Couples applying for marriage licenses in Beijing will be turned away if dressed in shorts or casual attire, according to a new rule that aims to curb the rising divorce rates in the city by emphasizing that marriage is no casual affair, Beijing Daily reported on Thursday.
Set to take effect July 1, the city's Civil Affairs Bureau will deny marriage licenses to applicants if they appear dressed in shorts, short-sleeved shirts or "inappropriate attire."
"It is not unusual to see couples registering in shorts and slippers. It shows their carelessness and disrespect for marriage," said Han Mingxi, a director of marriage registration center at the Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau.
Employees will be on hand to advise those deemed under-dressed on regulation specifics, added Han.
The revamped rules aim to strengthen the newlywed's understanding of commitment marriage and to promote stability and happiness of marriage, according to the report.
