Beijing, May 11 (IANS): A newlywed couple in Qinhuangdao city has proved that one does not need an engine and four wheels to drive romance to a new high.

Instead of the usual display of pomp and wealth of a wedding car, on the day of his wedding, Wei Xiaolong collected his bride-to-be, Han Xiao, on a bicycle. The bike was covered with flowers and the wedding procession included 88 other cycling enthusiasts whose bicycles were also lavishly decorated.

The young couple said that in addition to their love for cycling, they had chosen to organise a bicycle fleet as it was more environmentally friendly, Xinhua news agency reported.

Wei said the duo met in a bicycling event, and to pursue Han, he quit his job in a large company to work in Han's family bicycle shop. After four years of hard work, both fixing bicycles and courting Han, Wei won the heart of the woman he now calls his wife.

The bicycle wedding was proposed by Han's father's biking club. Han said he was worried people may look down on the family for their choice, but the "eco-friendly and impressive" wedding soon won everyone over.

Though the bicycle was commonly used as a wedding car in the 1960s in China, the country now sees a growing obsession with luxury limousines, considered a showcase of the groom's wealth. A Rolls Royce can cost as much as 10,000 yuan ($1,600) for such a job.