It was a dream wedding, complete with a picturesque outdoor setting, a white lace gown, and a delectable cake. The perfect day for golden retrievers Bree and Bond to tie the knot in front of their closest human and canine friends.
Pet weddings are on the rise in China, a country where government policies have struggled to encourage human marriages amid a fast-aging society with declining population and low marriage and birth rates. The growing popularity of pets and an increased willingness to spend on them are fueling this trend. In 2023, spending on pets rose 3.2% to 279.3 billion yuan ($38.41 billion) compared to the previous year, according to industry figures.
“People have weddings. Why can’t dogs have weddings?” said Bree’s owner, Rye Ling, after escorting his female pet down the aisle. During the ceremony, Bree and Bond exchanged vows, promising to always share treats and play together. Research by Acuity Knowledge Partners shows that as of 2023, there were over 116 million cats and dogs in urban China. With an urban population distribution, approximately one in eight Chinese people own a cat or dog, with the majority of pet owners being under 40.
Ling and his girlfriend, Gigi Chen, who are not in a rush to get married themselves, meticulously planned the canine ceremony for months. They arranged for professional photographers, designed wedding booklets, and ordered a custom-made 800-yuan cake with toppers resembling Bree and Bond. Yang Tao, the owner of a Shanghai-based pet bakery that prepared the cake, initially found it surprising that customers wanted wedding cakes for their dogs.
“I think there will be more and more dog weddings,” Yang said, adding that her bakery, which launched in 2022, has already catered several similar ceremonies. “We have already received an order for a few months from now… and that’s for a dog wedding.”
Ling expressed his hope that the ceremony would give Bree and Bond a “sense of ritual.” Additionally, Ling, who plans to have only one child, also looks forward to welcoming puppies soon.
The trend of pet weddings underscores the deepening bond between pets and their owners in China. As more people choose to spend lavishly on their furry companions, pet-related businesses are thriving, and the culture surrounding pet ownership is evolving. This phenomenon highlights a significant shift in societal values and spending habits, reflecting broader changes in China’s demographic and economic landscape.
In conclusion, the rise of pet weddings in China not only showcases the increasing devotion to pets but also marks a notable trend in the lifestyle and spending patterns of the younger generation.
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