Bride ransom - competitions for the groom

The bride price is always a fun and responsible event for both parties, but it does not always go according to the planned scenario. The groom is tired or the guests are bored... To avoid unpleasant moments, we recommend using the following tips:

When thinking about competitions for bride price, think about whether your chosen one is able to complete this or that task (you don’t need to mock him too much so that the holiday is not spoiled by his bad mood).
The purpose of the ransom is not to rob the witness and the groom, but to stage a theatrical performance. Therefore, when choosing or drawing up a script, focus on beautiful competitions: songs, dances, gypsies, skits, more scenery, costumes, non-standard competitions.
Don’t lubricate competitions by thinking that everyone is already bored. Follow through. Unless you are late for the registry office.

As a rule, the ransom consists of three stages - the street, the entrance and the doors to the bride’s apartment/room. We have selected interesting competitions for each of them.
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Useful video

The video shows an example of how a bride's ransom can take place in an urban environment: If your wedding is held outside the city or in the village, you can change the program a little:

The bride's ransom is a fun and noisy event, so tune in to a positive wave and do not be afraid to participate in competitions, because in the future it will turn into wonderful memories. When testing the groom, you can deviate from the script and change the competitions to suit a specific situation. Laughing and having fun are allowed!

Sex symbol

To run this competition, you will need a huge poster or full-length image of a female idol or sex symbol . Johnny Depp, Bruce Willis, Tom Cruise, Dmitry Bilan or Sergei Lazarev - here is a sample list to choose from. If you want to turn the competition into a joke, then instead of the above characters you can purchase a poster with the image of Igor Nikolaev, Mikhail Boyarsky or one of the political figures. The head of our state, Vladimir Putin, is perfect for this role. Girls and women who are present in the bride's house or apartment must put on lipstick and kiss the star on the poster anywhere they want. Already at this moment they will receive a charge of positive emotions and good mood. The groom will be asked to guess where the imprint of his bride's lips is.

After several unsuccessful attempts, the witness or host of the ransom will have to shame the hero of the occasion, reprimanding him for allowing himself to admit the idea that his beloved was kissing someone else's man. Even if it’s on a poster, even if it’s a star.

Dish for your beloved

This competition will require cards with a picture or name of the products . They should be placed in a round cup or wicker basket and the groom should be invited to pull out five at a time. After studying the images or inscriptions, he will have to say what dishes he will prepare for his chosen one for a romantic dinner.

When choosing competitions for ransom, remember that this event should not greatly tire the groom, the waiting bride, as well as the guests gathered at the holiday.

You don’t have to use all the tests described above; select several options from the list and use them in your scenario. A good mood before going to the registry office will be guaranteed!

The custom of paying for the newlywed

Among the Slavic peoples, the birth of a daughter always meant the appearance of additional hands in the household, which, as their owner grew older, would be able to help her parents with household chores.

The girls helped their family earn money, if not for a comfortable, then at least a well-fed existence, so the daughter’s departure from her father’s house predicted material losses.

To repay them, the groom had to pay his beloved's parents a ransom if he wanted to marry her. The amount of material compensation was directly proportional to the beauty, thriftiness and upbringing of the bride.

In addition, the girl took a dowry from home to her new family, the cost of which the potential husband also had to think about.

The ransom amount was agreed upon during matchmaking. The girl could be asked to demonstrate her skills as a housewife, and based on the results, the amount of compensation could change either up or down. The payment of the ransom itself took place on the wedding day, when the young man arrived at his betrothed’s house, bypassing the obstacles caused by her neighbors.

Now this event is taking place completely differently. In most cases, the bride and groom begin to live together before the wedding, so there can be no talk of any compensation for leaving the family. Organizing the ransom of the bride consists of preparing a short, humorous spectacle that allows the young man to show his ingenuity and willingness to go through any tests for the sake of the bride.

Where to spend it?

Traditionally, the ceremony was held in the bride's house. Now many continue to follow this custom, meeting the groom on the threshold of the newlywed's house. However, this is not the only place where a ransom can be arranged.

When deciding on the location of the event, do not forget about its festive decor. You can use ribbons, balloons, fresh or artificial flowers, photographs of the newlyweds.

Where can you conduct a ransom other than at home?

In the fresh air . The picturesque corner of the park will allow you to organize the action itself in an interesting way and take beautiful photographs. The bride can be hidden in a cute gazebo.
On the territory of a country house . The house does not have to belong to the bride; you can simply rent it or ask friends to provide a house for a while.
In a spacious hotel room . Often, young people book a room for a photo shoot, including for getting ready for the bride before the wedding. The ransom can also be carried out there. You just need to check with the administration whether they will be against such an event.
In the mall . Original girlfriends can make a ransom in the form of a quest for the groom, forcing him to walk through different departments in search of his betrothed.

