5,000 couples join in largest group wedding in PRC history aimed at encouraging affordable marriage customs.
On Sunday, 5,000 Chinese couples were married simultaneously in 50 locations across the country in a large-scale celebration, ahead of the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The couples marked this important milestone in their lives during the event.
Titled “a celebration by families and the nation to witness happiness together,” this group wedding was the largest of its kind organized by Chinese authorities since the founding of the PRC. Couples at 50 venues across provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and special administrative regions such as Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, wore traditional Chinese wedding gowns, exchanged gifts, held flowers, and recited their vows.
Reforms in Marriage Customs
Beyond pledging lifelong commitment, the couples also advocated for simplifying wedding ceremonies and opposing the tradition of costly betrothal gifts, as reported by Beijing Daily. This event symbolically promoted reform in marriage customs and the development of a new culture around marriage and family, supporting marital happiness, according to the same source.
A couple from Ji’an, Jiangxi Province, expressed that true marriage is built on love and commitment rather than expensive “caili” (betrothal gifts), which often burden young people financially and affect their marital happiness. Their view was shared by a bride from Heilongjiang Province, who emphasized that finding a lifelong partner is the essence of marriage.
Demographic expert He Yafu explained that one reason for the declining marriage rate in China is the high cost of weddings, especially in rural areas where extravagant betrothal gifts are common. He noted that this group wedding was aimed at encouraging more affordable marriage customs, opposing costly traditions, and boosting the marriage rate.
The venue in Inner Mongolia hosted the largest number of newlyweds, with 300 couples participating.
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