In recent days, a couple from Huludao, Liaoning, has gained popularity on the internet for using free AI software to create their wedding photos, electronic invitations, and guest welcoming photos.
According to reports from “Nine Pairs News,” on October 9th, Mr. Yu from Huludao posted a video of his wedding online. The video shows that the wedding photos used by him and his wife were generated by AI, with a clear watermark of the AI software in the bottom right corner of the guest welcoming photos.
Mr. Yu explained that he and his wife chose to have a destination wedding and originally planned to travel to Lijiang in September to take physical wedding photos. However, considering that the photoshoot would take up travel time and the local weather was not favorable, they decided last minute to cancel the photoshoot and focus on sightseeing instead. He then took clear template photos of the two of them with his phone, used a free version of the AI software to generate multiple photos, and created electronic invitations and guest welcoming cards, all in just about 3 hours.
Mr. Yu mentioned that he didn’t care about others’ opinions. When sending out the electronic invites, he made it clear to friends and family that the photos were generated by AI, and he deliberately kept the AI watermark on the guest welcoming photos at the wedding.
“It was a very minimalist wedding. In the morning, I helped my wife put on some makeup, and then we went to the wedding venue to say our vows followed by the reception.” Mr. Yu believes that not having traditional wedding photos doesn’t make him feel regretful. As long as the two of them live their lives well, they can always have photos taken in the future.
With the economy on the decline, the trend of “minimalist weddings” has become a new fashion that young people in contemporary China are pursuing. This year, Ms. Sun, who got married during the National Day holiday, also had a minimalist wedding.
She told “Nine Pairs News” that traditional weddings involve expenses such as emcees, event planning, and venue decorations. “Apart from the wedding planning, a good emcee costs at least two to three thousand yuan, and decorations using artificial flowers typically cost three to five thousand yuan; if you want real flowers for the ambiance, it would cost at least tens of thousands.”
To save money, Ms. Sun’s wedding only included a 10-minute tea ceremony. She mentioned that by scaling down the wedding, she saved at least 10,000 yuan, which she plans to invest in their upcoming honeymoon trip.
In response to this trend, a popular microblogger commented that “young couples getting married these days are becoming more frugal,” as opposed to the past emphasis on extravagant weddings with elaborate banquets and lavish decorations. Now, post-90s and post-00s generations are embracing a carefree attitude, with online trends highlighting three types of weddings they favor: minimalist weddings, destination weddings, and weddings without the traditional customs.
As explained, “weddings without customs” involve no emcees, ceremonies, or wedding processions. After signing the papers, they gather relatives and friends for a simple meal, spending just a few thousand yuan to celebrate. “Minimalist weddings” retain some traditional wedding elements while simplifying the proceedings and decorations, providing a blend of formality and warmth. “Destination weddings” go beyond the traditional notions of showcasing the wedding to others, combining the wedding and honeymoon into one experience, presenting a modern concept of a “wedding ceiling” in the eyes of young people.
Regarding these new types of weddings, many netizens expressed envy, saying, “Reducing the fussiness of the process is actually quite good.” “Honestly, if it weren’t for trying to recoup the betrothal gifts we received in the past, I wouldn’t want any elaborate ceremony.” Many soon-to-be-weds also called for leniency, with comments like, “Getting married is so easy, I suggest promoting this nationwide!” However, some netizens believe that taking wedding photos is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and using AI instead somehow feels like something is missing.