The hosts were warm enough to ease her shyness. A groomsman had set up a WeChat group in advance, sharing a few do's and don'ts and encouraging the guests to speak up about any needs. The netizens, meanwhile, were worried about causing trouble.

　　A guest in his 30s surnamed Tang from Shandong province said, "It was incredibly infectious, even for those of us Han people who aren't particularly good at singing or dancing."

　　He added that he had immersed himself in the warmth, hospitality and optimism of the Uygur friends, and felt a genuine bond between people of different ethnic backgrounds. Guests like him, too, began chatting and sharing stories of their travels and lives.

　　Emerging tourism draw

　　Grand and lively Uygur weddings have long attracted visitors and sparked fascination across China.

　　In May 2025, the variety showHAHAHAHAHAre-created a ceremony through role-play.

　　On Aug 12, the Uygur wedding of celebrity couple Madina Memet and Jiang Chao sparked heated online discussions. Some Douyin posts generated several hundred thousand likes, with the most popular exceeding 2 million.

　　A typical Uygur wedding unfolds with a morning session hosted by the bride's family, followed by the bride-pickup and a transitional segment for the younger crowd that features dancing, the bouquet toss and photo sessions, as well as a banquet by the groom's side with a formal veil-lifting ceremony. Singing and dancing accompany every stage of the wedding. Days before, a "consultation tea party" allows both families to get acquainted and exchange betrothal gifts, while days after, close family members and friends will gather at the bride's home for a visit.

　　The invitation post for the Yarkant wedding has to date accumulated more than 10 million views and some 77,000 comments. Some netizens posted their own wedding invitations on Douyin, while others simply asked: "Can I come?"