China’s wedding season is in full swing since the week-long National Day holiday began on Tuesday, a peak season for couples to hold their romantic ceremonies.
This season’s weddings included one held at a hall in Chaoyang District of Beijing.
"We have been together for nine years, and it's high time for us to get married. The wedding was planned during the National Day holiday so that our family members can come here. The wedding features a relaxing and natural style,” said the bride Song Lingxue.
Ruoting, a wedding company executive, said that a wedding planner may have six weddings a day in September and October, their busiest time of the year.
"The orders in September and October represent 35 to 40 percent of the total of the whole year. For example, during the National Day holiday, the days of Oct 1 and Oct 6 have been fully reserved. Almost all newlyweds are born in the 1990s, and some others, even in the 2000s. They have many ideas. They are more clear-minded, but would like to pay for innovations," she said.
Besides wedding planners, wedding dress renters have also been busy preparing, cleaning the outfits and tailoring them for brides and grooms.
As the wedding market grows, wedding companies are offering customized services to attract more customers.
A one-stop service can be a good choice for many customers who do not want to bother themselves too much with the preparations for the complicated wedding process, including wedding site reservation, filming and banquet arrangements.
"I chose the one-stop service so that it wouldn't be so stressful. I wanted to free myself from the preparations," said Yueyue, another bride.
Some wedding companies have put up unique banquet halls with different themes for weddings, including one featuring traditional Chinese auspicious elements in Beijing.
"The bride will come in a special way downstairs, just like walking by floating pavilions on the cloud and in mist. Many newlyweds like it very much," said Liu Zhijun, planning director of a one-stop wedding company in Beijing.
The wedding companies are attempting to introduce cultural and tourism elements into their service.
"Now we are taking wedding orders in villages of the Miao ethnic group in Guizhou. We wonder if we can integrate some local elements such as garments and flower art in our service," said Ruoting.
China's National Day holiday wedding season in full swing
Macao has been emerging as a global hub for conventions and exhibitions in recent years by exploring the enormous opportunities in the sector, driving the region to advance its economic diversification and embrace a brighter future.
Macao has received many awards this year, such as the Best Convention City (Asia) and the Best BT-MICE City, showcasing the recognition for and influence of Macao's exhibition industry.
More than 1,000 electronic game enthusiasts from all over the world gathered recently in Macao to participate in a esports themed event.
Su Zhili, organizer of the event, said that Macao's rich experience in hosting large-scale events, coupled with its good infrastructure, has driven him to choose the region as an ideal destination to hold such an activity.
"Macao has held many similar large-scale events. It has rich experience, and the facilities at the venue are relatively mature, so we can start our work comfortably," said Su.
During the first three quarters of 2024, Macao held more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions in total.
"We will invite more professional, special conferences to be held in Macao and also cultivate more exhibition brands with international influence in Macao, so as to promote Macao's exhibitions to be more market-oriented, professional, international, digital and greener from various aspects. This is our goal," said Elaine Wong, member of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.
In addition, multiple large exhibitions and conferences, such as the Macao International Trade and Investment fair, the Macao Franchise Expo, and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, are held regularly in Macao.
With the introduction of a series of policies and measures to facilitate the exchanges between the mainland and Macao, as well as the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao's convention and exhibition industry will embrace more opportunities for development in the foreseeable future.
"We have such a good industrial base in the Greater Bay Area. The mode of 'Convention and Exhibition + Industry' not only integrates the industries of Macao, but also the industries of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, Macao actively integrates into the national development and plays a role in the Belt and Road. Why are we so confident in Macao's convention and exhibition sector? Because it is backed by the motherland, and the country gives Macao great support," said Alan Ho, chairman of the Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Sectors.
Macao emerges as global hub for conventions and exhibitions, driving economic diversification and international recognition
