Chinese Officials Say Groom Who Held Wedding and Baby Party in Same Venue on Same Day Did Not Commit Bigamy

Officials in south-west China say a groom's baby party didn't make him a bigamist, even though it was held at the same venue as his wedding. The mother is his former girlfriend, not his bride. The two events ran on the same day in Liupanshui, Guizhou province, with the baby party upstairs.

Zhongshan district officials told The Beijing News that the man, surnamed Wu, is legally married only to his bride. He and the mother, surnamed Lin, never registered a marriage. The two sides also have a money dispute, and the former girlfriend has since apologised for how she handled the day.

What Happened at the Restaurant

The restaurant said the clash happened around 9 October, and that different families had signed separate contracts for the events. Staff called police during a row, but each banquet went ahead, and each family paid in full. Video of the scene went viral on Chinese social media on 11 October, prompting questions over whether the groom was a bigamist. State-run Shanghai Daily summarised the official finding in the post below.

In China, a 100-day banquet marks a baby's 100th day, a milestone families traditionally celebrate with relatives. Lin later said she chose the same restaurant for her party without Wu knowing in advance, after hearing rumours about his wedding. She said she had asked him repeatedly whether he was really getting married, and he denied it each time. Hong Kong's HK01 and Taiwan's CTi News reported her account in detail.

What Chinese Law Says About Bigamy

Under Article 258 of China's Criminal Law, bigamy carries up to two years' imprisonment or criminal detention. Fu Jian, Henan Zejin Law Firm's director, said it covers registering a second marriage or openly living long-term as a couple with someone else. China generally has not recognised unregistered de facto marriages formed after 1 February 1994. Fu and Yao, of Beijing Kangda (Zhengzhou) Law Firm, said one banquet may not count as living publicly as spouses. Yao added the registration date matters.

Fu said, in comments carried by Shanghai's Xinmin Evening News, that Wu's conduct, while not a crime, 'clearly violates public order and good customs' (translated). In a divorce, his wife could seek compensation if she qualified as the no-fault spouse and met the legal grounds. Wu must also legally support the child, Fu said, and the money dispute belongs in civil courts. China's Civil Code gives children born outside marriage the same rights as other children.

The Baby's Mother Apologises

Lin set out her side in a long statement posted on 14 October. 'I deeply apologise for my rather abrupt handling at the time,' she wrote, according to a translation of her post. She also apologised for the online storm her actions caused and said the two have not spoken since.

She urged people without the full story to stop inventing facts and spreading false rumours online. She said she had saved evidence of defamatory posts and would sue if they continued. She added that Wu came upstairs only after his wedding ceremony. He then signed a child-support deal before friends.