Chinese Brides Visit English Church
Monday, 2026/03/30165 words3 minutes538 reads
Selby Abbey, a 1,000-year-old church in North Yorkshire, has become an unexpected international wedding destination for Chinese couples. The transformation began in 2015 when Taiwanese popstar Jay Chou married Australian model Hannah Quinlivan there.
Since then, the medieval abbey has attracted numerous visitors and couples from China. Videos of Chou's wedding ceremony have been viewed millions of times online, inspiring fans to visit or even marry at the same location. One bride, Qing Li, traveled all the way from China specifically to have her wedding at the abbey.
The Revd Canon John Weetman, the vicar at Selby Abbey, explained that demand from Chinese couples has been so high that the church now limits weddings to one per week. This year alone, more than 30 Chinese weddings are scheduled, though the actual demand is two to three times higher. The abbey offers a "blessing" service for couples who don't meet the usual requirements for church weddings, such as living in the parish or attending services regularly.
