Chinese Couple Gets 2-Metre Long Bill Worth Rs 2.5 Lakh For Hotpot Wedding With Just 140 Guests
When a young couple in northern China found themselves scrambling for a wedding venue at the last minute, they chose an unexpected yet heartwarming alternative: a hotpot restaurant. The pair, a 26-year-old bride surnamed Zhao and her 27-year-old groom, recently hosted their wedding banquet at a Haidilao outlet in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, welcoming 140 guests for just 22,000 yuan (around US$3,000 or ₹2.57 lakh), according to a South China Morning Post report.
Turning a Setback into a Celebration
The couple's original banquet plans were thrown into chaos when their first choice of venue cancelled unexpectedly. Faced with the tight timeline, Zhao explained, “Given the short notice, we could not prepare for a traditional wedding. 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.”
A Hotpot Haven for 140 Guests
The Taiyuan Haidilao staff embraced the spontaneous celebration, transforming the space with festive wall displays, light-up signs, and a vibrant red balloon arch that greeted guests at the entrance. Unlike conventional banquets, the couple chose a relaxed, buffet-style hotpot meal, focusing on good company and a joyful atmosphere over formalities.
Zhao said, “Our wedding was modest in scale, and we did not accept monetary gifts from our guests. We simply wanted everyone to have a good time.”
Two-Metre Bill and a Lion Dance Twist
In a playful twist, the couple even performed a lion dance, weaving through the narrow restaurant aisles to the delight of their guests. “We learned this dance for our wedding, and we received the props not long ago,” Zhao shared. “The lion dance is a symbol of good fortune and an integral part of traditional culture. We hope it will bring us luck.”
Their unconventional celebration ended with a bill reportedly stretching two metres long, a detail that quickly became a viral sensation on Chinese social media.
A New Take on Tradition
As younger generations increasingly seek more personalized, budget-conscious ways to mark their big day, stories like Zhao’s are resonating deeply. Traditional Chinese weddings often come with steep costs, with banquet tables in some provinces running as high as 5,000 yuan (US$700) each. But for Zhao and her husband, the focus was on creating a memory that truly reflected their personalities.
“Unlike the expectations held by older generations, we young people prefer a simpler, more relaxed approach,” Zhao said. “As long as everyone is happy and we receive their blessings, our wedding is truly meaningful.” Zhao says she plans to keep the extra-long restaurant bill as a cherished memento of their one-of-a-kind celebration.
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