wedding history Archives

In News

The true story of a wedding during the Chernobyl disaster

April 20, 2026 No Comments

On 26 April 1986, as an explosion rocked the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, life in the nearby city of Pripyat appeared — at least on the surface — to continue as normal.

Among those moving ahead with their plans were Iryna Stetsenko, 19, and Serhiy Lobanov, 25, who were due to be married that same day, just 4km from the plant.

The wedding morning

In the early hours before the ceremony, residents reported unusual sounds and vibrations. Iryna recalled a low rumble and shaking windows, while Serhiy described feeling what he thought might have been a minor tremor.

Despite this, there was no clear information.

According to BBC News, Soviet authorities did not immediately disclose what had happened. Radio broadcasts remained silent, and when residents called for answers, they were told not to panic and to continue with planned events.

By morning, however, signs of disruption were visible. Soldiers in gas masks appeared the city, and streets were being washed down. At the market, unusually quiet for a Saturday, Serhiy bought a small bouquet of tulips for the bride.

“We knew something wasn’t right”

The wedding went ahead at Pripyat’s Palace of Culture, The couple exchanged vows in front of family and friends, but the mood was far from celebratory. Guests were aware that something had happened, even if the details were unclear.

“There was tension,” Serhiy later said to BBC. “Everyone understood something was wrong.”

At the reception, the atmosphere remained subdued. The couple had planned a traditional waltz for their first dance, but quickly fell out of step. Instead, they held each other and moved together quietly.

What was happening just kilometres away

While the wedding continued, reactor four at the plant had exploded during a failed safety test, triggering the Chernobyl disaster.

The blast released large amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere, affecting vast areas of Ukraine and beyond. Emergency crews worked through the night to contain the damage, many exposed to dangerous radiation levels.

Residents, however, were not immediately evacuated or fully informed.

A wedding cut short

In the early hours of the following morning, just hours after becoming husband and wife, Iryna and Serhiy were told to leave.

Evacuation trains were scheduled to depart at dawn. With little time to prepare, they gathered what they could. Iryna, who had no other suitable clothing on hand, ran through the streets in her wedding dress to return home and change before leaving.

Like thousands of others, they were told the evacuation would be temporary.

They never returned to Pripyat.

Life after Chernobyl

In the days following their evacuation, the couple stayed with family far from the exclusion zone. It was there that Iryna discovered she was pregnant.

At the time, there were widespread concerns about the potential effects of radiation exposure on unborn children. Despite the uncertainty, she continued with the pregnancy and later gave birth to a healthy daughter.

Over the years, the couple have said they believe the disaster may have affected their health, though this has not been medically confirmed.

Decades later

Today, Pripyat remains abandoned, and the reactor is sealed beneath a protective structure designed to contain radiation. While some areas are now considered safe for limited visits, the region is still heavily monitored.

For Iryna and Serhiy, the events of that day reshaped the course of their lives.

Their wedding, set against the backdrop of one of history’s most devastating nuclear accidents, was not the celebration they had imagined — but it marked the beginning of a marriage that has endured decades of upheaval.

ALSO SEE: 67 of our favourite last dance songs to end your wedding on a high

67 of our favourite last dance songs to end your wedding on a high

Feature image: BBC News

In Engagements

Why we propose on bended knee

October 28, 2019 No Comments

You know the picture. The proposer suddenly lowers the knee to the ground, both hands clutching a tiny box. “Will you marry me?” they ask. It’s a picturesque moment, one we’ve seen reproduced time and time again. But why do we do it?

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While proposing has actually been around for centuries, proposing on bended knee specifically has not always been the tradition. In the olden days, wedding engagements were seen more as business arrangements than the romantic, heartfelt scenes we know today.

Proposing on bended knee has no specific historical origin, and largely seems to be a more modern invention.

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Most reports link the tradition to practices observed during medieval times.

According to engagementringbible.com, the tradition “dates back to the days of knighthood, chivalry and formal courtship (i.e. medieval times and beyond).” In these days, knights would bend the knee in front of their lord as a sign of respect and loyalty. Courtly love was the formal practice of romance. Knights would perform various deeds of service to prove their love for certain women. They would also kneel before the women as a sign of servitude.

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Kneeling was and is a common occurrence across many religions. Much Christian iconography depict figures kneeling before their Lord as a symbol of service. For many entering their places of worship, they will kneel before the altar in a sign of love and reverence.

The argument goes that these two occurrences blended together and became a way for people to express their love, thus evolving into the modern day proposal. The bended knee became a symbolic way to prove your undying love and respect.

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Nowadays, of course, people are not so strict about upholding this tradition. Many propose without kneeling, and the amount of women proposing to men has largely risen. Whether you kneel or not, at the end of the day it is about what feels right for you and your partner.

Image: Unsplash

In News

The meaning behind ‘something old, new, borrowed and blue’

October 21, 2019 No Comments

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue”. This wedding charm is a tradition that has been followed many betrothed couples for decades. Brides traditionally incorporate this tradition into their bridal attire, wearing something old, new, borrowed, and blue, typically obtained from loved ones. But where does this tradition come from, and why do we still do it today?

The tradition began in the Victorian era as an English rhyme. Originally it went, “Something Olde, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, A Sixpence in your Shoe”. The final part of the rhyme is typically a British custom only, and thus largely omitted from the saying.

Each object is meant to bring the couple good luck on their wedding day and encourage a successful marriage.

Something Old:

Brides were traditionally required to incorporate something old into their bridal attire to ward off evil. In the olden times, brides traditionally wore an undergarment of a woman that had already bore children as their something old. Doing this was meant to confuse the Evil Eye, who was said to cause infertility. Through this, the Evil Eye was tricked into thinking the bride was already fertile, thus leaving her alone.

However, the more favoured meaning is that of continuity. By incorporating something old, brides carry with them something sentimental from their past.

Typically, brides opt for heirlooms to represent their something old.

Something New:

As the betrothed begin their new life as a married couple, the something new acts as a symbol of optimism for the future.

This is the easiest and most straight-forward element to incorporate, as it can literally be anything. The easiest is to have jewellery or the wedding dress itself stand for the something new, as those will most likely be purchased brand new.

Something Borrowed:

Something borrowed works to bring the couple good luck on their wedding day and their marriage. Traditionally, couples are meant to borrow something from a close friend or relative that is already married and ideally has children. This way, the luck of the happily married person will rub off on the newlyweds, thus starting the marriage off on a positive note.

As with the something old, brides were encouraged to borrow the undergarments of a close relative or friend as a positive sign of fertility.

Nowadays, couples generally borrow things of significance from friends or family. Once again, it can be anything, from accessories to shoes.

Something Blue:

Blue is said to represent purity, love and fidelity, and as such has become a highly symbolic colour for weddings. It also has the bonus of warding off the Evil Eye, according to legend.

Traditionally, brides incorporated their something blue into their garters. However, today brides can use blue in any aspect of their wedding attire to get the same effect.

The “Sixpence in your shoe” part of the rhyme typically refers to British custom, in which a bride places a sixpence coin inside their shoe for good luck and prosperity.

Picture: Unsplash