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Wedding is a unique encyclopedia of folk culture which reflects a complex of national culture elements.
According to tradition, when a family wanted to marry their boy, they would send the news - through the family elder - to the family whose girl they wanted as a bride. Sometimes, when they were refused by the girl’s family, the village head would visit the girl’s family. During the ceremony of asking for the girl’s hand, the boy’s family would ask for water and if the girl herself brought the water, it would mean that she agreed to marry that boy.
 

Voski Reisian and Yeranos Topalian, Constantinople,1875
(Hishatak 1896-1930; Pictures and memories:
from Armenian family albums between the 19th and 20th centuries)
www.genocide-museum

Hovhannes and Taguhi Tarkhanyan-Hakobyanner, Constantinople,1886
Archives of Project SAVE
www.genocide-museum


Zoulumians’ wedding ceremony, Kharberd, 1892
Archives of Project SAVE
www.genocide-museum

“Despite the common opinion that Armenian weddings lasted for 7 days, data from the 19th century show that most commonly, weddings in Armenia lasted for 3-4 days,” ethnographer Gayane Shagoyan told Panorama.am.





Otians couple, Ottoman Empire, 1900
(Hishatak 1896-1930;Pictures and memories:
from Armenian family albums between the 19th and 20th centuries)
  www.genocide-museum

Hajians couple, Aintab, 1910
Archives of Project SAVE
  www.genocide-museum

Dowry giving ceremony, province Van, 1900s, from private collection of Michel Paboudjian
www.genocide-museum 

Weddings in Armenia would take place on Saturdays when the bridegroom and
his relatives went to bring the bride to the bridegroom’s home.



Armenian wedding, Partizak, 1915
(The National Geographic Magazine, Volume XXVIII, N.4)
www.genocide-museum

Soviet time wedding































Modern times 


photo by Suren Manvelyan


photo by Suren Manvelyan


photo by Suren Manvelyan


photo by Suren Manvelyan


photo by Suren Manvelyan

photo by Pargev Ejuryan



photo by Lilian Galstyan


photo by Suren Manvelyan


photo by Suren Manvelyan


photo by Lilian Galstyan



photo by Suren Manvelyan


photo by Suren Manvelyan

 Irrespective of the fact whether the bridegroom is on a white horse or wears a black suit, having a wedding is every girl's dream. We wish happiness to all brides and bridegrooms.

Idea author Tehmine Harutjunyan

You can also read Yerevan style: Retrospective look (photos)