport of the dowry, a special list was compiled, which was given to the mother and matchmaker for safekeeping. The groom couldn't get away with just one wedding. He had to buy the dowry, according to the bride's list, to ensure the safety of his wife's belongings in the event of an early death. The groom's property included a land plot and status, which automatically passed to the girl after the wedding.
Was it possible to get married without a dowry?
Of course, they got married without a dowry - however, they could not count on a profitable match. Playwright Alexander Ostrovsky has a play “Dowry” about a girl who is forced to get along with a person she doesn’t like because the one she likes has chosen a wealthier bride. Her fiancé ends up killing her out of jealousy.
Car decoration for a wedding
Decorating a car for a wedding is an important task, because it is on it that the newlyweds will travel around the city. All other cars that will be included in the wedding cortege are also decorated, although in smaller quantities. What can you use?
A doll or a pair of “bride and groom” attached to the hood is perfect for the newlyweds’ car. Stylized wedding rings and connected hearts are hung on the bumper. Ribbons, balloons, garlands of flowers, tulle decorations are attached.
Dowry in Rus'. Forward to the past
The concept of a dowry has a long history. The main task is to bring a unique contribution to the new family. After all, in Rus' girls did not earn money, which means they could not participate in replenishing the family budget.
After the wedding, household chores, housekeeping, raising children, and also preserving the husband’s property fell on the shoulders of the newly-made wife. Therefore, the dowry prepared in advance for the bride became a kind of material component for the new family.
The ancestors had a strictly defined list of things with which the girl went to her husband’s house. In essence, these are objects and values without which family life is impossible.
What was necessarily included in the bride's dowry:
- Clothes for girls. Moreover, there was a mandatory “minimum”: two complete sets of clothes for each season of the year;
- Two pillows and a blanket;
- Bed dress;
- Embroidered shirts;
- Kitchenware. These are jugs, pots, troughs, etc. As a rule, dishes were made of wood;
- Jewelry and money were required to complement the bride's dowry.
The parents had been preparing for their daughter’s wedding almost since the birth of the child. Each family tried to collect the best dowry for the bride, so as not to disgrace itself in front of the groom's relatives. In addition, rich belongings were supposed to provide the daughter with a comfortable married life.
Beautiful chests for the bride, as a rule, were present in every home. It was in them that things and jewelry were collected for years as a dowry for girls. Over time, this accessory has lost its relevance, but in recent years, the largest furniture manufacturers have again brought chests into fashion for storing important things.
Decoration of the hall for a wedding
The wedding celebration can be held both in the restaurant hall, in the house, and in the yard, outdoors. Depending on this, the appropriate type of decor is selected. So, for a wedding on the shore of a pond or in a picturesque meadow, snow-white tents decorated with flowers and fabric, as well as a luxurious wedding arch, are perfect. Decorating a wedding hall can be made from different materials, as well as their combinations.
Wedding flowers
Traditional decorative elements at the holiday are fresh flowers. They are collected in bouquets, placed on tables, ladders, and stands. They weave long garlands and string buds on threads. If there are flowerpots with indoor and garden plants in the house, they are arranged and hung in suitable places. It is customary to use fresh flowers to make a bouquet for the bride and a boutonniere for the groom, and to weave wreaths on the head.
Paper and ribbons
A number of decorations can be made from colored and white paper, foil, satin, lace and guipure ribbons:
Glue, paint and various decorative elements fit perfectly onto the paper base.
Draping with fabric
Fabric draperies firmly occupy their niche in the world of wedding decor. They are used to decorate banquet tables, the podium, the wedding arch and the altar. They make beautiful covers for chairs and tables. They often set up fenced areas for relaxation or photo sessions, and also create a special atmosphere by completely covering the walls with the desired type of fabric. The fabric is also used to make lush bows, multi-colored pompoms and artificial flowers.
Beads
Beadwork requires great perseverance and skill. But at the same time they captivate with their elegance and beauty. Therefore, it is worth using this type of decor for piece work:
If possible, you can embroider wedding invitations with beads and weave small farewell gifts for guests from it instead of sweets in bonbonnieres.