Is it necessary to have a buffet?

Traditionally, after the lovers have united, guests are offered a small treat. You shouldn’t have a feast, but light snacks in the form of sandwiches, canapés, fruit, wine and champagne will be very appropriate.

The groom and his friends and the rest of the ransom participants may get hungry, so you should not neglect organizing a buffet table. In addition, for everyone it will be a little respite before an important event.

Of course, if you choose an alternative redemption option, for example, a meeting in the park or a quest, then the buffet can be omitted.

Serenade of your beloved to the “dish accompaniment”

The goal of each competition is to create a positive infusion for everyone present. Therefore, you can begin to lift the spirits of guests, acquaintances, neighbors and just passers-by with an unusual serenade from the groom-troubadour. Any utensils at hand are suitable for this.

For example, you can turn a large saucepan upside down and use it as a drum. Two lids can serve as cymbals; containers with spices, cereals, salt or sugar will resemble the muffled sound of maracas. And if you also sing something like “Only you” by Elvis Presley to such a melody, the result will exceed all expectations.

It’s good if such serenades are performed not only by the groom, but also by an honorary witness, brother, best friend or neighbor. And, of course, the parents of your chosen one will be the strictest jury evaluating the unusual bride price. As a bonus - a kiss from your beloved.

The tradition of wedding ransom in Rus'

This interesting custom has come down to us from ancient times. Slavic youths tried to choose a bride from another tribe. At first, we simply had to win back the girl . Later, the violent path was replaced by peaceful negotiations and exchange for valuable things, for example, furs, precious stones.

"Wedding ransom" by Konstantin Trutovsky (1881)

In Rus', ransom was a test for the future husband, a test of his ingenuity, dexterity and generosity. The ritual itself began from the moment the groom arrived at the bride’s house. The native girls created various obstacles: they could block the road with a huge log that needed to be sawed.

There were often fist fights that took place between relatives of the newlyweds. In addition to strength, the groom had to show intelligence and resourcefulness : he guessed riddles, sang, danced. All tests were designed to ensure that the betrothed revealed his positive qualities.

The groom always showed generosity : he treated the bride’s relatives and village children with sweets, and brought gifts to the girl herself.

Without words

Participants: the groom and his team.
Props: wife's costume (skirt or kitchen apron).

The groom is asked to show how he will behave in different family situations, but this must be done without words. The role of his future wife can be played by a friend dressed as his wife. The following situations can be imagined:

A husband meets his wife from the maternity hospital.
My husband brought home a small salary.
The wife swears at her husband for scattered socks.
The wife spent her husband's entire salary in the store.

For the groom

Cool competitions for the groom at the ransom will allow everyone present to laugh heartily and relax , and the groom himself will be able to show his best qualities, be it acting talent, dexterity or intelligence.

You are my teddy

Soft toys of various shapes and sizes are laid out on a flat surface. The groom, blindfolded, needs to feel all the proposed options, choosing from them the toy that most resembles the bride. To make the competition more difficult, you can take various household items instead of plush animals.

Carlo

As props for this competition, you will need a medium-sized piece of wood and a well-sharpened knife. The bridesmaids pass the props to the groom with a request to demonstrate how the hero of the occasion knows how to “plane children.” At the end of the competition, guests must decide which spouse the child is like.

Groom dance

Music is played for the groom, to which he must dance merrily. But the catch of the competition is that the music is constantly changing, and the groom has to adapt to a new rhythm each time. The hosts of the ransom must prepare in advance a selection of 10-15 different melodies. To complicate the task, you can force the groom to tie bows from multi-colored ribbons during the dance.

Oculist

The young groom is greeted by a guest wearing a medical gown, a doctor's cap and a reflector on his head (all props can be rented at costume shops). An impromptu ophthalmologist introduces himself to the groom, saying: “We are looking for a healthy groom for our bride! Let's check your vision!" After these words, the presenters bring out a poster with various dates that are significant for the newlyweds. The date of acquaintance, the bride's birthday, the anniversary of the relationship is best suited. The groom guesses each date. He can be fined for incorrect answers.

A gift from the heart

The bridesmaids bring out a basin to the groom, offering to put in the bottom the best gift that is dear to the bride’s heart. The newly-made spouse will begin to sort through options with friends, settling on various things. But all these options are wrong. The test continues until the groom guesses that he should sit in the basin.

Attention! If the competition drags on, guests may get bored. After several incorrect options on the part of the groom, you can safely give hints.

Fisherman

The bride and her three friends tie ribbons to their wrists and then hide behind a screen. Ribbons are extended into the hall. The groom, like a real fisherman, must “catch” his betrothed. If the bridesmaid is hooked, the fisherman pays a ransom. The competition continues until the real hero of the occasion is found.

