A quick wedding in Georgia: what foreign couples need to know
Find out how to quickly and easily register a marriage in Georgia in just one day. A detailed guide for foreign couples: documents, ceremonies and tips
Learn about wedding traditions in Georgia⬇️
How to register a marriage in Georgia in one day: tips for foreign couples
Probably one of the most memorable days in life is a wedding. Everything should be perfect on this day. It is very important where the celebration will take place. If it is another country, then the memory of this significant day will definitely remain for a long time.
A wedding in Georgia will be a great solution for lovers. After all, Georgia perfectly combines the culture and traditions of the mountain people with friendliness to visiting guests. In addition, this is a great opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature in these parts. Of course, do not forget about Caucasian cuisine and local wedding traditions. A big plus is that there is a visa-free regime for Russian citizens, as well as the wedding is held in Orthodox churches. Marriage concluded in Georgia is legal in all countries of the world.
This article is for those who will be interested to find out where and how to get married in Georgia and what wedding traditions are in this country.
Wedding traditions in Georgia
A real wedding in Georgia, whose traditions go deep into history, is a very noisy and bright holiday with a huge number of invited guests. Moreover, it is not recommended to refuse the invitation, because by doing so you will cause a huge offense to lovers. Quite often, the number of guests reaches several hundred invited.
Of course, not all young couples in Georgia now observe the wedding traditions of older generations. However, most of the lovers pay tribute to traditions. The wedding consists of several stages. First the matchmaking, then the engagement, and only then the wedding ceremony. There was a time when parents chose life partners for their children. Now the younger generation is making this choice independently. However, there is a very important condition. The marriage of the young will take place only if it is approved by the parents of both the bride and groom.
There is a beautiful wedding tradition in Georgia. On the wedding day, the groom releases a white bird from the roof of his house. Then he goes down to the street to his fiancee. They drink wine from the same glass, into which the groom drops the ring. Then a beautiful oath sounds, in which the groom speaks of his fidelity and love for life. After all these rites, the chosen one enters the house of her future husband, where she will soon become the mistress.
A wedding is a prerequisite, because Georgians honor God very much. As a rule, the wedding and registration take place on the same day. After these events, the next stage begins — a festive feast, which usually takes place in a restaurant or on a large equipped outdoor area. After all, not every house is able to accommodate all those invited. It is in Georgian traditions to set a chic table with a large number of different dishes and drinks. It is customary to make an expensive gift or money for a wedding.
But not everyone can afford to organize such a celebration. In this case, there is a tradition of "bride kidnapping". Of course, the abduction itself is negotiated in advance and the consent of the bride and her parents is obtained for it. Then you can not arrange a wedding on a grand scale, but do with a small celebration in a narrow circle of relatives and friends.
Of course, a Georgian wedding is a spectacular and very bright event. If you have the opportunity to attend such a holiday of lovers, then do not miss it. More and more often, many couples from different countries arrange weddings in Georgia. They organize weddings in ancient temples, arrange beautiful photo shoots against the background of local mountains and nature, and even celebrate, observing national traditions.
How and where can I register a marriage
In Georgia, marriage is registered in Marriage Houses and Houses of Justice, which are located in all major cities. It is there that you can register a marriage. And this is done very quickly and simply! You will only need passports and two witnesses.
The House of Justice is a universal state institution that provides an extensive range of services, such as driver's license replacement, marriage registration, passport issuance and many other services. If a beautiful ceremony with all the accompanying attributes is held for you in the Wedding House, then you will simply register your marriage in the House of Justice. However, you will still have to visit it, regardless of the choice of the place of registration. After all, only the House of Justice does apostille or in other words legalize your marriage certificate. But in any case, all together it takes about two hours.
Many foreigners come to Georgia for an off-site wedding surrounded by the vineyards of Kakheti, on the shore of Lake Paravani or on the mountain peaks in Kazbegi. To book a registrar in advance, it is necessary to send an apostilled and certified power of attorney with other documents 14 days before the wedding date. The registrar arrives at the place indicated in the application, holds a solemn ceremony and issues a marriage certificate to the spouses.
