In order to make up for past disadvantages, Mr. Duc Linh and Huong Tra held a wedding for their 93-year-old grandparents and 6 families of aunts and uncles.
On September 1, the brick yard of the house in Yen Dung ward, Bac Ninh province hung a series of happy letters. 7 men hugged flowers and held their wives' hands on stage. They exchanged wedding rings and received back the marriage certificate they had just applied for from the government.
Wearing a wedding dress for the first time at the age of 93, Ms. Nguyen Thi Cu held the hand of her husband, Mr. Vu Van Tien. "Thank you, my children and grandchildren, for organizing the wedding for me and everyone. I am very happy," said Mr. Cu.
Standing next to their parents, 6 couples and their children shed tears of emotion. Mr. Le Huong, 53 years old, held the hand of his wife, Ms. Vu Sen - Mr. Cu's youngest daughter, and said: "If there is another life, I still vow to find and marry her."
The idea of holding a wedding again for these 7 couples was initiated by Mr. Duc Linh and his wife (Mr. Cu's great-grandson). Listening to people tell stories about their family's past, Mr. Linh knew that the previous weddings of his grandparents and uncles were only held simply, without wedding dresses or wedding rings. To create a beautiful memory for everyone in old age, Ms. Tra suggested to her husband to "do something meaningful and memorable".
Initially, they planned to take their extended family to take commemorative photos. However, due to limited studio space and difficulty moving for the elderly, the plan was changed. A scripted home wedding.
The family planned to hold the event on Lunar New Year 2026, but then decided to move it to the September 2 holiday to wait for children and grandchildren in Dak Lak, Bac Giang, and Hanoi to gather.
Ms. Tra and her husband took on the job of writing the script and assigning tasks. Other families rent out costumes, flowers, order banquets, and make canvases and stages. Six families of children went to the Ward People's Committee to request the re-issue of lost or faded marriage certificates. As for Mr. Cu and his wife, their family prepared a symbolic marriage registration paper. As for Mr. Cu and his wife, they did not remember the wedding date clearly. The family prepared a symbolic marriage certificate to give on the holiday.
On August 31, the wedding hall and flower gate were erected. Neighbors passing by were wondering because Mr. Cu's house had run out of single people, and the wedding took place without any neighbors being invited. Knowing that their children and grandchildren were holding a wedding anniversary for their grandparents and parents, the neighbors congratulated them. The same evening, the family made more than a dozen internal meals and cultural exchanges.
On the morning of September 1, the family recreates the rituals of giving flowers, welcoming the bride, and holding the ancestral ceremony. The highlight of the ceremony is when the groom kneels and gives the wedding ring to his wife. "Looking at my grandparents and parents smiling brightly, all the preparation effort was worth it," Ms. Tra said.
According to Mr. Linh, the event has a meaning of gratitude, helping the younger generation look back at the sacrifices of the previous generation, thereby appreciating current life. He and his wife currently work in Hanoi and often return home on weekends. The large family of nearly 70 people has a tradition of traveling together every year. Recently, due to the deterioration of my grandparents' health, long trips have given way to gatherings at home. In the coming time, descendants will continue to plan internal events, ensuring the family reunion tradition is maintained.
