A nationwide survey reveals it costs couples 560,000 yuan (US$71,795) to get married. That includes photography, banquet, wedding dress, buying a house and honeymoon.

Conducted by the committee of the Chinese Wedding Expo, the survey finds newlyweds spend US$42,308 on purchasing a home, US$6,410 on decorations and US$1,282 on home appliances and furniture.

For the wedding day, the photographs, banquet, wedding dress and honeymoon can cost up to 140,000 yuan (US$17,949). And when added to buying cars and homes, newlyweds will spend some 560,000 yuan.

In big cities like Beijing, the cost is even much higher than the national average. For example, Beijing resident Meng Li has carefully budgeted for her upcoming wedding. "Although I have tried my best to save as much money as possible, I still will spend at least US$12,821 for my wedding and other purchases." She will spend at least US$6,410 on her wedding day, US$12,821 on home appliances and furniture, US$8,974 to buy a low-profiled car, US$89,744 on a 90-square-meter flat and its decoration. And the couple's willing to take a low-budget overseas honeymoon will cost them at least US$1,538.

The survey also indicates that 82 per cent of new couples spend their parents' money to pay for the wedding, home and cars, among whom there are 14 per cent couples totally dependent on their family's financial support.

Many parents of newlyweds share the same feelings as Ms. Zhang, a mother of a groom: "We parents want to share our children's daily expense to ease their financial situation, especially for weddings since it is a Chinese tradition."

Some experts suggest new couples should not compete in having lavish celebrations. What bond lovers together is love, not material goods. Today's young couples should think about the true meaning of marriage instead of blindly following others to create a financial burden on themselves and their families.