Balloons
Balloons filled with air or helium are a wonderful element of wedding decor. They are hung in groups and made into garlands, figures, and stylized flowers. You can make a wedding arch out of balloons or surround the podium, or designate a corridor for the newlyweds’ ceremonial exit.
An unusual, airy decoration can be made using a balloon, cotton thread of the desired shade, PVA glue and scissors. The balls are inflated and coated with glue, threads are wound with the required density. The result is a rather dense or light lace composition. Then the glue is dried, the ball is pierced with a needle and removed. The original decorative element is ready!
Historical and modern ideas about the bride's dowry
In the process of planning a wedding celebration, one should not forget about living together, which will inevitably begin immediately after the wedding. In order to make life easier for a girl after she got married, our ancestors collected a dowry. However, is this kind of ritual still relevant today? Should it be used for today's weddings? Our team of specialists tried to answer these and other questions regarding the bride’s wedding trousseau.
Historical aspects
The concept of a bride's dowry goes back centuries. Initially, it was collected precisely in order to ease the girl’s worries around the house and contribute to the new family. The whole point is that in Rus' women did not work, and, accordingly, they could not bring money to the family. However, immediately after the wedding, a great responsibility was placed on the fragile shoulders of the bride - maintaining order in the house, raising children, cooking, storing the groom's personal belongings and much more. Of course, it is very difficult to perform all these functions without the appropriate material base, which was the dowry. Moreover, our ancestors had a strict list of things that a girl had to bring to her husband’s house after the wedding. This list included precisely those material values, the absence of which made life completely impossible. The bride's dowry included:
- cloth. The girl had to have two complete sets of clothes for the summer and winter seasons;
- a couple of pillows and one blanket;
- full set of bedding;
- embroidered shirts;
- a variety of kitchen utensils and dishes. It could be made from different materials, but wood was usually the raw material;
- various jewelry and money.
It is worth noting that the process of preparing the bride's dowry was extremely important for our ancestors. They tried to collect the best possible dowry for their daughters, as they were afraid of the prospect of disgracing themselves in front of the groom's family. That is why many families collected everything they needed from the very birth of the girl. If we were talking about noble families, then the dowry could well provide the bride with everything she needed until old age.
The chest acted as a place to collect all the necessary things. It was in it that things, jewelry, and other elements of the “standard set” were put for years. Subsequently, this tradition fell into oblivion, but is now being revived again - many furniture companies have launched the production of beautiful chests of various sizes, designed to store something important in them.
Bride's dowry in the modern world
Due to the fact that in the modern world there is increasingly a situation in which a man completely provides for his family, the tradition of collecting a dowry is performed less and less often. However, it is worth considering the fact that after moving to the groom, the bride may still face a shortage of certain things - they may not be available simply because during the man’s bachelor life he did not need them. In such cases, it is still worth thinking about some components of the dowry.
Today there are two categories of things included in a bride's dowry. From them you can form a traditional and complete list. The traditional one will include only what should be in the dowry according to folk ideals and principles, and the full one will include things that can really be useful in current life.
The list of things from a girl's traditional dowry includes:
- bedding set;
- set of towels;
- tablecloths and napkins;
- dishes and kitchen utensils.
In principle, the above things will be more than enough to impress the husband’s relatives when they come to their house not empty-handed. In any case, they will definitely appreciate such an act. Of course, in such a situation, absolutely all components of the dowry must be completely new and never used. Buying all these things can cost a pretty penny, so if you want to minimize the financial damage, just start buying everything in advance. You can also entrust this, for example, to relatives, and save your time.
The complete list of things that should be included in a dowry is much broader than traditional. The complete one should include everything that can be used to provide home comfort. Among them there can be a variety of decorative accessories, as well as things that have real practical application.
The kitchen is a place where the bride will have to spend a lot of time. Therefore, it will be very nice if the bride takes care of her comfort in the future. Sets of plates and cutlery (both for holidays and for everyday use), as well as sets of pots, pans and other utensils, are suitable as a dowry.
The decor of a newlywed couple's bedroom is very important. That is why it is very advisable to stock up on high-quality bed linen, towels, pillows and blankets. Don't forget about yourself, your beloved. It would be nice if there is room in your trousseau for luxurious underwear, as well as negligees and dressing gowns - they will become integral attributes of your married life.
