Photo: VCG

On snow-capped mountains over 3,000 meters above sea level, white snow and roses form a striking contrast as couples face a sea of clouds and vow to spend their lives together; in a park themed around railway relics, newlyweds in wedding attire pose for photos along winding tracks; golden sands sketch magnificent backdrops as couples join hands and embark on a new life before the "sea of sand." There are now 525 "park-style" marriage registration locations and more than 1,000 outdoor certificate-issuing venues just like these across China, according to CCTV News.

Enhancing a sense of ceremony during wedding registrations has become an important aspect of the marriage customs reform.

Not long ago, a marriage registration office opened within the Diaohualou Scenic Area of Taizhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, attracting many couples from across the country to register their marriages there. Staff held a collective marriage certificate presentation ceremony for the couples, offering sweet blessings and wishes, as well as presenting each couple with a thoughtfully prepared gift pack containing scenic area tickets, cultural and creative souvenirs, and other special keepsakes.

The marriage registration office located in the Tengger Desert in Alxa Left Banner, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, has also become a popular choice for young couples since it opened in May 2025. Under the vast expanse of golden sands and blue skies, they can exchange vows to spend the rest of their lives together.

"The memory of this experience will remind us again and again that our love can transcend even the vastness of the desert. In the future, every desert we visit will bring the joy and excitement we felt when we registered our marriage back to us. From now on, no matter where the deserts are, they will no longer be just natural wonders to us - they will stand as enduring symbols of our love and devotion," Zhang Shangjie, who was married at the registration office, told the Global Times.

Thanks to the implementation of a nationwide marriage registration policy that allows couples to register their marriage anywhere in the country, more young couples across China have chosen to make the marriage registration process more romantic and memorable. These young couples are increasingly rejecting lavish, competitive banquets and burdensome traditions. In their place, there is a desire for the ritual to be meaningful, beautiful, and emotionally sincere.

The desire for a sense of ceremony in marriage registration among young people reflects both their respect for marriage and their serious commitment to it. Crucially, this pursuit of ceremony does not conflict with simplicity; meaningful rituals do not require elaborate preparations or complex procedures. Instead, romance, enjoyment, and practicality are values that resonate most with today's youth, Huang Kaixuan, a professional wedding host from Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, concluded based on his long-term observation.

Moreover, holding the ceremony in natural and historical sites is an innovation that enriches the significance of the occasion. Special registration points in scenic areas - like the one in Hexia ancient town in Huai'an, Jiangsu Province and Guixi Ecological Park in Chengdu, Sichuan Province - allow couples to weave their personal milestones into the broader story of Chinese heritage. Here, the union of tradition and emotion comes alive, inviting couples to record memories steeped in cultural meaning and natural beauty. Integrating elements of intangible cultural heritage and leveraging local tourism resources, these sites infuse wedding ceremonies with both ritual and resonance.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn