A Swing Wedding: 30 Couples Tie the Knot in a Paiwan Tribe Ceremony

Written/Compiled and Reported by Li Xinyi

The centennial wedding craze continues unabated, and with the recent popularity of the film "Seediq Bale," the joint Paiwan tribal wedding held in Taitung on September 10th drew participants from across Taiwan. That day, 30 couples made the promise to hold hands for a lifetime. In addition to those about to wed, couples celebrating their 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, and 50th anniversaries also attended to share insights on married life. To soak up the charm of this wedding spectacle, don't miss the next “Grassland Wedding” on October 9th at Taitung Forest Park.

The joint wedding incorporated unique customs and traditions from various Paiwan tribes in Taitung. The event began with Paiwan elders leading the grooms in tossing betel nuts to test the brides’ feelings. Traditional Paiwan engagement rituals were then enacted, including hands-on experiences such as pounding rice, brewing wine, and weaving flower garlands. A distinctive Paiwan wedding dance and song accompanied the couples as they swung together on a swing — the higher they swung, the greater their symbolized happiness. Finally, the newlyweds were carried together onto a bridal sedan and escorted to their nuptial chamber. This marked the first time in Taiwan that Paiwan wedding rituals — from courtship and engagement to marriage — were presented through song, dance, and dramatic performance.

On October 9th, a romantic “Grassland Wedding” for 100 couples will also be held at Taitung Forest Park. The newlyweds will plant love trees together and stroll through Taitung’s blue skies and green landscapes, enjoying a specially curated wedding banquet by the winner of Taitung’s True Love Culinary Awards. Couples can also opt for a custom Taitung photo shoot tour, capturing their special moments in the region’s beautiful valleys and along its azure coastline, leaving behind footprints of lifelong promises in the scenic backcountry. Additionally, the Taitung “Hand in Hand to Marry” series event, “The Grand Discovery of Breathtaking Bridal Backdrops – Happy Photography Awards,” is now accepting entries from today until September 30th. Those who capture their touching moments in Taitung and upload them to the event website during the campaign period will have a chance to win the Taitung Happy Photography Award.

Taitung Hand in Hand to Marry website: www.wallace.com.tw/funmarry