A couple held a low-carbon wedding, with the groom using 66 public bicycles to pick up the bride.
In late October, the trial run of public bicycles in Weifang city became a focal point for residents, sparking a wave of low-carbon and eco-friendly travel. On November 10, Sun Xiwen and his girlfriend Tong Yao chose public bicycles as their mode of transport to hold a romantic low-carbon wedding.
Sun Xiwen’s idea of using public bicycles to welcome his bride received support from his family, friends, and the Weifang municipal department, which provided 66 public bicycles for free. Though temperatures dropped sharply that morning, the couple on the bikes felt incredibly warm.
Romance Meets Low-Carbon
For Sun Xiwen, from Hengxin Lido Garden in Kuiwen District, November 10 was the happiest day of his life. After six years of dating, he and his 25-year-old nurse girlfriend Tong Yao finally tied the knot and walked hand-in-hand into marriage.
Sun Xiwen is from Taijing Village, Yitang Town, Luozhuang District, Linyi City, and studied at Weifang Economic and Trade Vocational College. During his junior year, he met Tong Yao, then a freshman, and fell in love. This ordinary couple’s wedding became a notable event in the city, largely because of how they chose to do it — with public bicycles.
Speaking about this unique wedding style, Sun Xiwen said he wanted to give his bride a romantic and memorable wedding, “something that happens only once in a lifetime.” He shared the idea with Tong Yao. As they were planning the wedding, public bicycles were introduced to the city. Tong Yao then suggested, “Marry me using public bicycles.”
The two began preparations for this unexpected yet delightful wedding. “It’s low-carbon, environmentally friendly, economical, and romantic,” said Sun Xiwen. He never expected that their idea would become the “first wedding in the city to use public bicycles.”
Cold Winds Can’t Dim the Warmth
On the morning of the 10th, the weather suddenly turned cold with biting winds, but Building 5 of Hengxin Lido Garden was packed with celebratory guests. Downstairs, dozens of bright red public bicycles were adorned with colorful balloons. Sun Xiwen and his relatives and friends were set to ride these bicycles to Changsheng Community to pick up his bride, Tong Yao.
Groom Sun Xiwen said that by 7 a.m., the municipal department had already delivered the 66 public bicycles to his doorstep. “We thought we might have to pay some rental fee, but the responsible municipal leader said it would be completely free.”
At around 9:30 a.m., Sun Xiwen hopped on his bicycle, and other family and friends did the same, pedaling toward the bride. They rode south along Siping Road from Wolong Street, turned right onto Dongfeng Street, then right again onto Heping Road to reach the bride’s residence. Despite the chilly weather, Sun Xiwen’s face glowed with the joy of his new marriage.
Upon arriving at Changsheng Community, after going through “numerous challenges,” Sun Xiwen finally welcomed his beautiful bride Tong Yao, who wore a white wedding gown. The bride sat on the bicycle seat as Sun Xiwen happily pedaled her back to their home.
Along the way, the wedding procession — Sun Xiwen and others on decorated public bicycles — drew the attention of many passersby, some of whom took photos to capture the romantic moment.
Six Years of Cycling Together
Sun Xiwen and Tong Yao both love cycling trips. “It’s convenient, eco-friendly, healthy, and now very trendy, with lots of cycling clubs around,” they say. These advantages made both of them passionate about biking.
Sun Xiwen said that during college, he and Tong Yao often rode bikes together to explore places like People’s Park and along the Bailang River. Their shared passion for cycling played a big role in their decision to hold a bike-themed wedding.
During the trial run of the city’s public bicycle system, Sun Xiwen and Tong Yao saw the stylish bikes on the streets and decided to plan a romantic, low-carbon wedding. “I found the contact number online and called. I was afraid we wouldn’t get enough bikes, so I asked for 26 at first,” Sun Xiwen said. He wasn’t sure if the idea would work, but he decided to try.
Unexpectedly, the municipal department quickly responded to his request, providing not 26 but 66 public bicycles — all for free — and even delivering them to his doorstep. “I couldn’t believe it, truly,” an excited Sun Xiwen said. All he hoped for was that this wedding would leave the best memories for his bride.
Family and Friends Don’t Mind the Simplicity
On the 10th, the families and friends of Sun Xiwen and Tong Yao were equally joyful. That day, they joined the groom in biking to pick up the bride and bringing her back home. Instead of seeing the low-carbon wedding as simple, everyone thought it was unique and romantic, offering their heartfelt blessings to the couple.
Sun Xiwen’s friend Sun Zhenlong, the best man, said he traveled specially from Linyi to attend the wedding and celebrate with his friend. Speaking of the low-carbon wedding, he said, “I fully support him and wish him a lifetime of happiness.”
Tong Yao’s father, Tong Wenhe, was overjoyed to see his daughter find happiness. “Young people have their own ideas. I support them using this method to promote a low-carbon lifestyle in society,” the proud father said.
Sun Xiwen’s mother, Zhang Jilan, revealed that their son actually owns a private car, but they agreed there was no need for extravagance. “We discussed keeping things simple. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, and it doesn’t have to be like everyone else driving fancy cars. I agreed,” she said. The support from family and friends made the couple feel that their unique wedding choice was “truly romantic.”
Second Couple Applies for Public Bicycles; Management Center Fully Supports
On the same day, the Weifang Public Bicycle Management Center received a second application — another couple requested to use public bicycles for their wedding on the morning of November 12.
Yang, a municipal official, mentioned that from both the government’s and the public bicycle management center’s perspectives, citizens borrowing public bikes for weddings is highly commendable. “This low-carbon and economical approach isn’t common at weddings yet, but it will surely gain recognition, and public bicycles may appear more frequently at such events.”
Later, when reporters consulted the public bicycle operators, they learned the process for applying to use public bicycles: First, write a written application, which the operator will forward to the public bicycle management center for approval. The entire process doesn’t take long — usually, approval is granted within one day.