Nuptial Theatrics

My friend and I were at the Hilton Hotel when we saw some staff setting up wedding decorations for the marble staircase in the lobby.

It turns out they were hanging up long sheets of red organza up to the ceiling to create a dramatic draping effect, complete with red candles lining the staircase.

What was strange was that this intimate ceremony was being presented right in the hotel lobby rather than in a banquet room.

However, the couple didn't seem to mind acting out their milestone event in front of family, friends and strangers.

It turns out the groom was Chinese, though he had a Japanese look, especially with his rock-star hair and the bride was Japanese, with a doll-like face complete with a tiara and long veil.

At first the groom walked down from the top of the stairs to the half-way point carrying a bouquet. And then there was a blast of dry ice creating a smoky effect for the bride to make her entrance. She too walked down the stairs accompanied by a man who didn't seem to look like her father.

Nevertheless, when they both made it to this middle landing, the groom bowed to them and then promptly got down on one knee and offered the bouquet to his bride. She in turn awkwardly shook his hand to get up.

All their choreographed actions were read out in Mandarin and Japanese, with the audience clapping in between. After they exchanged vows in their native languages, a hotel representative appeared with the rings. When they put the rings on, they both held up their hands to show their new marital status which seemed cheesy at best.

They signed their marriage certificate which was then held up to show the audience, and then they finally kissed to the delight of everyone, as it wasn't the shy embarrassing peck on the cheek.

It also seemed like the bride was pregnant... and the couple looked very young.

Hope their marriage isn't just theatrics, but the real deal, as the divorce rate for young people in their 20s in China is about 50 percent.