Taichung Citizens' Joint Wedding Sets Sail for Okinawa – Okinawa Wedding Tourism Delegation Visits Taichung City Government

The Taichung Citizens' Joint Wedding will romantically set off on October 20, as Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen accompanies 66 newlywed couples on a chartered flight, witnessing their vows of happiness at 30,000 feet. Upon arrival in Okinawa, Japan, the 66 couples will embark on a sweet honeymoon journey. To create an unforgettable, personalized memory for the couples, Deputy Mayor Chen Pao-yun, representing Mayor Lu, hosted a delegation of five members from the Okinawa Resort Wedding Association and the Okinawa Prefecture Taipei Office yesterday (3rd). Both sides held in-depth discussions on airport welcome ceremonies, local gift offerings, and tourism and cultural exchanges, jointly delivering cross-border romantic blessings to the newlyweds.

Deputy Director Chen stated that Okinawa, with its enchanting island scenery and mature wedding tourism resources, has long been beloved by Taiwanese travelers. This year’s Taichung joint wedding breaks traditional boundaries by moving the marriage registration ceremony to 30,000 feet for the first time, with Mayor Lu personally officiating the marriage of 66 couples aboard the chartered flight to Okinawa—marking a new chapter in Taiwan’s joint wedding history. This innovative initiative not only demonstrates Taichung City’s concrete actions in promoting family-friendly policies but also integrates weddings, tourism, and city-to-city exchanges, establishing a new milestone in wedding tourism cooperation between Taichung and Okinawa.

Chen also expressed gratitude to the Okinawa Resort Wedding Association for their full support in organizing the welcome event. She noted that the Association will warmly welcome Mayor Lu and the 66 couples at Okinawa Airport, arranging a locally themed welcome ceremony and presenting Okinawan specialty gifts. From the moment the couples step onto Okinawan soil, they will feel the warmth and enthusiasm of local blessings, setting a beautiful tone for their sweet honeymoon.

Mr. Akihiko Uechi, Director-General of the Okinawa Resort Wedding Association, stated that the Association integrates over 170 wedding-related businesses, including bridal studios, churches, hotels, and service providers, offering comprehensive wedding and resort services. Taiwan is currently the second-largest overseas market after Hong Kong. In response to Taichung City Government’s innovative planning, the Association will fully support the initiative by arranging airport welcome events, presenting traditional Okinawan craft souvenirs, and providing additional logistical support. The Association hopes this collaboration will deepen exchanges between Taichung and Okinawa and attract more Taiwanese couples to choose Okinawa as their overseas wedding and honeymoon destination.

The Civil Affairs Bureau explained that since registration opened on July 13, the event has received an enthusiastic response, with nearly 1,300 couples already registered. Applications will remain open until August 14. The 66 couples selected through a public lottery will each receive round-trip air tickets to Okinawa, enjoying a romantic journey for one of life’s most important moments.

The Bureau added that preliminary consensus has been reached on the airport welcome ceremony and related event details, symbolizing another step forward in Taichung-Okinawa cooperation. Through this first-of-its-kind in-flight joint wedding in Taiwan, the city aims to encourage more young people to start families, link weddings with tourism and cultural exchange, create lasting memories for couples, and further strengthen the friendly ties between Taichung City and Okinawa Prefecture, injecting fresh momentum into bilateral tourism collaboration.