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Launched last year by the Shaoxing Municipal Civilization Office, the "Shaoxing-style wedding" initiative promotes traditional wedding customs featuring Song Dynasty (960-1279) culture, water town characteristics, and other traditional cultural elements. The program has quickly become popular among local young couples, with over 1,000 weddings held to date.

Pan Hongshou, a young man from Keqiao district, chose to hold a Ming Dynasty-style (1368-1644) water wedding in his hometown of Anchang Ancient Town. Black-awning boats replaced luxury car convoys, drawing spontaneous blessings from villagers and tourists. The wedding banquet was held at a cultural hall and prepared by local chefs at under 2,000 yuan ($290.37) per table — half the cost of a hotel banquet. "Simple yet elegant, affordable yet dignified," Pan said.

The initiative has now expanded throughout Shaoxing, with six sub-brands established, including "Happy Yuecheng" and "Romantic Keqiao", offering 42 personalized wedding scenarios for couples to choose from.

Young people continue to enrich the movement with their creativity. Some couples opt for "wedding buses" instead of luxury cars at one-fifth the cost. Others donate the savings to village care funds — with citywide donations exceeding 700,000 yuan in 2025 alone. Still others announce their marriages through notices in newspapers, sharing joy in modest ways.

From individual happiness to community care, the "Shaoxing-style wedding" initiative is writing a new chapter in civilized marriage practices across Shaoxing.