Here Come the Fries: McDonald's Launches McWeddings in HK

[gisco]

Here Come the Fries: McDonald's Launches McWeddings in Hong Kong

 

March 2, 2011 at 2:40PM by Katie Robbins

 

Imagine receiving a wedding invitation where the typical menu options of salmon, chicken, or beef are replaced with Filet-o-Fish, Chicken McNuggets, or a classic Big Mac.

 

If McDonald's catered nuptials are your idea of a dream wedding, you might want to consider a trip to Hong Kong, where the international chain has launched its first company licensed McWeddings.

 

McDonald's Hong Kong first announced its intentions to offer the fast food festivities on October 10 of last year, to coincide with the auspicious 10-10-10, considered an especially lucky date in Chinese numerology. That announcement came with a large group wedding and a fashion show of wedding dresses, which are now available for lease or sale on McDonald's wedding website.

 

The New York Times reports that the McWeddings offer an inexpensive option in a nation where the monthly household income averages around only $2,250, but the average couple spends about $29,200 for a wedding. A ceremony under the Golden Arches is a relative steal, starting at $1,280, which comes with food and drinks for 50, a "wedding cake" made of stacked apple pies, and invitation cards. There are even gifts for the guests - figurines of classic McDonald's characters like the Hamburglar and Ronald McDonald.

 

While the McWedding has many of the standard trimmings of a traditional reception, some changes have been made; for example, no alcohol is permitted at the family establishment. To get around this, the wedding party toasts the couple with a sugary beverage or treat - because Shirley Chang, managing director of Hong Kong McDonalds, tells the Times, sweetness is considered lucky. "That's why we toast with sundaes," she said. "You can have a lot of fun with soft drinks."

 

While licensed McWeddings are currently limited to Hong Kong, informal celebrations at fast food chains are common around the world - in February, a couple held their wedding reception for 30 at a KFC in Bristol, England and in 2005 a couple from Irwin, PA were wed at a McDonald's drive-through. Such festivities are not limited to weddings. KFCs catering to the Muslim Uyghur people in the Xinjiang autonomous region of China, advertise special parties following boys' ritual circumcisions.

 

Gordon Mathews, an anthropologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, explains that McDonald's often has a sentimental value for engaged couples, who grew up studying and hanging out in the restaurants.

 

"In the U.S. and other places, middle-class or upper-middle-class people look down on McDonald's," he told the Times. "But Hong Kong is different. A McDonald's wedding wouldn't be seen as tacky here."

 

Link

Edited December 28, 2011 by gisco

[coaster_dude2002]

Wow I never though McDonald's would start this! Would be interesting to see what it looks like in the store when the McWedding is set up.

[accelerate]

There are so many things wrong with this, but at about 1/30 of the average price, this is extremely cheap and surprisingly viable to the lower (and maybe middle) class.

[SharkTums]

I think I've had two or three people post this to my Facebook wall over the last few months!

 

Vow Renewal while in Hong Kong this summer perhaps?

[Nrthwnd]

^

 

Uh, they might not honor "Vow Renewals," Elissa.

 

You might have to divorce Robb here first,

then re-marry him over there at McD's.... easy!

 

 

(Mmmm, apple pie wedding cake.)