On the day of the wedding before the ceremony the groom was not supposed to see the bride, but he sent her a box containing a veil, wax flowers, wedding candles, wedding, spirits, pins and other trifles. Caskets were different, depending on how wealthy the groom was. After receiving that box Russian brides started to dress up. Usually aunts of the women helped them. A traditional Russian wedding dress was usually made of white silk, but any colors except for black were acceptable. A veil was long and wide. A younger brother brought the veil, gloves on a tray, and carried the veil of her dress. The time of the wedding was appointed from 5 to 6 pm if there was a dinner, and from 7 till 9 pm if there was no dinner. Russian women and men usually got to the church apart from each other, though it was not necessary. Each estate had its favorite churches.
In church the bride stood on the left from the groom, and released the right hand from a glove. The priest took them on a wedding place. Relatives of the groom stood on the right, relatives of the bride stood on the left.
Russian men and women got married either in spring, or in autumn. During the ceremony the groom and the bride were led round around an oak. Malicious spirits were driven away by noise, water, fire, or smoke. It meant that the marriage should be strong for many years. In the house of the bride, the groom sat near to the bride wearing a wedding dress, with hair covered with a transparent veil. Only in XVIII century the custom of orthodox wedding became common. Marriage was very important for Russian women at that time, it meant that they were connecting their whole life with a man whom they usually hardly knew. But it was very common and no one would ask the bride whether she really wanted to marry that man.