Scenes From a Wedding In Dagestan

In the emerald green valleys of the North Caucasus mountains, time seems to pass in a different dimension. In this region, tradition reigns supreme.



Stretching between the Black and Caspian seas, the wonders of the mountains do to the outsider what strong light does to the eye. Overwhelmed by the primacy of custom, visitors need time to acclimate.



Photographs by Todd Prince

Text by Andreea Rujan

Earlier this year, news of a wedding in the North Caucasus republic of Chechnya between a 17-year-old girl and a police chief three times her age made headlines around the world. The age difference, as well as allegations that the union was not consensual, raised concerns with regards to human rights in Chechnya and, by extension, in the Russian Federation.



This however, is a different story. These photos are from an April wedding in Makhachkala, the capital of the republic of Dagestan.

There is nothing scandalous about the participants. There is no absurd age difference between the newlyweds and no rumors that the bride has been forced into marriage. It is simply an example of two people who have decided to build their future together and have taken the step of uniting their lives — according to local customs and traditions.

In a lavishing, yellow-gold setting featuring a beautiful, opulently dressed bride, Todd Prince's photographs capture the very essence of Dagestani tradition.

The visuals were complimented by the traditional music, which called everyone to the dance floor. Guests danced the traditional folk dance of the Caucasus, the Lezginka, a fusion of rhythmic movement and lively beats.

In strict conformity with Dagestani tradition, the men and women attending the wedding were seated separately, only coming together to watch the bride and groom dance.

All the women are wearing the traditional Muslim headscarf, the hijab. An enduring part of the stricter Muslim communities, the hijab is meant to protect the woman from the intruding gaze of unfamiliar men.