Couples from China and abroad braved temperatures of as low as -20 degrees Celcius to tie the knot in Harbin, northeastern China's "ice city" on Tuesday.

The 11 couples, hailing from as far afield as France, the Seychelles and Egypt, stood in the icy morning chill, their wedding dresses and suits under coats for the ceremony.

The 11 couples, hailing from as far afield as France, the Seychelles and Egypt, stood in the icy morning chill, their wedding dresses and suits under coats for the ceremony.

For 26-year-old Wang Pingyang from the northern Chinese city of Mudanjiang, marrying her husband, 28-year-old Chu Yuyuan, surrounded by the lights and ice sculptures of Harbin's annual ice festival, made the experience even more special.

"I think lots of officials witnessing our love makes it really meaningful and these ice and lights here in Harbin are really beautiful," Wang said. "It gives me a really happy feeling. It makes me feel even more content."

Forty-year-old Egyptian exchange student Osman also joined the ceremony, "marrying" his wife, 35-year-old Marwa for the second time in the ice and snow.

"Yes it's too cold but we joined it because she and me want to repeat what we did 15 years ago," Osman said. "I married her as my wife 15 years ago in Egypt and I want to visit this day again."

The mass wedding has become a regular feature of the Harbin ice festival, now in its 31st year.

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