Netizens say ‘I do’ to cutting cost of weddings

HANGZHOU: A proposal to bring down the cost of weddings in Tongxiang City, east China’s Zhejiang province, has become something of a talking point on the Internet.

The proposal called for newlyweds to restrict their cost of wedding meals to no more than 1,500 yuan (RM947) per table, which can usually accommodate 10 guests.

The proposal also seeks to end long motorcades, expensive gifts, and big “hongbao” (gift money).

Crazily expensive wedding ceremonies are still common in some parts of China. Many believe that the bigger the banquet, the happier the marriage.

Chen Liang, 26, just had such a wedding. With a salary of just 4,000 yuan (RM2,525), his wedding cost the family over 470,000 yuan (RM296,719). Almost half the money was borrowed.

Chen’s story is quite normal. The aim of spending tens of thousands of yuan on a wedding sometimes is surprisingly simple – to save face.

Chen Miaolin, chairman of New Century Tourism Group said his hotels tried to introduce a wedding meal that consisted of six dishes and one soup per table, but the customers insisted they wanted 12 dishes and one soup.

“About one-third of the food usually ends up wasted,” Chen said.

So came the proposal in Tongxiang, which called on young couples to avoid “outdated” wedding procedures, such as improper games to tease the groom or even bridesmaids, as well as drinking games.

The proposal also suggested gift money from relatives and friends should not exceed 600 yuan (RM379), and the red paper-scissored Chinese character of “Xi”, or happiness, should be pasted only in the couple’s own houses and yards.

The move was mostly welcomed online. — China Daily/Asia News Network