166 military couples tie the knot at mass wedding ceremony

One hundred and sixty-six military couples tied the knot on Friday at a mass wedding ceremony. The event was presided over by Army commander Hsu Yen-pu, who encouraged the newlyweds to work toward growing Taiwan’s population. With smiles amid the pomp and ceremony, the couples say they hope they can spend more time with each other now that they are formally a family. A Military Police motorbike leads the motorcade. Behind it, a couple waves to the crowd from the top of a military vehicle. Following them, another hundred military couples march forward, ready to get married. Before the ceremony, they release hundreds of balloons to the skies. A total of 166 couples took part in this mass wedding ceremony. For many of the couples, the grooms are wearing military uniforms and the brides, wedding gowns. But there are also several instances where both are in military attire. One couple in particular stood out. This is Captian Su Tsung-hsuan, whose father is Nepalese. She had always dreamt of serving in the military, and so, with support from her family, she gave up her Nepalese citizenship. She graduated with a degree in music from the National Defense University, and met her husband at a military song contest. Army Commander Hsu Yen-pu gave the newlyweds some tips about marriage. Hsu Yen-pu Army commander Happiness in marriage relies on mutual understanding and tolerance. When there are disagreements, remember to be considerate to each other. Starting next year, your mission is to serve the country by increasing production. Having a cute baby makes the family feel more complete. Tang Chia-ming Dongyin Area Command Distance means nothing for our love. I love you more with each passing day. Pan Hung-ling Army Aviation and Special Forces Command All right, all right. It’s tough with you being in the outlying islands. I hope you can be assigned back to Taiwan proper soon. At least one couple says they’ll heed orders and add a baby to their family next year. With work on their way and dispatches all around Taiwan, however, for many, the only time to meet is on weekends and national holidays. And now, they have a wonderful memory together, getting married in this once-in-a-lifetime event.