Yingde prison may not be among China's more romantic sites, but love was in the air at the correctional facility's courtyard as more than 200 prisoners attended the group wedding of three fellow inmates.

The prison, located in Guangdong province, held a group wedding ceremony for three of its inmates and their fiancées, reported Nanfang Daily. In addition to the prisonsers, the wedding was also attended by local members of the People's Congress and employees of the local civil affairs bureau.

Like Us on Facebook

The ceremony was held on the prison's lawn, where authorities put out a ceremonial red carpet and stage. Prison officials said they hope the allowing the prisons to get married, and holding a ceremony for them will help prepare the men for when they reenter society.

"The purpose of the group wedding is to reduce the prisoners' psychological pressure and encourage them to change themselves for the better," said Huang Wei, a deputy warden of Yingde prison, reported Nanfang Daily.

One of the prisoners who got married at the ceremony was Xu Qiang, who is serving a 13-year sentence for assault. The 39-year-old former businessmen was wed to his long-time girlfriend.

Xu was selected among more than 10 inmates who applied to marry their girlfriends who have been waiting on the outside for their loved one's release. "She waited for such a long time, so I should make good on this promise," Xu told New Express.

Prison guards commented that Xu was chosen because has made significant progress and his sentence has already been reduced twice on account of good behavior.

TagsChinese Prison Holds Group Wedding Ceremony for Inmates, mass wedding ceremony, Yingde Prison, Xu Qiang