Smashing Memories: The Unconventional Business That’s Capitalizing on the Rise of Divorce

Unique Business Emerges as Divorce Rate Rises in China

A unique business has emerged in China, where the divorce rate has been increasing rapidly. Wedding photo destruction services are now available, catering to couples who want to erase memories of their past relationships.

According to CNN, the number of marriages in China has been declining significantly. In 2013, there were approximately 13 million marriages, but this number⁤ dropped to below 700,000 in 2022, the lowest since 1985.

Although the number of marriages increased slightly to 8 million last year, the Chinese government remains concerned about the downward trend.

On the other hand, the ​number of divorces⁢ has been increasing rapidly. In 2019, a record ‌high of 4.7 million divorces were recorded, which is more⁣ than four times the number of divorces 20⁤ years ago.

In an effort to curb the rising divorce rate, the ⁢Chinese government implemented a measure requiring a 30-day reflection period before divorce in 2021. However, this measure only​ led to a temporary decrease in divorces, and the number increased again last year by 25% compared to the previous year.

A New Source of‍ Income for Wedding Photographers

Tan Mengmeng, a 28-year-old wedding photographer ⁣from Henan Province, central⁣ China, has found a new source of income amidst the rising divorce rate. She now offers photography services⁤ to couples who want ⁣to commemorate the end of their marriage.

Tan has taken pictures of around 30 ​couples who have ended their ​relationships,⁢ capturing moments of both sadness ​and joy.

One couple, for instance, chose⁢ to take photos at the restaurant where ⁤they had their first date. They ordered food that ​held memories for them, and by the end of the photo shoot, they were both in tears.

Tan explained that the⁤ couple loved each other, but the woman could not tolerate the quarrels with her in-laws, and the husband was too busy to resolve the conflict between⁤ his⁤ in-laws.

Factories Profiting from Divorces

Some factories in China are also profiting from​ the surge in divorces. Liu Wei’s factory outside Beijing ‌helps divorcing couples‌ destroy evidence of their marriage.

The factory sprays the faces in old wedding photos to protect the couples’ privacy and ⁣then destroys them along with other items through a​ shredder.

The entire⁣ process is filmed on ⁤video and costs between 8 and 28 dollars (approximately 16,000 to 37,000 won).

Since its opening in 2021,‍ the factory has destroyed⁤ wedding photos of around 2,500 couples.