About 20,000 couples in Shanghai are planning to tie the knot during the upcoming National Day holiday, according to the Shanghai Wedding Trade Association.

"Businesses for the upcoming weeklong holiday are really booming," said Helen Huang, secretary-general of the association.

She said so far about 10,000 couples have visited the association's 40-member companies, which occupy half of the wedding service market, to make wedding arrangements for the holiday week.

"The number of customers for those seven days equals the total in a normal month, and far exceeds that in July and August," she added.

Traditionally, Chinese wedding is split into two parts. The first is an official process that includes the issuing of a marriage certificate showing that a couple is legally married, and then a banquet for friends and family that most people consider the true wedding.

The first batch of certified wedding professionals, including 17 masters of wedding ceremonies and three photographers, will begin to serve local couples from October 1, the association also said.

The professionals will be listed on the association's Website (www.wta.org.cn) for customers to choose.

In addition, since the Wedding Service Uniform Contract drafted by all members of the association went into effect about one month ago, more than 3,000 couples have chosen to sign it.

"As the city's first of its kind, the contract regulates clearly the rights and duties of both the consumers and service providers," Huang said.

"If any agency fails to provide its promised services, for example, if it changes the original Cadillac to a Santana, customers can complain to us and gain certain compensation."

She also said all the new couples, as long as they sign the uniform contract, will obtain free accident insurance worth 18,000 yuan (US$21,687) and medical insurance worth 10,000 yuan each.

Chen yun, a local woman who will have her wedding on October 5, said she registered five months ago.

"National Day holiday, though the busiest, is always the best time," she said.

"The climate is pleasant, most relatives and friends have enough spare time, and moreover, the jubilant elements flowing in the air will certainly add more happiness to us."

(China Daily September 29, 2004)