It Was a Nice Day for a White Wedding… Thousands Marry in Mass Ceremony

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Around 3,800 couples tied the knot this week at a ceremony organised by the Unification Church in Gapyeong, South Korea.

Around 800 of the couples had been ‘matched’ at an engagement ceremony only a few days earlier, before exchanging vows at the Cheongshim World Peace Centre on Tuesday.

The brides had no fear of upstaging each other, as all the ‘Moonie’ couples were dressed in identical white dresses and dark suits.

The mass wedding attracted thousands of couples from 50 different countries.

A Canadian bride, Nadia Famularo said: “It’s exciting. It’s overwhelming. It’s a really happy day.”

The Unification Church was founded by Reverend Sun Myung Moon (pictured below) in Seoul in 1954. Moon presided over his first ‘blessing ceremony’ in 1961, after personally matching each couple.

Although matchmaking duties are largely left to the couples, ‘Moonies’ are still expected to abide by Moon’s strict teachings. Brides-to-be must confirm under oath that they are virgins and wild wedding nights are prohibited – couples must abstain from sex until 40 days after the ceremony.

This week’s event is the third since Sun Myung Moon’s death and was presided over by his widow, Hak Ja Han.

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