The wedding is one of the main seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church, during which the newlyweds receive more blessing for marriage and give before God vows of mutual faithfulness. The modern rank of the wedding was introduced in the 10th century in Byzantium in the imperial ceremonial, and then it was distributed among ordinary people. However, Christianity from the first centuries attached great importance to the wedding issue. It should not be forgotten that it was at the wedding in Cana of Galilee that Christ created the first miracle. So what do you need to get married in the Orthodox Church?
First of all, it should be said that the wedding is performed only on baptized believers who are not related, in civil (registered in the Registry Office) or church marriage. In addition, the desire to get married should be free, at ease and proceed from the newlyweds themselves, and not from their relatives.
In addition, no matter how trite it may sound, but if you want to get married, then you need a loved one with whom you plan to live your entire life. Wedding is not just a beautiful rite for a photo shoot, but a sacrament that provides for proper treatment of yourself. In addition, the newlyweds need to seriously assess their responsibility to each other. When you are crowned, you give before the Lord vows of loyalty to your spouse until your death. In the Church there is no concept of debunking, there is a blessing for a second marriage and it is given only in rare cases. Unfortunately, not everyone understands why they are crowned in the temple, and then they beat the thresholds of the church administration, asking for permission for a second marriage. Therefore approach the Sacrament of the Wedding with all seriousness. Many churches hold special talks for those who want to get married, on which clergymen explain the essence of Christian marriage. Before the wedding is also recommended to go to confession, and then Communion of the Holy Mysteries. 
During the wedding, do not be afraid, just listen carefully to the priest, who will explain what and how to do or say. If you visit the aforementioned conversations for the newlyweds, then you will also be explained the symbolic meaning of certain actions and words.
The rite itself does not take much time and lasts about forty to fifty minutes. It consists of two parts: betrothal and directly wedding. To perform it, you need the following items: wedding rings, icons of the Savior and the Mother of God , wedding candles , wine and embroidered wedding towel . Also, the bride and groom, according to ancient practice, invite witnesses who act as guarantors of the legality of their marriage.
The rite of betrothal originates from the ancient Roman wedding practice, when the young exchanged rings with witnesses. Betrothal is performed in the vestibule of the Church. The priest makes a censure, gives out the wedding candles to the bride and groom, and also reads the prayers laid down according to the order. Then he takes the rings and engages the couple. He gives the bridegroom to the ring of his future wife, and the bride, respectively, her husband. Do not be afraid of such confusion. The fact is that then the newlyweds are changed three times by rings, and as a result they receive their own ring. This practice symbolizes their willingness to help each other. Then immediately the priest in turn interrogates the bride and groom, whether they have a strong desire to get married with this person and whether they are connected by promises to other people. They give their answers and testify that they marry at will and are not bound by any promises. After that, the wedding begins.
The sacrament of the wedding received its name from the fact that during its commission on the head of the married priests wear crowns resembling the royal crowns (an echo of the Byzantine imperial ceremony). If the headdress or the bride's hair does not allow her to wear a crown, the wreaths are held by the witnesses over the heads of the newlyweds. Therefore, it is worthwhile to select witnesses, who correspond to the young according to their growth. Also, it should be noted that during the wedding the priest will three times hold a pair around the analogue, because the wedding dress for the wedding should not interfere with the normal movement. In addition, young ladies will be served with a ladle (or bowl) with wine, from which they will drink in turn. The wine for the wedding is not necessarily Cahors, the main thing is that it should be red and not sparkling. If during the event there will be a photo or video shooting, then it is worthwhile to warn the operators not to go too close in the pursuit of a bright shot. Icons of Christ and the Mother of God the priest will present to the married husband and wife at the end of the sacrament.
It is worthwhile to plan the wedding in advance, as it is not done on all days of the calendar. It is forbidden to marry during four days of fasting, at Christmas Eve, week before Lent and a week after Easter, as well as on Tuesday, Thursday (on the eve of fasting: Wednesdays and Fridays), Saturday and before large church holidays. This is due to the fact that the wedding fun did not take place on the eve of the days of fasting or festive services. The meal itself should be moderate in food and drink.
Thus, if you want to get married in the Orthodox Church, then you should take this sacrament very seriously. The wedding should be the first step for your joint life in a God-blessed family.
Wedding Checklist: 1. beloved person with whom you plan to live your whole future life. 2. The temple in which the sacrament of wedding will take place and which can become your family temple. 3. Wedding rings 4. Wedding icons. As a rule, the Icon of the Kazan Mother of God and the Icon of the Savior. 5. A set of wedding rushnyks or at least one wedding rushnyk. 6. Wedding candles
