China's new generation choose lavish weddings (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-03-09 08:58 Adventurous hot air balloon and fairy tale castle
weddings are becoming increasingly popular in China as the new generation of
newlyweds crave lavish ways to begin their marriages.
"The new generation of newlyweds, born in the late 1970s and early 1980s,
have more fancy dreams for weddings than the older generations," said Shi
Kangning, head of the wedding ceremony union of the China Association of Social
Workers.
The Chinese national capital will see 130,000 couples married this year, as
against 100,000 couples last year, according to the union's forecast.
To get married in the Year of the Dog is considered auspicious for weddings
in China, since this year's lunar calendar has 13 months, with an intercalary
month between the seventh and eighth month, as well as two "lichun" or the
beginning of the spring -- the auspicious day marking the beginning of spring -
in one year.
Newlyweds in Beijing are likely to spend at least three billion yuan (about
US$370 million) on wedding ceremonies alone this year, not including fun items
such as honeymoons and wedding photos.
A national survey of 60,000 new couples by the union found that 88.63 percent
of new couples plan to take wedding photos; 46.63 percent of the respondents
choose to employ professional wedding planners; 78.74 percent hold wedding
banquets in restaurants; 66.75 percent book honeymoon tours.
According to Shi, a wedding in Beijing usually costs anywhere from 30,000
yuan to 50,000 yuan (US$3,700-US$6,165). The union's sources said that some
prestigious hotels and ace restaurants are fully booked for wedding banquets
this year.
|