A young man in China who worried that his wedding would feel empty because he had few relatives to invite ended up celebrating with thousands of strangers.
What began as a personal invitation posted on social media turned into a large gathering, with people travelling from different parts of the country to bring gifts, prepare food and help organise the event.As reported by Global Times, 24-year-old Xu Chenghong, from Yiliang county in Yunnan province, posted an open invitation on Douyin, China's short-video platform, ahead of his wedding.
He wanted people to come, share a meal and help make the occasion feel like a proper celebration.
He was also worried about how the small gathering might look in his village.Xu had saved 167,500 yuan through his own efforts for the wedding.
However, his family circumstances meant that he had very few relatives who could attend.
His father died when he was three, his mother later remarried, and his grandmother, who had raised him, also passed away.
He and his elder brother had largely relied on each other, according to the China News Service.Rather than accept that his wedding would be a small affair, Xu decided to invite strangers online.
He posted a video on October 25, explaining his situation and asking people to join him on his special day.Thousands respond to the invitationThe response was far bigger than Xu had expected.
People from different parts of China said they would travel to attend the wedding.
Some brought food, flowers, gifts and other supplies, while others volunteered to help with the arrangements.
According to the Free Press Journal, several chefs also offered to cook for the guests.
Visitors helped prepare the wedding decorations, arrange supplies and get the venue ready.
Some reportedly organised a fleet of wedding cars, while one person offered the couple a Maybach for the occasion.As more people arrived,....
