According to Baijiahao, the groom, surnamed Chen, is from Xintai County in Tai’an City, Shandong. In late 2025, news of his marriage to an American woman 20 years his senior quickly attracted widespread attention online.
A traditional Chinese wedding that has crossed oceans
Despite their 20-year age difference and different cultural backgrounds, the couple chose to celebrate their union with a traditional Chinese wedding.
Both the bride and groom wore red traditional Chinese wedding clothes, creating a solemn and festive atmosphere. The ceremony followed the usual rituals, including three bows to the elders of the family.
Several touching moments were captured on camera. Chen carefully opened the car door for his bride, gently helped her into the vehicle, and even changed her shoes according to traditional customs.
During the tea ceremony, the 47-year-old bride greeted her mother-in-law with “Hi, mom” in both Chinese and English. His adorable pronunciation reportedly brought laughter and warmth to family and friends.
However, the most attentive Internet users noticed something else: the mother-in-law’s facial expression. Unlike the radiant smiles often seen at weddings, her expression appeared more complicated. That brief moment quickly went viral, fueling intense speculation online.
Some Internet users suggested that his reaction could be about the age difference or racial differences. Others defended the couple, quoting Shakespeare’s famous line, “The course of true love never ran smoothly” to express support for their relationship.
$10 million dowry rumors explode online
Beyond the age difference, another topic dominated the discussions: money.
Social media users began spreading claims about the bride’s background. Some claimed that his father was a powerful American business magnate who owns numerous mining operations in Africa. According to these rumors, Chen received a dowry of $10 million, along with tens of millions of dollars in stock.
Other reports paint a very different picture, saying the bride is simply an American teacher working in Beijing. These reports stated that she had previously been married and had a child.
Chen later responded to the rumors, calling them out “exaggerated and imprecise”. He clarified that while his wife’s family is financially well off, they are not as wealthy as online speculation suggests. However, he refused to reveal the amount of financial support provided for the wedding.
A million yuan wedding?
Observations from local media have added further fuel to the debate. The couple’s wedding car was reportedly worth over 1 million yuan, and the banquet was held in the most luxurious hotel in Xintai.
Each table featured premium dishes such as abalone, sea cucumber and lobster. The couple also hired a professional wedding planning team, complete with top-of-the-line lighting and sound design. The bride’s traditional Chinese wedding dress was described as particularly expensive.
Based on these visible details, many netizens have concluded that the bride probably comes from a wealthy background – and that Chen indeed “married to money.”
Registered months before the wedding
According to Chen’s friends, the couple registered the marriage in August 2025 in Beijing, where they both worked and met.
At the time, Chen reportedly posted it on WeChat Moments “he had found the right person” and that “Age was not an issue.”
Netizens divided on cross-border marriages
The wedding sparked broader conversations about transnational marriages in modern Chinese society.
Some commentators have pointed out that in today’s era of gender equality, men can also change their life circumstances through marriage – a topic traditionally focused more on women.
As global cultural exchanges intensify, cross-border marriages have become increasingly common. Chinese women marry foreigners, foreign brides marry Chinese men, and such unions often foster cultural integration between East and West.
While some netizens offered blessings, others expressed skepticism. Yet throughout the controversy, Chen appeared visibly happy.
For many fans the message remains simple: when two sincere hearts meet, age and nationality become secondary.
Sources: kenh14
