No fuss, just dinner: China couple trade wedding extravagance for US$11,000 feast, cash gifts

A young couple in eastern China has captured the attention of social media for their unconventional wedding, forgoing expensive traditions in favor of an affordable feast and cash gifts for guests. The bride, Zhu, hails from Ningbo in Zhejiang province, while the groom, Wang, originates from Taizhou, also in Zhejiang. Both in their early 30s, the couple tied the knot in September in their respective hometowns, as reported by the Ningbo Evening News.

Their "four no's" wedding involved no pick-up service for the bride, no luxury wedding vehicles, no hired master of ceremonies, and no videographer to document the event. Moreover, they did not have groomsmen or bridesmaids. Consequently, there was no wedding hazing, a tradition where groomsmen play pranks on the newlyweds and bridal party.

However, Zhu and Wang did not skimp on the wedding banquet. In Zhu's hometown of Ningbo, they hosted a banquet with 45 tables, spending 70,000 yuan (US$11,000) on premium seafood and other lavish dishes. In China, it is customary to give guests cigarettes as wedding favors, but Zhu chose to give them red envelopes containing 200 to 300 yuan each, reasoning that few of her guests likely smoked.

Typically, the newlyweds' parents deliver blessings during the ceremony. However, Zhu's father kept his brief speech to just 41 seconds, expressing gratitude for the guests and hoping they enjoyed the meal. Zhu revealed that she and her husband are introverted and dislike crowded scenes, as well as the idea of burdening their relatives and friends.

"I have attended some large weddings before," she stated, "and I found that the newlyweds, their parents, and their guests were all exhausted. So, I hoped to simplify my wedding." "If our parents became ill from the stress of organizing our wedding, it would not be worth it," Zhu added. Initially, their parents were hesitant to accept this unconventional approach, but they eventually came around.

Zhu explained that there was no point in filming the wedding, as "no one would watch the video after the wedding." Nonetheless, she valued having wedding photos taken. The couple journeyed to Yulong Snow Mountain, a popular tourist destination in Yunnan province, southwestern China, for their photoshoot. Zhu expressed that it was meaningful to her because the photos were taken at a place she enjoyed.

Lu, Zhu's aunt, commented on the absence of traditional wedding rituals but was nonetheless pleased with the celebration. "But the banquet was wonderful," Lu remarked cheerfully to the media. The couple's simplified wedding went viral after being shared by major domestic media outlets. Some people praised their decision, stating it was a good idea as many weddings appear overly staged.

Others, however, disapproved, asserting that the wedding lacked proper celebrations and the newlyweds would likely regret not taking their big day seriously.