Wedding Ceremonies at McDonald's and Haidilao
Popular for Reducing Wedding Costs
More and more young people in China are moving away from traditional wedding customs and holding their weddings at places like McDonald's or the hot pot franchise Haidilao.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 17th, the extravagant wedding culture among young people in China is shifting towards more affordable and simple styles.
Traditional Chinese weddings tend to be luxurious and involve complex rituals. Guests are expected to continuously toast with premium alcohol, and a large deposit is required for high-end hotel weddings. However, weddings held at fast food restaurants are much cheaper and simpler.
In particular, Haidilao not only sings congratulatory songs for the bride and groom but also decorates the restaurant to suit the wedding atmosphere. The bride Limengmeng, who got married at this restaurant, said in an interview with the media, "There are two flavors of hot pot, so we didn't have to worry about guests' preferences," adding, "One of the guests joked that the wedding invitation was practically a 'free hot pot meal ticket.'"
McDonald's is also popular as a wedding venue. Xiao Yeji, a bride from Guangdong Province, China, invited about 20 guests to hold her wedding at McDonald's. She recalled, "We used to date at McDonald's when we were in school." Xiao Yeji stated, the venue rental cost was 800 yuan (approximately 150,000 KRW), and the total wedding cost including food and decorations was less than 2,000 yuan (approximately 380,000 KRW).
Xiao Yeji said, "We toasted with cola instead of wine at McDonald's, enjoyed plenty of hamburgers and fries, and chatted a lot. Afterwards, we played on the slide at the playground and even received congratulations from strangers. It was truly an unforgettable day."
Xiao Yeji revealed that holding the wedding at McDonald's saved her more than 100,000 yuan (about 19.2 million KRW). She decided to use the money saved on the wedding to take wedding photos with her groom in Greece.
Local netizens who heard the news responded with various comments such as, "Amazing. It feels like every time they go to McDonald's, they are celebrating their wedding," and "What young people need is a wedding where they can express themselves."
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