This Blogger’s technological handicaps have delayed entering a video of the Doukhobour Wedding that our children and grandchildren blessed us with on December 23, 2011 at Mazatlan, Mexico. They all became part of a family project that even had them singing “Precious Moments” and “You Know God” in Russian which most of them previously did not speak Russian.
When Marilyn and I got married on December 23, 1961, we went in front of a Judge in Saskatoon to legalize our marriage. The Judge correctly informed us before the ceremony, that Doukhobour Marriages were legal before the law on their own merits. We had many other events that would take place that day and so organizing a Doukhobour Wedding Ceremony was not on the agenda. So we requested that he proceed as earlier arranged.
When our family asked us what sort of present we would like for our 50th wedding anniversary, we responded with “we would like a Doukhobour Ceremony” with all our immediate family present. Since we never did go on a honeymoon, we also decided we would take our entire family with us to Mazatlan.
So here is the ceremony:
Just so those who recall the wedding and can compare, here is the bride and groom 50 years previous to this:
Wedding at Marigold Restaurant, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, December 23, 1961.
In background, Elmer’s sister Mary and her husband, John Khadekin.
Updated by EWV December 31, 2020 with actual video for a public file. The best of the season to all of you!