Could there be a story more indicative of our times? McDonalds in Hong Kong are now offering up their restaurants for wedding ceremonies as well as receptions. Yeah, this is about how serious marriage is taken nowadays.
I could see this taking off all across the world. Churches replaced by McDonalds. Makes sense.
The fast-food chain is offering up its restaurants for wedding ceremonies and receptions, and far from being a sign of the apocalypse, it’s actually making many couples’ dreams come true. A company spokeswoman notes that, given the ubiquity of the chain, many couples had their first dates, fell in love and even had their marriage proposals take place at McDonald’s, so “it makes it particularly meaningful and memorable to hold a wedding party there,” she said in a statement.
The idea hatched when a couple who met and dated at the Admiralty branch of McDonald’s in Hong Kong held their wedding there. Once word got out that McDonald’s was in the wedding business, they were deluged with calls, and the chain began accepting wedding bookings at three restaurants in the region, according to McDonald’s Hong Kong director of corporate communications and relations Helen Cheung.
The chain is now taking bookings for January 2011 weddings.
Next up? Drive thru weddings. And Hamburglar as your divorce attorney.
October 14, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Unfortunately this isn't too uncommon.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2009-01-11-taco-bell_N.htm
October 14, 2010 at 9:02 pm
All I can think of is to buy McDonald's stock (MCD) if it is become such a fixure in Chinese society.
October 14, 2010 at 10:00 pm
EW.
I would NOT be happy if I got proposed to as McDonald's.
I'm probably just a snob though.
October 14, 2010 at 10:01 pm
whoops *at* McDonald's.
October 14, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Might be a good way to cut costs for the reception, especially if the groom's cake was a cinnamon roll, The wedding cake could come in the form of an Egg McMuffin, Happy Meals would be served to guests and when it came time for the cheesy tradition of tossing the bride's garter all the cashiers could line up for it.
Dumb jokes aside, just what kind of woman stands for being married in a fast food restaurant?
October 14, 2010 at 11:11 pm
dumb blond- I join you in snobitude- would have said NO if he asked me at McD's- didn't need an expensive ring, but the beginning of something meaningful….
October 15, 2010 at 12:14 am
I wonder if the marriage will appear as desiccated as the Happy Meal in the photo that was popularly shared on the 'net a few days ago. Or, on the bright side, perhaps it will be long lasting, and never go moldy?
October 15, 2010 at 3:40 am
Well, in Hong Kong it was hailed a little more positively because of the price. The wedding banquet is very important in Chinese culture and most hotels in Hong Kong charge HKD200,000 to HKD400,000 ($25,000-$50,000). At MCDonald's the wedding banquet price is only a few thousand, or less than $1,000. While the poorest in Hong Kong still can't afford a McDonald's wedding banquet, there are some families who will be relieved a huge burden.
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=943db76eaa19b210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Hong+Kong&s=News
October 15, 2010 at 4:52 am
I don't see where there is much value put on marriage in the Catholic Church when all it is about are cheap words, much marital abandonment and many abuses in marital tribunals that leave lives in tatters while those responsible for the abuses are able to just walk away.
So, I am not really moved negatively about celebrations of "marriages" at Mickey D's.
We have gotten what we deserve.
October 15, 2010 at 4:39 pm
BTW, McD may not be as low brow there as we think. It may be like a Ruth's Steak House there because of all the taxes and bribes that one has to pay to start a franchise.
October 15, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Matt- just an FYI- I was in Vegas a few months ago and saw a drive-through wedding chapel- so we are already there 🙁
October 18, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Here in America, people have been getting married at Walmart for awhile now. Pictures are all over the internet.