Weddings enjoy a 'less is more' revolution

CHONGQING — When Xiao Peng, 26, met her fiance on a bus in Chongqing's Fuling district, the couple instinctively knew it would be the perfect wedding vehicle.

"Compared to traditional wedding car convoys, buses are more eco-friendly and cost-effective," she said, adding that her wedding party spent the journey singing, taking photos and reminiscing.

However, such unique wedding activities are quite unconventional in China, where traditional weddings are often lavish affairs involving long vehicle convoys, numerous customs and a lengthy guest list.

According to a survey conducted in 2021 by Guyu Data, a data analysis and social commentary platform run by Tencent News, the average cost of a wedding in China was about 174,000 yuan ($24,350), which was about 8.8 times higher than the average monthly income of each couple. Forty-two percent of the surveyed couples admitted that their weddings went over budget.

Nowadays, more young Chinese like Xiao are moving away from the elaborate formalities of traditional weddings. They believe that by focusing less on customs and procedures, they can concentrate more on the experience, emotions and the true essence of marriage.

Lin Mo, 34, who lives in Fujian province, held her own simplified ceremony this year.

"My husband and I hosted the wedding ourselves, and the main ceremony lasted only 10 minutes, during which we simply addressed the guests and exchanged rings," she said.

Lin said she believes the preference for high-profile weddings among many Chinese stems from the importance they place on mianzi, a term that refers to one's sense of dignity or prestige. They always want to present their best image to others, she explained.

"I think weddings are very personal and not for showing off," Lin said. "Therefore, we focused on our own experiences and retained what we believe is most important and provides us with sufficient emotional value."

Mei Zhigang, an associate professor at the School of Sociology at Central China Normal University, said: "Traditional weddings in China involve a complex series of ceremonies that are rooted in history and may be impractical in today's fast-paced lifestyle. Streamlined and personalized weddings are a logical and natural choice for young couples, as they help reduce financial pressure and enhance their experience."

Local authorities are also looking to reform wedding customs and have implemented multiple measures. One example is the widespread practice of collective weddings across the country.

On Aug 10 — the date of this year's Qixi Festival, also known as Chinese Valentine's Day — a collective wedding ceremony took place in Chongqing's Nan'an district, organized by the local civil affairs bureau. Dozens of couples donned traditional Chinese attire and embraced the moment.

"It saved us a lot of money and effort since we didn't have to find a venue, plan the procedures or worry about various unexpected incidents. The bureau handled everything," said Xiong Qi, one of the newlyweds, who is from Chongqing's Yubei district.

Chen Wei, an associate professor at the College of State Governance at Southwest University, said such activities help avoid waste, alleviate competition and curb distasteful practices such as vulgar wedding hazing.

"They seek to make people realize the essence of marriage, which is love and responsibility," Chen said.

Xinhua