Appliances
The realities of the modern world dictate their own rules, so it is impossible to imagine life without high-quality technology. That is why the bride’s dowry often includes a variety of household appliances. These can be small devices like a blender or toaster, or washing machines or plasma TVs. It all depends on the financial condition of the bride’s family, as well as the condition of the apartment in which the groom lives.
Ideally, all of the above elements of the dowry should be new, but this rule should not necessarily apply to household appliances, as well as various decorative elements.
From all of the above, we can conclude that drawing up a dowry can not only require serious financial investments, but also take a huge amount of time. That is why you need to plan the purchase of everything you need in advance. There is also no point in trying to buy everything cheaper - you will be using your dowry for many years, so everything should be of the highest quality possible.
What dowry should the bride have: modern lists
Currently, women provide for families on an equal basis with men, so the custom of collecting a dowry is observed less and less often.
However, it is worth understanding that your husband’s family or your future separate home may simply not have the things that you are used to using during your “bachelor” life. Therefore, it is still worth thinking about some dowry.
Russian bride's dowry lists can be divided into “symbolic” and “complete”. In the first case, you pay tribute to the traditions of your ancestors, in the second, you take maximum care of your own comfort in your new home.
List of symbolic dowries for the bride:
- Bed dress;
- Towels;
- Tablecloth and napkins;
- Kitchen utensils: glasses, a set of plates, a saucepan, a frying pan, etc.
These things will be enough if it is important for you to come to your husband’s house not empty-handed. We are sure that such a gesture will be appreciated by the spouse’s relatives, especially the mother-in-law.
In this case, everything must be new, unused. Don't want to put too much of a strain on your wallet when buying a dowry? Don't put off shopping until the last minute, but start purchasing things a few months before the celebration. It would also be appropriate to think about the distribution of wedding responsibilities between the bride and parents. After all, they can also participate in collecting belongings.
Bed linen and towels
First of all, young people need bedding. This includes: mattress, bed linen, pillows, warm blanket, bedspread.
You can't do without towels. For two you will need 4 bath towels. Be sure to purchase separate ones for arms and legs. The kitchen also needs towels. 5 pieces will be enough. In families that adhere to old traditions, embroidered towels can be used.
Dowry today
Few families now collect a dowry in advance. Usually people think about this after the wedding.
The positive aspect of this is that the young couple will buy themselves what they need, rather than transporting rubbish that may not be useful to them.
The negative point is the financial difficulties that the family will face, especially if the girl gets married while already pregnant.
After all, in this case you will have to buy not only kitchen utensils, but also everything necessary for the child. Therefore, it is still better to take care of this in advance and buy the most necessary things.
Dowry for a Kazakh bride
What does the Kazakh dowry list include?
- The main attribute is “makhabbat-kerpe”. This is something like a bedspread that is sewn on a double bed. And a blanket for newlyweds is sewn in the same size. It is customary to store these things until the birth of children.
- The next thing to collect is the bedroom set and bed linen. According to custom, the mother herself must sew it for her beloved daughter.
- They also donate mattresses. They can vary in size and thickness. The main thing is that there is enough for all guests.
- Chest for things.
- Towels, blankets and napkins.
Cossack dowry
Among the Cossacks, the bride's dowry plays an important role. According to custom, the bride's grandfather gives her a silver ring, and after that, the mother begins to collect the dowry.
- She buys canvases from which she sews towels herself.
- Stockings are also a must.
- Tablecloths are purchased in quantities from 30 to 60 pieces; they still remain until the birth of granddaughters.
- A large number of different dresses are purchased.
- Outerwear must include a fur coat. Based on wealth, the fur of a fur coat can be different.
- There must be a feather bed and 3-4 pillows, cotton quilts.
Bride's dowry: lists and rules
When planning your wedding, think about your future life together. After all, marriage is not only the merging of two loving hearts, but also the beginning of a joint household.
In order to make the start of married life easier, our ancestors collected the bride's dowry. But are traditional Russian wedding rituals relevant in the modern world? The www.svadebka.ws team will be happy to help you figure this out.
