Western 'pop' weddings boom
<center></center><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">The Westernization of weddings is becoming a "pop" phenomenon. With Chinese Valentine's Day>Performance is key in a city whose love of pop culture and thirst for "wo ai ni" ballads permeates everyday life. "Western weddings are, theoretically, based>Is the Westernization of weddings inevitable? Sun Jie, manager of Shanghai Bride Wedding, thinks so. As Shanghai becomes increasingly international, "People are just going with the flow. If you see your friend saying vows before a white priest, you'll be inclined to follow suit." But cross-cultural exchange works both ways. As weddings become more secular, "many Westerners choose to hold Chinese-style wedding ceremonies. Some come explicitly to China for this purpose," says Gong.</p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">With one of the highest disposable incomes in the nation, Shanghainese lovebirds are increasingly willing to spend large amounts of money on their weddings, and Western jet-setters are constantly looking for unique ways to celebrate their unions. "There will always be businessmen ready to take advantage of [this]," says Gong. "In the end, it doesn't matter how you commemorate it, as long as you enjoy yourself."</p>