The wedding honored both sides of the family. The bride and groom smashed plates at the altar during the ceremony, a tradition in Armenia that symbolizes new beginnings, and served mini lobster rolls as an appetizer in a nod to Maine, where the bride’s father’s family lives. The mothers of the bride and groom read “Blessing for a Marriage,” a poem by James Dillet Freeman, in English and in Russian during the ceremony.
When the dancing began, Ms. Bonneau and Mr. Kosyan surprised everyone by changing into Adidas tracksuits, an outfit that became popular in Eastern Europe in the ’90s and is a favorite among Mr. Kosyan’s friends and family. “Every time his dad comes over to our house he’s wearing head-to-toe jacket, pants, shoes, hat — all matching,” Ms. Bonneau said.
Ms. Bonneau’s entire extended family made it to the wedding, but most of Mr. Kosyan’s relatives were unable to journey to Colorado from Russia and Abkhazia, in part because of travel restrictions put in place by Europe and the United States in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Instead, Mr. Kosyan’s side was represented by “cousins,” a reference to his close friends in the local Armenian community.
When Mr. Kosyan’s family first arrived in Denver, his parents, who had worked as doctors in Moscow, were unable to practice medicine and struggled to make ends meet. As they worked to resume their careers and provide for their only child, Mr. Kosyan built a circle of close friends who became like family.
During the reception, a section of music was dedicated to the Armenians, a combination of European pop hits and traditional songs. Ms. Bonneau said Mr. Kosyan rehearsed his dance moves for months. “He started practicing before we were engaged,” she said.
And his “cousins,” Ms. Feshchenko, the groom’s mother, said, “brought fire to the dance floor. They were so energetic.”
