On May 20th, because the date sounds like “I love you” in Chinese, it became a popular day for couples in love to get their marriage certificates. That day, the city of Chibi saw a surge in marriage registrations. The local civil affairs bureau made preparations in advance and optimized procedures to provide efficient service and a romantic, warm ceremony, capturing beautiful moments for the newlyweds and making the registration process both fast and heartfelt.
At 9 a.m., the marriage registration office at the city’s government service center was filled with love and happiness. The venue was decorated with festive photo spots for couples to commemorate their special day. Many couples, dressed up with sweet smiles and full of hopes for their married life, filled out forms, registered, and went through checks under the guidance of staff. Some even hired photographers to document the precious moment of receiving their certificates.
One groom said: “Choosing the ‘520’ date to get our certificate means a lot to us. I am a police officer, responsible for protecting the city’s safety. Today, I make a solemn promise to take care of my beloved and build a happy family.”
Another couple shared: “We made an online appointment in advance, and the whole process went very smoothly. The staff even helped us take photos, and it was a great experience. What especially impressed us was that after we pressed our red fingerprints, the staff brought out a heart-shaped red cloth. That small detail was so heartwarming, and it showed us that true convenience in public service lies in these little touches.”
To ensure the “520” marriage registration process was orderly and efficient, the civil affairs bureau took several measures, including opening an online booking system, adding more registration windows, reallocating staff, and offering early and extended service hours to minimize processing and waiting times. They also set up displays on civilized wedding customs and distributed pamphlets to promote healthy views on love and marriage. The city’s family planning association and maternal and child health hospital set up service points on site, providing information on premarital checkups and healthy childbirth, and giving away folic acid and other health supplies to help couples build a strong foundation for their future families.
A marriage registrar said: “The national policy allowing marriage registration anywhere in the country is now in place. While we handle registrations efficiently, we also promote civilized wedding customs, encouraging simple, modest, and thrifty practices, and discouraging high bride prices and extravagant ceremonies. We also offer free premarital family counseling and hold collective certificate ceremonies to guide couples toward healthy views on love and family. We sincerely wish every couple a happy marriage, mutual respect and love, and a long, happy life together.”
As of the time of reporting, 57 couples in Chibi had successfully completed their marriage registrations, making their vows of “I do” on this romantic “I love you” day.
