Daria & Andrey’s happy stroll through the city wedding

In honor of Russian New Year's (the week between New Year's and Orthodox Christmas), we're having an Eastern European theme week! Day 1 of Eastern European week features Daria & Andrey's stroll through Moscow wedding.- Becca

The offbeat bride: Daria

Her offbeat partner: Andrey

Location & date of wedding: Moscow, Russia — August 5, 2009

What made our wedding offbeat: We decided we wanted just a happy day out in the city with a family gathering at a restaurant in the evening.

We wore very plain clothes. I was in a white cotton dress (non-bridal, so I can wear it again any time I feel nostalgic); my hubby wore jeans and a white shirt, as if we were going just to take a walk.

We got married in a courthouse in the morning. We got there by public trolley bus. The driver was stunned to see a bride with a veil so he didn't close the door — that was funny.

We had the most literal ring exchange ceremony. We had been wearing our rings for five years and, when our officiant pronounced us a man and a wife, we took them off and put them back on each other's finger.

Then, we had a short trip from the courthouse to the restaurant using public transport and we stopped at every city entertainment we saw, including a public motor ship, bumper cars, and a real mountain lift which took us to the top of the hill where the restaurant was and our families waited for us.

We had a non-dancing reception. A little photo session on the top of the restaurant's roof was enough to entertain everyone.

It was a very small party. We shared just one table, so everyone could talk with each other and have a good time among the newly-united family members.

Our biggest challenge: Our biggest challenge was time, because we wanted to get married on a certain date (anniversary of our first date) and we decided to get married only two month before that day.

So we couldn't think over every detail and had a very approximate plan of what we are going to do. For example, we've never planned to get to the restaurant by the mountain lift — we didn't even know it was there. But doing these fun, unexpected things happened to be the best part of the day.

My favorite moment: I think the most meaningful and happy moment was at the restaurant. By that time I was absolutely calm. I knew we'd done everything just the way we wanted, and looking around I saw loving people sharing our holiday, and felt absolutely happy.

My advice for offbeat brides: A wedding is a special day when a lot of things go wrong. 🙂 Try not to concentrate on them and enjoy the most important part.

One more — leave yourself enough time to plan everything properly.

Have you been married before and if so, what did you do differently? We've been married before — to each other. Our first wedding was a disaster. I was really too young and stupid and wanted it to be OFFBEAT, but didn't think about what I really wanted and what would make both of us feel happy.

The second time we were more careful while planning and made it more traditional, because sometimes traditions are good. This time we reconsidered the guest list and invited only those who care about us and are able to share our happiness and meaningful moments.

Enough talk — show me the wedding inspo!

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