Depending on the method of marriage registration, a state fee is required, for example, for an exit ceremony, the fee is 170 lari, and for registration in the Wedding Palace, taking into account rituals on weekdays, you will have to pay 90 lari. Witnesses in Georgia are mandatory, during the wedding they must not only be present in person, but also provide identity cards. Local Georgians willingly participate in the wedding ceremony, if you ask them in a friendly way, they will definitely not refuse!
Where is it better to get married in Georgia
There are many wonderful places for a wedding, and there will be a unique atmosphere everywhere. The most popular places for weddings in Georgia are the regions of Kazbegi and Kakheti. There are several other cities that are loved by the newlyweds. Such as Vardzia, Batumi and Mtskheta. Whichever of these places you choose, beautiful architecture, its own history and traditions will be waiting for you everywhere.
Most of the population in Georgia is Orthodox. Accordingly, the church is also, which means that the wedding in the church is no different from the Russian Church. The conditions for the Wedding are the same: the religion of Orthodoxy and the beloved must be baptized. These conditions are very beneficial for couples who come from Russia.
The most popular city among those wishing to get married in Georgia is Sighnaghi, which is located in a very picturesque region of Kakheti. This town also has a second name — the city of all lovers. One of the reasons to think so was the story of the famous Georgian talented artist Niko Pirosmani. He was known not only for his talents, but also for stories about his love for a French actress who did not reciprocate him. Even when he sold his house with all the buildings adjacent to it, and spent the money on flowers for his beloved, which were placed in baskets all over the street in front of his beloved's windows. By the way, this story became the plot of the song "A Million Scarlet Roses".
There is also a 24-hour Wedding House in Sighnaghi, which also attracts couples who want to register their marriage at dawn or at sunset, or at night. There is a guard at the entrance who will tell you how to do it and how much it will cost.
It seems that the town was created especially for lovers! There are many small and cozy cafes and restaurants serving national dishes. Narrow streets paved with stone and lots of greenery. A fortress rises around the city, climbing to which you will have an unforgettable view of the surrounding area. And just a couple of kilometers from the city there is the Cathedral of St. George, where you can hold a wedding.
One of the oldest cities in Georgia is Mtskheta. This city is rich in its history and was once the first capital of Georgia. The foundation of Mtskheta dates back to the 5th century BC. It is believed that the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral located here is the most revered in the country. It also has the status of a monument and is a UNESCO heritage site. It is in this temple that the beloved have the opportunity to get married. A great view opens from the hill on which the Jvari Monastery is located. All conditions are created to create unique and unforgettable photo sessions. The city has been restored not so long ago and it has a very rich architecture. Well, you can register your marriage in Tbilisi, which is a quarter of a kilometer away.
For those who want to arrange their wedding ceremony on the seashore, Batumi is perfect. There are many different love-themed sculptures in this seaside town. There is also a famous statue of "Ali and Nino", whose story is very similar to the story of Romeo and Juliet. On Mount Sameba there is a temple of the Holy Trinity, which will be a wonderful choice for a wedding. From the mountain you can enjoy the beauty surrounding you. Wonderful Georgian nature, the sea and the city lying below will open to your eyes. And for registration, you will be offered a dolphin-shaped Wedding Palace.
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Ну, а насчет дворца бракосочетания в форме дельфина - это уж точно у них свои традиции! Непонятная параллель связи )
Свадьба в Грузии - великое и радостное событие для влюблённой пары, традиции волшебны и интересны. Отпраздновать свою свадьбу в этой стране поистине отличная идея!
интересны.Узнала,что песню "Миллион алых роз"" сложена по сюжету "Али и Нино"Спасибо за интересный рассказ.Я утолила своё любо-
пытство относительно свадебного события.