Maxim and Yulia's wedding

 The day began at Yulia's  parents house, about ten am the morning of the wedding, and Maxim had to work his way up to the front door to get her though a series of tests.

First he had to pass a "physical" at the end of the driveway given by these two "nurses" before he could get to the door to "buy his bride". He had his temperature taken, and so forth.

Max's family at the gate with him, his brother Andrey  in the dark suit

 After pulling all the toothpicks out of the orange, which Garry tells me had to do with what Yulia could cook for him, she had put them in for things she could make for him, and he took out toothpicks for what she cooked well until they were all gone, he finally got to the front door, where he was stopped again. He had to keep giving candy and champagne to different people Garry said.

This time he had to get past her mother, but eventually he appeared with his bride in her wedding dress.

Maxim and Yulia

Then the bridal party and guests had the first meal of the day, which included the candy and champagne at the house.

Most brides in Ukraine rent their dress, but Yulia ended up buying one for about the same amount of money, she plans to sell it to here sister's friend, who is getting married next year. The grooms buy their suit, so it is the opposite of North American weddings where the guys rent tuxes and the bride buys her dress!

 The guests formed an aisle for the bride and groom to walk through to go to the car, which took them to go pose for photos for a while indoors and out (apparently Maxim had an hour nap at the studio while Yulia had her photos done.)

Garry said Yulia's mother threw chocolates and coins after them which people picked up for luck.

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After photos they went to the restaurant in Zaporosia for the ceremony  and banquet.

Garry says there was a nice area set up outside the restaurant for the ceremony, which had many parts which were like a wedding in North America and then the big meal was served inside.

the guys in front waiting for the bride

Andrey was the best man for his brother

Flower girl throwing petals in front of the bride and her father 

vows

 Max had relatives come for the wedding from  Moldova, where many of his parents family still live, his parents were in Ukraine when the Soviet Union broke up and became citizens here. His uncle came from Moscow too. An aunt and uncle stayed at our house, Garry said.

With his mother and brothers

His brother that lives in Kiev was unable to come, he lost his job this spring when he was sick for two weeks and had just started a new job and could not get time off to come for the wedding. 

Maxim's  family that came for the wedding

Now for the food and fun at the banquet!

Meat and potatoes course

dancing

Yulia is captured by pirates

What will Maxim have to do the get her back?

He and Andrey have to dress like girls and dance

more dancing

 fancy cakes

sand mixing

candle lighting too. Yulia has a scarf on now, like a traditional  married lady