China’s Gen-Z is increasingly opting for minimalistic, unconventional wedding ceremonies over traditional lavish celebrations. On September 13, 2024, a video of a couple getting married at a McDonald’s in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province went viral. The young couple treated their guests to Chicken McNug-gets, Big Macs, French fries and sodas. For them, a simple and nostalgic celebration symbolized cherishing the small joys in marriage and life.
Traditional weddings can be unbearably expensive: a China Wedding Expo report shows that in 2023, weddings in the country’s first-tier cities can cost between 200,000-300,000 yuan (US$28,100 to 42,150), which many young couples are increasingly unwilling to spend. Instead, they are choosing affordable venues like karaoke lounges, hotpot restaurants and fast-food outlets. Some Gen-Zers even turn their wedding into cosplay or movie-themed events, using the occasion to express their individuality as a couple.
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