Bride's dowry: an old tradition with a new twist
After the marriage proposal and the bride’s positive response, active preparations for the upcoming event begin. Of course, lovers usually have no time for everyday nuances. They are passionate about each other and their feelings about the upcoming change in life. But parents, wise with life experience, know that usually their children do not attach importance to household items and necessary equipment that surround them in their father’s house.
So that a young family does not need basic household items, there must be a dowry. It is collected by the bride's parents. It is not necessary to prepare a rich dowry - a minimal set is enough to help the young housewife arrange her life .
List of must-have wedding luggage items
So, what was necessarily included in the bride's dowry? Everything that was required to set up a young family at first:
- pillows and blankets,
- towels,
- carpets and bedspreads,
- frying pans, pots, ladles and other kitchen utensils,
- cups, plates, forks and spoons.
In addition, the list of dowry that was prepared for the bride included clothes: two sets each for winter and summer for her, as well as several shirts, necessarily hand-embroidered for her future husband. Well, if the family’s wealth allowed, then jewelry and money. There were even special dowry shows, when matchmakers came to see what the potential bride had collected for her wedding day. And only then did they decide whether she was a suitable match for the groom.
All dowries were kept in chests. In a rich family they could occupy an entire room. As a rule, new chests were made for each future bride. And sometimes they themselves were of considerable value, since they could be made of valuable wood, gilded or decorated with precious stones.
What is included in the dowry of a Russian bride?
The dowry of a Russian bride should consist of items that will create a comfortable and cozy state. What can be included in the list of such things?
- A set of bed linen, maybe not just one, but several.
- Towels are purchased for both the kitchen and the bath.
- Set of dishes. These are pots, pans, a kettle, plates, spoons, forks.
- Appliances. This could be a TV, a washing machine, a dishwasher, or a steamer.
In order for the dowry to become useful and truly necessary, you need to consult with your future husband and mother-in-law on this matter. Therefore, you should choose wisely. And first buy those things that you will need first, and then buy everything else as needed. Therefore, the bride's dowry is modern and is not always bought in advance, as in the old days.
To collect a dowry, you should only buy new things so that they serve you for many years, and in case of any problems, you can always return the item or send it to a workshop under warranty. And it’s better not to buy used goods. Moreover, it is believed that every thing has the energy of the one who used it before you.
Brides of state importance
The dowry of girls from noble families related to the imperial one was regulated by the legislation of the Russian Empire. According to the law of 1797, if a marriage takes place at the will of the emperor, then the girl receives a dowry from the state treasury, depending on the degree of relationship, from 100 thousand rubles (great-great-granddaughter) to a million (daughter).
In 1886, the dowry of the emperor's distant relatives was reduced to 30 thousand rubles, and after the wedding the girl received only half. The remaining amount was kept in the bank and was paid annual interest. To organize a dowry for the daughters and granddaughters of the emperor, they could even organize tenders among suppliers: porcelain, glass, and furniture factories considered such orders very beneficial for their reputation.
If the Grand Duchess married a foreigner, then a marriage contract was necessarily drawn up. In addition, such a bride’s dowry included church utensils if the husband was of a different faith. Most often, Russian brides abroad spent their money on maintaining the house, traveling and their own needs.
Bride's image
In Chechnya, a European-style dress is not suitable; a closed neckline and a small sleeve are a must. Prices for wedding dresses of this style start from 50 thousand rubles
.
My dress cost 120 thousand rubles
, but in order to save my father’s money, I rented it
for 50 thousand rubles
and was very pleased with it.
The bride must have a handkerchief
and your choice:
bouquet or wedding clutch
.
I chose a bouquet of fresh flowers. White roses blended beautifully with the dress and veil. It cost 1500 rubles
, they gave me a discount.
I got my nails done the day before the wedding. It was ordinary - French 300 rubles
. You can make an appointment via whatsupp
89388942272
.
I did my hair and makeup on the wedding day. The beauty salon is called "Cinderella"
located on
the street.
Lorsanova .
Master Madina
, cost of services is
2 thousand rubles
.
The groom's side takes on all the other troubles. The photographer, cameraman, cars, restaurant, music are strictly under their responsibility, which made me very happy, because I had less headaches and worries.
Source: zakazala.com
