Dear guests, since I have the honor of being one of the first to speak, I would like to welcome you all and thank you for finding the opportunity to put aside all your affairs and come here, many from afar, to attend this important event of the reunion of two young, loving hearts, and to warmly congratulate our beloved children on their wedding.

Today Bram and Yulia are taking a serious, decisive and, as I hope, well-considered and responsible step in their lives - they are starting a family. And that's a beautiful thing, no matter how dramatic that may sound.

First of all, as father of the bride, I would like to sincerely congratulate and thank Bram's parents — his mother Hilde and father Dick — for giving life, raising and educating such a wonderful son, a bright and creative person, who already today has a significant weight in society. Exactly the kind of man who, by a happy coincidence, was chosen by my beloved, beautiful daughter, our dear Yulia.

Larisa and I, as her parents, not only hope, but are completely confident, and you, dear guests, can believe us - this is the right choice.

Of course, they did not meet yesterday, and we had the opportunity to observe their relationship, to see that they are drawn to each other, and moreover, they are leading and following each other.

Just look at the heroic act of Bram, who went skiing (with us) for the first time in his life, right before an important concert. That truly was worth a lot.

On the other hand, I will not conceal the fact that Yulia completed a formal music school program in violin... Which is why their meeting never seemed like a coincidence to me. Let me use a famous Russian saying, slightly paraphrased: "A violinist can spot another violinist from afar."

Besides this, Yulechka studied folk dancing and fine arts in an art studio. Her paintings now decorate our home and my office.

And that is probably why she feels at home among creative people, even though she chose a different path professionally.

We absolutely adore our beloved daughter and are deeply nourished by the love she gives us in return. Since childhood, she’s shared our passion for skiing and happily joined us on all kinds of travels — something she still does today, now together with Bram.

We have always been fascinated by her sociability and ability to make friends. She has many friends in Russia and, more recently, in many other countries as well. It's a pity they couldn't all be here today. But the closest ones are here. And we are very happy that Masha, with whom Yulia has been friends since the first grade, is by her side at such an important moment.

Of course, I wasn't prepared for the fact that Yulia would one day end up so far from home, even though, in hindsight, it was to be expected. Stubborn and independent since childhood, but oh so sweet.

And even though people say she looks more like her grandmother, in character she clearly takes after her mother. She was even born on her mother’s birthday.

And just like my wife — who found her happiness, that is, me, 4,000 kilometers from her home — Yulia, too, found hers beyond four borders. Truly, love is measured in kilometers.

In closing, I would like to say that for us, as Yulia's parents, it meant a great deal to see how warmly she was welcomed into Bram’s family, or, as we say in Russia: she fit right in (“she came to court"). Thanks to these two loving souls, we are now becoming one large, united family.

Thank you, my dearest Yulechka and Bram. Love each other. Live happily ever after!