Key facts
- The couple held two banquets, one in the groom's hometown and another in the bride's village.
- The bride's father cited the couple's stressful lives in Shanghai and the elderly family members' difficulty traveling as reasons for the simpler ceremony.
- The "four-no wedding" trend symbolizes a rebellion against elaborate marriage rituals.
- Other frugal wedding trends include zero bride prices, collective weddings, and travel weddings.
A couple in eastern China has gained viral attention for opting for a minimalist wedding, foregoing traditional elaborate rituals in favor of a simple banquet and cash gifts. The bride, surnamed Zhu, from Ningbo, and the groom, Wang, from Taizhou, both in Zhejiang province, held their celebrations in September. Their wedding has been dubbed the "four-no wedding" by netizens, as it lacked a bridal procession, wedding cars, a master of ceremonies, and a video crew. The bride's father delivered a brief 41-second speech before the banquet commenced. This trend reflects a growing movement among young Chinese to embrace simpler, more economical weddings, a shift that is also supported by official policies aimed at reducing high bride prices and promoting a more civilized wedding culture. The couple, who work in Shanghai, chose this approach to align with their fast-paced lives and to accommodate elderly family members.