Family of groom in China shuns tradition, displays ‘zero bride price’ sign on big day, says ‘love not measured by money’
- Feast at home of groom serves instant noodles, no cigarettes, wine
- Parents back humble newlyweds who friends say are very much in love
The family of a husband-to-be in China held up a “zero bride price” sign on their way to pick up the bride on the wedding day, prompting a discussion on social media about marriage traditions.
On January 16, the big day for a couple from northern China’s Hebei province, the groom’s family spent two hours walking from the bride’s home back to the couple’s future home in the neighbouring town.
The groom pulled the bride in a two-wheeled cart led by two of his relatives who held up signs that read “zero bride price” and “no cigarettes, no wine, no pressure”.
Traditionally, men in China pay a woman’s family a price that ranges from 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) to one million yuan.
Zero bride price is still considered unconventional, but increasingly accepted among the younger generation.
“Love is not measured by money,” the groom said, adding that their decision received support from both sets of parents.
Their wedding ceremony was held in the residential compound where their new home is located.
According to the the mainland media outlet Nanchang Evening News, the main course at their wedding feast was instant noodles, and they did not provide the cigarettes or wine that are usually expected at wedding ceremonies.
The marriage witness, surnamed Wu, said the wedding was a cultural shock for him as it was the first zero bride price nuptials he had ever overseen.
He added that the newlyweds were from poor families, but were very much in love.
The ceremony has sparked heated online debate over the long-established bride price tradition.
“A good marriage is not based on how much money you have,” one person said on Douyin.
“Bride price is an important gesture to show respect to the woman and gratitude to her parents,” said another.
A large number of online contributors shared that view, believing the bride price is compensation for a woman sacrificing her independence to devote her life to caring for her husband and children.
However, not everyone was in favour of the ancient tradition.
“A daughter getting married is not an object in exchange for money. Bride price is a tradition but not a necessity,” said one online observer.
Last year, a man from northwestern China’s Shanxi province broke up with his fiancée because he could not afford the 220,000-yuan bride price her family asked for, which is an average figure for the tradition in that province.
The man, who earned 5,000 yuan a month, said he was relieved when the wedding was cancelled. He then spent 30,000 yuan travelling around China for five months.