Darts-2

This competition will feature a world map . The groom will have to throw a dart at her, look at the place he hit, and talk about how he will take his chosen one there on their honeymoon. The witness or presenter of the ransom should ask him leading questions. Here is a sample list of them:

What will you be driving?
What will you take with you?
How should you dress?
What places will you go to see?
What souvenirs will you bring to your friends and relatives?
Where will you be staying?

Well, we’ll see the third version of darts in the next video, only the groom will not use darts, but a water pistol: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veWT9vayMb8

Tips for organizers

The success of the event will largely depend on the preparation, and therefore on the bridesmaids organizing the ransom. What is important for them to take into account when deciding on the action scenario?

The venue should be considered taking into account the aesthetic properties of the room. An old entrance with numerous inscriptions on the walls will not be the best option. An alternative could be ransom on the street.
There is no need to stretch out the ransom over time. 20-30 minutes will be more than enough.
Options for scenarios can be found on the Internet, but it will be more interesting to adapt them to suit your couple.
There is no need to get sophisticated in competitions and torment the groom. It is not advisable to offer tasks related to serious physical activity, drinking alcohol, or trying low-edible foods.
The ransom should not turn into an outright money grab.
The personal qualities of the groom should also be taken into account. A shy person should not be offered tasks of an ambiguous nature.
It is necessary to think over alternative options for competitions and be prepared for unforeseen circumstances.

At the bride's door

Riddles about love Examples:

What are two things in the heart? (Letters E) What is between the bride and groom? (Letter I) Everyone has one, but you have half? (Heart) No fire, no light, but is it burning with fire? (Heart) What is softest in the world? (No, not the heart, but the hand - under the head during sleep)

Cutting out a heart Hang up a sheet with a heart painted on it with spray paint. The groom must cut it out and pass through it to the bride. He can buy scissors. Not cheap.

Desires On the way of the groom, the host or bridesmaid stands in front of the door with an empty glass in his hands. When the groom, having overcome all obstacles, approaches, he is approached with the following task: “Put what rustles in this glass.”

When he fulfills this desire and puts as much money into the glass as suits the guests, the host says the following task: “Now put in this glass what rings.” When the groom completes this task, he is given the following: “Put what is spilling out into this glass.” The groom must fill it with wine. If the groom does not fulfill any wish, then the previous one is offered to him again. For example, the presenter says: “Put what is spilling out into this glass.” The groom replies: “I don’t have that.” And the presenter says: “Then put what rustles into the glass again.”

Find the mistake The witness invites everyone to check how competent her friend’s groom is. Above the door of the room in which the betrothed sits, there is a poster: “The blue-eyed girl is languishing in this room.” The witness must indicate any eye color other than what the bride actually has. If the groom guesses, he’s great; if he tries to find a grammatical error, he’ll have to pay him off.

Choose your betrothed The bride and 3-4 other women of different ages are hidden behind a closed door. A thread is tied to each lady's finger, the other end of which is exposed under the door. The groom chooses a thread, pulls it, and one of the “contenders” whom the gentleman chose without looking comes out to him. To avoid any complaints, it is better to take threads of different colors. If the guy didn’t guess correctly, he must buy the bride from his girlfriends.

False bride The groom makes his way into the room for a long time, and there a “false bride” is waiting for him - a man or an old woman in a veil.

With humor Invite the groom to put something for the soul . The groom must figure out how to stand there himself.

Shoe The groom enters the bride's room - but she is without shoes! You need to guess which box this shoe is in (you can put slippers and a man's shoe in the other boxes).

Options – unusual and funny

It is better to select different competitions: interesting, funny, selected specifically for the entrance, creative and courageous. The more diverse and unusual the bride price competitions, the brighter the fun. It is better to alternate tasks for the groom when buying the bride: testing mental abilities and physical strength. Then he will not get tired and will be able to enjoy participation no less than the audience and presenters.

"For love"

Participants: groom, witness.

Props: hearts with inscriptions (for love, for calculation, for flight).

The hearts must be arranged along the stairs in such a way that the heart with the inscription of love is located further than the others (on the highest step). The groom will need to lift the top heart without using the railing. In this case, it is forbidden to step on hearts on which incorrect inscriptions are written. The groom can cope with the task if the witness carries him to the top step.

Darts

For this competition you will need darts and darts. On the circle into which the groom will throw pointed devices for the game, you need to place small pieces of paper with fun tasks. Here is a sample list of them:

Hug father-in-law.
Kiss your mother-in-law on the cheek.
Give the bride's aunt or grandmother a box of chocolates.
Carry a witness a hundred meters in your arms.
Drink a glass of vodka from your elbow.
Dance the little swans dance with your friends.
Eat a lemon.

It is worth noting that any task for the groom can be performed by his faithful and devoted witness.

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