As die-cast and jumper mention, "traditions" vary by region, background, and/or religious affiliation.
This ransom bit seems common, and is fun.
You are taking this *neighborhoods most beautiful girl- what will you offer them in exchange
its done in good humor, and yo may be asked personal questions, riddles , jokes, to sing or dance..etc.
There are many traditions , like which spouse is taking the biggest bite of a loaf of salt /bread, or who steps on the Rushnik first (if they have this particular ceremony) etc.
but again it will vary quite a bit by couple.
The overall idea is fun for everyone involved..and is generally much more involved in that aspect than western weddings.
Our wedding day was also similar to what was written. Went something sorta somewhat like this..
-Wake up.
-Have a drink.
-Go get ready.
-Wait for photographer/videographer
-Photographer/videographer show up and takes photos of groom getting dressed.
-Have a shot (drink) with the Photog/Vidiog while in underwear and shirt.
-They leave and go to the bride's place (heh, she didn't mention whether she did shots in her underwear)
-wait for hell to freeze
-wait some more
-say to hell with it and have another drink
-phone rings and fun begins
-Car, all decked out with ribbons various arrives picks up groom.
-Everyone has a yet another shot before leaving on the conquest.
-A/C is turned on and set to "ultra-trickle-continental-drift-flow" (this is a real setting and is a condition of vehicular import) so as to not inadvertently kill anyone with moving, cold air.
-arrive somewhere near the bride's (perhaps in the neighborhood)
-begin the gauntlet of challenges to win the bride -- being confronted by layers of people with specific challenges/bribes (chocolates, a bottle of alcohol, a myriad of possibilities)/games - sing/dance/answer riddles/solve puzzles/guess underwear color/ answer strange questions about family or friends -- the 'best man' is supposed to know what's coming and be prepared to assist with the effort.
-the last challenge is the toughest one. Usually the father, or big bad uncle, or ...
-arrive at bride, raise veil, kiss the bride..
-everyone drinks champaign toasts
-go to park with entire wedding entourage and have more photos and video
-more toasts
-head off to zags with wild horn blowing, shouts from onlookers, etc..
-zags ceremony is sorta like a wedding chapel version here sans the religious aspects - exchange rings, bite the bread, step on the Rushnik (a special rug thing), and share a drink of champagne from an enormous glass. THEN the most important part - signing the wedding documents while everyone witnesses.
-then greet the guests as husband and wife (be prepared to receive and hold a billion so flowers)
-get official stamps in passports indicating "married" and "to whom"
-leave zags to cheers and the raining of flower petals...
-head to the reception for more games, drinking, dancing food etc... most everyone there will want to do a toast with you. My memory ceased to save information after about 9pm or so... some of these games are popular and traditional, e.g., someone steals one of the bride's shoes and it's up to you to track down the thief and get it back with yet another bribe, guests shouting chants of "gorka... gorka.." and you kiss the bride while they then count, very loudly, how long the kisses last then wildly cheering at the end..
all in all it's a looooooooong day (and night) but it's a blast. I would highly suggest marrying there if it's your fiancee's first marriage so she can have her day in the spotlight with her friends and family, plus -- have I mentioned that it's a blast?