Juarez, Mexico – More than 4,000 people tied the knot on Monday, February 17, 2020, during Mexico’s largest mass wedding ever.
Most of the couples already were living in common-law and some even showed up with their children to the government-sponsored ceremony at the Juarez Autonomous University gym. Others appeared to be teenagers.
Thirty of the grooms and 15 of the brides were recently–arrived migrants from Cuba and Central America; another 33 couples were same-sex, according to Juarez City government.
This border city has been sponsoring mass weddings on and off for the past three decades as a way of promoting lasting marriages and securing legal benefits for children.
“We are making progress in guaranteeing everyone the legal protections of a marriage,” said Chihuahua Governor Javier Corral, who was guest speaker at the collective civil ceremony. “I want to invite you to work together in strengthening your marriage. That implies hard work, but I assure you that you will feel enormous satisfaction when you look back and see all that you have achieved.”
City and state government officials closed off the ceremony raffling off washers, refrigerators, living and dining room sets and several smaller electronic appliances among the participants.
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