The origin of the Ukrainian marriage ceremony is steeped in traditions and rituals. In Ukraine, a wedding was a three-day celebration. We had the amazing chance to be the main planner behind this styled shoot featuring Ukrainian brides in authentic Ukrainian wedding dresses as a charity event to raise funds for Ukraine donated through UNICEF.

Location:

Maxwell House in Pasadena, CA

One of our beautiful brides, Katerna, ended up getting married at a Southern CA courthouse and she still hopes to have a Ukrainian wedding once the war is over.

She told us about how she came to the U.S. as a student and some of Ukraine’s unique wedding traditions.

“Ukrainian weddings have a lot of folk songs, dancing, and jokes. Those are the things I love the most to feel and to express. It will definitely have wheat spikes 🌾 Wheat spikes are a symbol of one of the greatest shrines of the Ukrainian people – bread, a symbol of productivity and prosperity.”

“I just know if we will decide to have a [large] wedding it will be either in Kyiv, Ukraine or Carpathian Mountains. For me they are the regions with a deep soul, very strong and beautiful, as I would describe a Ukrainian person.”

A portion of proceeds from this shoot went to UNICEF to help Ukraine. Here is the link if you feel compelled to donate! https://www.unicef.org/ukraine/en