Xi'an (CNS)—A second-hand flat, a set meal wedding dinner, and a DIY invitation card... The idea of a "slim wedding" has gained more and more popularity among youth in the Chinese mainland. Different from an expensive traditional wedding, a "slim wedding" is relatively cheap, yet romantic, simple, and full of personality.
A "slim wedding" is different from a "naked wedding" – a marriage without any substantial preparations (like a house or car). Economically "slim" young people make all the arrangements for their wedding themselves in order to find a moderate balance between a luxurious wedding and a naked wedding. They simplify traditional procedures and buy a wedding dress and candies on the Internet. This has relieved some of the financial burdens for their families and at the same time, they are able to present their own personalities.
In 2010, Web users posted a list of the top 10 cities with high wedding expenses, of which, Shenzhen ranked the first. In Xi'an, 70,000 couples got married in 2010, spending 30% more than those in 2009. On average, it cost $18,564 per wedding and created $773 million in consumption.
Duan Wei, an employee at a website in the Gaoxin District of Xi'an, told CNS that he bought a second-hand apartment for life after the wedding. The decoration only cost $4,641. He looks more on furnishing than decoration, which he can collect on the Internet from recycled objects, such as a sofa bed, cupboards, beds, and chairs.
Cao Niya, who married "slimly" on the 9th, wrote of her experience on the Internet. One can see low-cost, DIY elements in almost every aspect of her wedding. "We made our wedding sweets by buying a big box of candy and gluing all the pieces together. We also added some tiny crystal decorations to make it more delicate." Moreover, the bride sewed together environmentally-friendly cloth bags as their wedding presents, which turned out to be very popular with their relatives and friends.
Chinese weddings have become more and more expensive in the 30 years since the "reform and opening up" in 1978. In the 1970s, a watch, a bicycle, and a sewing machine were enough to get married. Today, the "cost of happiness" has climbed dramatically above ordinary families' ability to afford a wedding.
"The idea behind a 'slim wedding' is to cut expenses while ensuring quality. It is more practical than a 'naked wedding' and more stylish than a luxurious wedding. The advent of the 'slim wedding' shows that the 1980s generation has matured and started to share family and social responsibilities," said Kong Zheng, vice chairman of the Shaanxi Folk Society.
