The mass civil wedding ceremony, which saw thousands say "I do" in unison, was held at the National Sports Secretariat gymnasium. It is the flagship event of a nationwide campaign titled "United by Love and Protected by Law," which seeks to make civil marriage more accessible by removing financial and bureaucratic obstacles.
For many, the high costs or administrative red tape of a traditional wedding had prevented them from formalizing their long-term relationships, subsequently blocking access to vital benefits such as social security, pensions, and inheritance rights. The Civil Registry and the first lady's office prioritized couples considered vulnerable and those in long-standing partnerships for the free ceremony.
The atmosphere was one of collective joy, with the gymnasium packed with couples dressed in every color, many of whom were accompanied by their children. Nearly half of the newlyweds brought their children to the event, which underscored the campaign’s focus on the family unit. The ceremony was further marked by blessings from both Catholic and Protestant religious leaders.
Jonathan Garay, who married his partner, Fiorella Rivera, after six years together, expressed the sentiment of many. "It was about time to get married," Garay said. Rivera added that it was important "to formalize everything" and that they happily seized the opportunity.
The Asunción event is one of several mass weddings taking place across Paraguay, including a ceremony last week in Ciudad del Este that united 120 couples, and an earlier event in Boquerón, which, for the first time, included Indigenous couples who were married free of charge.
Roque Strubing, communications director of the Civil Registry, emphasized the significance of the turnout. "The number of people registered in this campaign shows that Paraguay does believe in love, does believe in family and does believe in the formalization of marriage," he stated. Vice President Pedro Alliana celebrated the unions on X, confirming that "all Paraguayans have access to the right to formalize their union."
You can see footage of the event in this video: