China couple celebrate wedding at hotpot chain for US$3,100, attract attention with long bill
Traditional Chinese weddings feature lavish banquets, a typical table for 10 costs at least US$700
An unconventional wedding banquet for a young couple in northern China has gone viral on social media after inviting 140 guests to enjoy a meal at a hotpot restaurant for a modest cost of 22,000 yuan (US$3,000).
The feast, organised as a buffet, finished with a bill that stretched two metres long, delighting internet users across mainland China, as reported by Sichuan Observer.
The 26-year-old bride and her 27-year-old husband celebrated their nuptials at an outlet of the well-known hotpot chain Haidilao in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, on May 1, following the last-minute cancellation of their original banquet venue.
“Given the short notice, we could not prepare for a traditional wedding,” the bride, surnamed Zhao, explained.
“A friend suggested hosting our wedding at a hotpot restaurant. My husband and I are both devoted fans of Haidilao and once joked that perhaps our wedding could take place there. This unexpected cancellation encouraged us to turn that idea into reality.”
The Haidilao location in Taiyuan embraced the couple’s wedding reservation, decorating the space with vibrant wall displays, illuminated signage, and a festive red balloon arch at the entrance.