SIBU: Logjam and floods in recent days were inconsequential for 16 couples who said ‘I Do’ in a mass wedding ceremony here yesterday.
A bigger hurdle for them was the centuries old superstition that any date with the number ‘10’ was an unlucky day for tying the knot.
“Many Chinese families here still believe that ’10.10.10’ or for that matter, any date with the number ‘10’, is not an auspicious date to get married.
“Well, it may be auspicious for something else but marriage is definitely out of the question,” said event manager of X4 Generation Sdn Bhd, Edmond Wong yesterday.
Similar functions supposed to take place in other places yesterday (Oct 10, 2010 – 10.10.10) failed to materialise as couples bowed to the pressure of superstition.
Wong was also disappointed as many couples opted out from the event for fear that a mass wedding may bring ill fortune to their marriage.
“You see, in a typical Chinese family, a bride and groom are not supposed to meet each other on the eve of their wedding.
“And hence, holding a mass wedding apparently appears absurd and somehow going against the tradition,” he told The Borneo Post after the mass wedding at Sibu Town Square Phase One yesterday.
The organisers had adopted the theme “100 per cent Sweetest Marriage” to allay the fear among couples that a mass wedding would somehow cause their fortunes to clash.
Wong, however, said not all couples were superstitious, citing a couple who flew back from Kuching just to walk down the aisle with other couples on the special date.
“The couple, both teachers, were transferred to Kuching recently but dashed back here for the mass wedding. They told me that it was a rare opportunity when so many couples get married together in a single ceremony.”
Meanwhile, Wong’s business partner Tony Wong also said many couples considered the mass ceremony to be more meaningful than a traditional one.
“I think the best part of the story is that 16 couples who were total strangers before became friends. Many exchanged their phone numbers to keep in contact.
“And I am sure that they will long remember today (yesterday),” he said.
Indeed it was a memorable event as the 16 couples took their matrimonial bow at the main stage of the Town Square witnessed by family members and friends.
The solemn swearing ceremony was witnessed by registrar of marriages Hii Sie Toh and lasted half an hour.
And a exactly 10am, the couples were proclaimed husbands and wives, followed by pouring of champagne at 10.10am.
Parents, family members and friends shed tears of joy as they hugged and congratulated the couples.
Wong expressed his gladness as the event which took more than three months to plan, went without a glitch.
Pelawan assemblyman Vincent Goh, Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King and deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng joined in the celebration.
The event was promoted by SMC and organised by Liong Yeh Hin Medical Hall Sdn Bhd.