The photos of a Hong Kong TV host with a Chinese bride that was posted on Weibo had gone viral.
That's because the woman was adorned what looks like at least 100 gold bracelets strung by a red string and placed on her upper body like a giant necklace. The longest of the necklaces reaches to her knees.
It is the bride's dowry worth several million yuan. The posting by Bob Lam, the TV host hired by the couple to host their wedding reception, was criticized by Chinese netizens for being an opulent display of wealth, reports Mashable.
Besides the gold jewelry, stacks of cash and other gold filled the bed of the bride, reports Southern Metropolis Daily. The groom's family is obviously wealthy and have their own business. Other proofs of the groom's family's fortunes is the presence of luxury vehicles on the way to the wedding venue.
The lavish display of wealth prompted one Weibo user to ask, "Is this a wedding or Qin Shi Huang's funeral?" referring to a Chinese emperor who unified the nation in 221 BC. Another user states if he had that much wealth, he would rather go for a romantic wedding on a lawn or beach. He then chastises the couple for their shameful display of wealth.
But other Weibo members defended the couple and say they have the freedom to flaunt their money at the special occasion and envy was not needed.
Chinadaily notes that lavish dowries are only new conventions, instead of tradition in regions like Jinjiang City in Fujian Province. As more locals become wealthy, opulent wedding ceremonies become the Chinese version of Keeping up with the Joneses.
A similar display of wealth happened a year ago at a Guangdong wedding.