Gifts that Your Should Never Give at Russian and Ukrainian Weddings
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Alena
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Elena
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Marina
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Anna
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A wedding in Russia or Ukraine is always a tremendous occasion, especially in traditional communities following the centuries-long customs and rites. In connection with such utmost attention and importance of weddings, this event has become surrounded with numerous rituals and superstitions claimed to have a direct impact on the couple's fate. Hence, giving a gift is also one of special Ukrainian and Russian wedding traditions that you should know well not to humiliate the Russian bride or her family. To help you navigate through the stormy waters of Russian wedding culture, we have prepared a list of gifts that you should avoid; following our advice can save your reputation!
Flowers
It is a classical tradition of greeting women with any important event in Russia and Ukraine with an elegant bouquet of flowers, so be it an intimate date, a birthday party, or a wedding day, all beautiful Ukrainian women appreciate flowers. However, as in other cases, you should take care of making a bouquet with an odd number of flowers; giving a bouquet with event numbers is a deadly mistake. In these countries, such bouquets are only brought to the cemetery for the dead.
Money
Money is quite a typical gift for a wedding in both Russia and Ukraine, since a newly married couple needs funds to create their home, to spend a honeymoon, to have a child, and basically to pay off the luxurious and large-scale wedding feast that they arrange for numerous guests. However, if you are short of money or simply do not consider it necessary to present a fair sum of money, it is much more preferable to buy some pleasant gift such as a tea or coffee set, some piece of kitchenware or a set of beautiful dishes for the meal. Place $10-20 into an envelope will definitely be bad taste, and a present for an equivalent sum of money may look much more reputable and sweet.
Unusual, too Personal Gifts
Making a wedding gift might be a pleasure for you, but it should definitely be much more of a pleasure for the couple which you are congratulating. Therefore, do not impose your tastes, or your special sense of humor, on the bride and bridegroom, they may definitely fail to understand your best intentions! In this way, we would advise you to refrain from giving some kinds of "who loves his wife/husband?" T-shirts - expressions of love are quite an intimate thing for a Russian or Ukrainian bride. Presenting a pair or truly weird Bride & Groom aprons is also a sure way to spoil the mood and appetite of the couple, while presentation of a "just married" baby bodysuit may also be a sign of bad taste and interference into the couple's privacy. Of course the entire family is expecting the newlyweds to have children right in 9 months after the wedding party, but it is not always a plan of the newlyweds. Leave them alone with hints about a need to make children, they will surely enjoy much of "attention" about this from their parents!
Following these simple "don'ts" about wedding gifts in Russia and Ukraine will definitely help you avoid confusion and embarrassment. Just keep in mind that money is usually the best option, especially if you are not a close relative or friend knowing the couple's tastes, dreams, and preferences. Just be polite and watch out for awkward choices, and you will surely enjoy this magnificent wedding event!
Flowers
It is a classical tradition of greeting women with any important event in Russia and Ukraine with an elegant bouquet of flowers, so be it an intimate date, a birthday party, or a wedding day, all beautiful Ukrainian women appreciate flowers. However, as in other cases, you should take care of making a bouquet with an odd number of flowers; giving a bouquet with event numbers is a deadly mistake. In these countries, such bouquets are only brought to the cemetery for the dead.
Money
Money is quite a typical gift for a wedding in both Russia and Ukraine, since a newly married couple needs funds to create their home, to spend a honeymoon, to have a child, and basically to pay off the luxurious and large-scale wedding feast that they arrange for numerous guests. However, if you are short of money or simply do not consider it necessary to present a fair sum of money, it is much more preferable to buy some pleasant gift such as a tea or coffee set, some piece of kitchenware or a set of beautiful dishes for the meal. Place $10-20 into an envelope will definitely be bad taste, and a present for an equivalent sum of money may look much more reputable and sweet.
Unusual, too Personal Gifts
Making a wedding gift might be a pleasure for you, but it should definitely be much more of a pleasure for the couple which you are congratulating. Therefore, do not impose your tastes, or your special sense of humor, on the bride and bridegroom, they may definitely fail to understand your best intentions! In this way, we would advise you to refrain from giving some kinds of "who loves his wife/husband?" T-shirts - expressions of love are quite an intimate thing for a Russian or Ukrainian bride. Presenting a pair or truly weird Bride & Groom aprons is also a sure way to spoil the mood and appetite of the couple, while presentation of a "just married" baby bodysuit may also be a sign of bad taste and interference into the couple's privacy. Of course the entire family is expecting the newlyweds to have children right in 9 months after the wedding party, but it is not always a plan of the newlyweds. Leave them alone with hints about a need to make children, they will surely enjoy much of "attention" about this from their parents!
Following these simple "don'ts" about wedding gifts in Russia and Ukraine will definitely help you avoid confusion and embarrassment. Just keep in mind that money is usually the best option, especially if you are not a close relative or friend knowing the couple's tastes, dreams, and preferences. Just be polite and watch out for awkward choices, and you will surely enjoy this magnificent wedding event!