Simple or lavish, marriage marks a tremendous change in the lives of Chinese young couples, despite the fact that the divorce rate has been on the increase in recent years.

Marriage usually heralds a new life chapter, when young people build their own small nests. It is usually the time when they start to feel grown-up. That is why, from time to time, there is still a hearty meal at marriage ceremonies. That is also why more and more couples step into photo studios. Tuxedos, wedding gowns, and blissful smiles translate into wedding portraits to record the unforgettable moments of the marriage ceremony.

In fact, taking gorgeously-dressed marriage portraits at studios is quietly becoming a fad. There are some 50 photo studios in Beijing alone, and 20 more are coming.

Interestingly, among the visitors to photo studios are couples with lined faces and gray hair, who are making up for the regrets of a passed time. In the first three decades of the People's Republic of China, especially during the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976), a puritanical lifestyle was advocated. Wedding ceremonies then were simple in the extreme, with a small tea party at most, for family and close friends, where a few peanuts and some candies were served. The newlyweds usually returned to work the next day. Wedding pictures were taken, but they were two-inch black-and-white photos for the marriage certificates.

Now that the living standards have improved and the market supply is abundant with wedding-related products and services, wedding ceremonies are more elaborate and expensive! However, the way to the altar in China is a far cry from that in Western countries. Chinese couples do not exchange marriage vows nor go through religious ceremonies. Technically, they are married as soon as they obtain a marriage certificate from the local marriage registration office.

It might be in this context that photo sessions with wedding gowns and tuxedos are popular. "To a certain extent, the experience is a simulation of a church wedding," observed a sociologist.

Even couples who have been married for many years are going to photo studios to relive the happiness of the wedding.

On May 1, the silver anniversary of their wedding, Lao Zhang and his wife had their "wedding" photos taken, in which the gray-haired couple looked much younger than their ages.

"The portraits remind us of our good old days," Lao Zhang said.

Statistics from the China Women's News show that couples who got married years or even decades ago account for some 25 percent of the couples having wedding portraits taken.

The engine driving couples to photo studios is the metamorphosis they go through during the photo session; from an ugly duckling to a maturing swan. With make-up by cosmeticians and dresses provided by the studios, almost all couples look like an artist's creation.

A more important reason behind the fad is the fatter wallets Chinese people have, and their changing consumption attitudes brought about by economic reform.

In Beijing, the cost for a set of wedding photos varies from 200 yuan ($25) to 8,888 yuan ($1,111), depending on different packages and the size of the order. The monthly income of an average urban Beijing resident is 400 yuan ($50), and an increasing proportion is going for enhancement of their lives.

"I don't care about the cost [for wedding photos] because it [marriage] is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion," said Ms. Fan, a bride.

Liu Yi, an elementary school teacher, said the wedding photos built her confidence in her marriage because they show the gentle side of her husband.

"Usually, he does not allow himself to be ordered around," Liu said, "but in the studio, and for us of course, he was willing to be at the mercy of the beautician, hairdresser and photographers."

"I know he cares about me and our marriage," she said with a broad smile. "I am so happy."

A good portion of the couples select one or two favorite pictures, make them into "oil paintings" or frame them and hang them on the wall.

"I'm not going to hang calendars of film stars and models any more," said Shao Hua. "See? I myself am a star."

According to sociologists, the trend that families are replacing calendars with photos and portraits of their own reflects that the Chinese are becoming more self-conscious. "Instead of copying a 'standard role,' as they used to in the 1960s and 1970s, they tend to emphasize individuality, and they're not afraid of presenting themselves."

Most managers of the photo studios read the minds of young couples well -- they want to be beautiful and different. As a result, they prepare apparel which includes Western-style gowns, red Chinese cheongsams for brides and for grooms, maroon ties, satin cummerbunds, black tuxedos, and Chinese black silk jackets with buttons down the front. The backgrounds are mostly settings such as a royal court, a European garden, or a traditional Chinese mansion. Some studios also offer outdoor services.

However, not all couples are satisfied with their wedding portraits, in which they almost look like movie stars. "She's really attractive in the portrait," said Ke Mei, pointing to the girl in their wedding photo, "but she doesn't look like my real wife."

Xiao Gong, who got married three years ago, put her wedding photos in a drawer instead of hanging them on the wall. She cannot stand herself in the portraits -- a carved figure, as she described it.

"The assembly-line service, from hairdressing and make-up to shooting photos, kills romance," said she.

And some couples have other stories to tell.

Wang Qi and her husband chose a set of Japanese kimonos when they had their wedding photos taken in a studio. Showing their wedding portraits to relatives and friends, they were told that there were white chrysanthemum flowers on their kimonos -- a symbol not suited for such a day of jubilation in Japan. The couple felt the situation funny and awkward.

A better understanding of foreign culture, therefore, is necessary for both managers of the photo studios and the couples.

According to research, about 20,000 couples in Beijing are in the market for wedding photos. To cater to the demand, a mobile photo studio has come into being. This has enabled couples to take wedding photos in a familiar environment and atmosphere.

We would like to thank "Beijing This Month" for its support and cooperation.

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