摘要：On the morning of May 11th, a water town group wedding was held along the riverbank of Yongqing Village in Daojiao Town, Dongguan.

On the morning of May 11th, a water town group wedding was held along the riverbank of Yongqing Village in Daojiao Town, Dongguan. Six couples, with dragon boats as their matchmaker and the water of the river as their witness, exchanged lifelong vows through a blend of traditional and contemporary rituals, showcasing the unique charm of the water town's wedding customs.

The wedding procession incorporated Daojiao's traditional three rituals, Nacai (the proposal), Naji (auspicious date selection), and Qingqi (setting the wedding date), which were creatively designed into fun and interactive tasks. Grooms had to prove their devotion through tasks like "presenting betrothal gifts", "nickname confessions", and "talent displays" to win their brides' hearts. After passing these tests, the couple boarded decorated boats for a joyous river parade, passing landmarks like the Yueyun Bridge and Hong Bridge, before arriving at the wedding platform. Along the way, they received blessings from relatives, friends, and onlookers.

Following the parade, the couples disembarked at Sanya Bridge, symbolizing "unity and companionship", where the wedding ceremony took place. They waved gratitude to the crowds and jumped over fire bowls to mark the beginning of their new life together. Guided by the host, the couples performed traditional rituals, including the three bows (to the heaven and earth, their parents, and each other) and vow-exchange. Each ritual carried profound cultural meaning, highlighting the richness of Chinese matrimonial heritage.

Among the joyful atmosphere of the water town wedding, a couple from different countries captured everyone's attention. Ben from the US and Kate from Belarus, united by their shared passion for Chinese traditional culture, first met in Xi'an five years ago. Three years ago, they decided to settle in Dongguan, a vibrant city that blends tradition with modernity, to continue their love story. "This water town wedding not only gifted us cherished memories but also deepened our understanding and respect for Chinese wedding customs," the couple shared. At that moment, Eastern and Western romance harmonized perfectly in Daojiao.

Source: Lingnan on the Cloud

广东东莞道滘举办水乡集体婚礼

5月11日上午，一场“穿越古今”的东莞道滘水乡集体婚礼在永庆村河段浪漫举行。六对新人以龙舟为媒、滘水为证，在传统与现代交织的仪式中许下终身誓言，诠释水乡婚俗文化的独特魅力。

接亲环节融入了道滘传统婚俗的“纳采、纳吉、请期”三礼，并创新设计为趣味关卡。新郎需通过“纳采赠礼”“昵称告白”“才艺表真心”等环节赢得新娘芳心。经过多轮考验，六对新人陆续登船开始幸福大巡游，先后经过粤韵桥、虹桥，最后来到迎亲平台，沿途接受亲朋好友和两岸群众的祝福，亲身感受“百年修得同船渡，千年修得共枕眠”的美好寓意。

巡游结束后，六对新人在象征“同心同行”的三丫桥上岸进行婚礼仪式，并执手挥谢两岸祝福，跨火盆一跃点燃炽热新章。在仪式主持人的引领下，新人们执手完成三拜礼、誓言礼等仪式，每一个礼节都有着独特的寓意，一项项传统婚嫁礼仪，充分展示了中国传统婚庆文化的独特魅力。

在水乡婚礼的喜庆氛围中，一对来自不同国度的恋人成为全场瞩目的焦点。美国小伙Ben和白俄罗斯姑娘Kate，因共同热爱中国传统文化而结缘，5年前，他们带着各自的梦想与热情，在西安相遇、相知、相爱；三年前，他们选择共同来到东莞这座融合传统与现代的活力之城，继续书写他们的爱情故事。“这场水乡婚礼不仅让我收获了珍贵回忆，也让我对中国婚俗文化有了更深的理解与敬意。”这对新人由衷感慨道。这一刻，东西方的浪漫在道滘完美交融。

文、图丨记者 余晓玲 通讯员 道滘宣

译丨黄宇洁

英文审校丨林佳岱

来源：羊城派