When it comes to bridal fashion in the U.S., anything goes. From the wedding cape to the formal slack to the matrimonial head brace, no choice is too bold for your big day—the day you become a real person and not just an idea ghost. The same is not true in China’s capital.
Beijing’s wedding registry office has passed a law banning certain kinds of informal attire, including shorts, t-shirts, and other casual clothing, with the attitude that one should dress for the marriage one wants, not the marriage one is so fucking lucky to have. (Think of the alternative!)
“Some people wear sleeveless shirts and shorts, or slippers, to register their marriages,” said head of the wedding registry office in the capital Han Mingxi in an interview, according to the New York Times. “You see them and can immediately tell their attitude toward the marriage registry is too casual. This can easily create all sorts of problems.”
The new law was formed to address the capital’s increasing divorce rate; In 2015, 3.6 million couples were divorced, with 55,000 divorces occurring in Beijing—the highest in the country. It will go into effect on July 1.
A few things to keep in mind as you plan your wedding in smoggy Beijing:
- Your wedding day is the most important day of your life.
- If you’re not in a legal partnership, you are as good as the parents who let their child into Harambe’s lair.
- Your Teva/chinos combination is hideous.
Mazel on your big day.
Image via Getty.
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