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Director Lei He said: “We held our first alumni wedding in 2017, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Alumni Association, and specially invited 10 alumni couples to participate. The second wedding was held in 2021, with six couples participating. This year's third group wedding invited eight couples. For each group wedding, we plan the ceremony to carefully incorporate campus-themed elements, immersive campus photo opportunities, and commemorative photography, ensuring each couple creates unique and beautiful memories."

More than a celebration of love, the ceremony was a reunion across time, reflecting the enduring bond between alumni and their university. Arriving in decorated UNNC shuttles, the wedding unfolded among approriately blue toned floral arrangements on the lawn in front of the Trent Building. Accompanied by a string quartet, couples from different cohorts and disciplines walked hand in hand into the ceremony. Some first met in lectures, others through student societies, while some grew closer through the everyday moments of campus life. All were united in their choice to come back to the very place where their journeys began, to mark one of life’s most significant milestones.

During the ceremony, Professor Jon Garibaldi, Provost and Pro-Vice Chancellor of UNNC, delivered a welcome address. He noted that a university is not only a place for academic growth, but also a space where meaningful human connections are formed. It is here that alumni gain knowledge, friendship and love - connections that continue to shape their journeys beyond graduation.

Professor Panos Vlachopoulos, Vice Provost for Education and Student Experience, then presented the special alumni wedding rings to the couples, symbolising commitment and responsibility. Designed to be two rings that form a whole Nottingham logo when placed together, they symbolise the joint journey each couple has taken from their time as UNNCers.

As the officiant, Professor Garibaldi led the couples in their vows, bearing witness alongside guests. A special “Certificate of Love” presentation also added a lasting token of the university’s blessings and congratulations for each couple.

Speaking on behalf of the newlyweds, alumna Lin Manqi shared their love story and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the university. In addition, one couple, Peng Qiyu and Li Shaoqi, took the occasion to donate and name a seat in a new lecture theatre, leaving a lasting tribute to the university.

Beyond the wedding ceremony, the Homecoming programme featured a rich array of activities, offering alumni opportunities to reconnect and relive their university days. The social corner provided a platform for new connections, while the annual giving interactive zone reflected alumni generosity and support. School-based gatherings, including the business school alumni reunion and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences afternoon tea, brought together peers to share reflections on personal and professional growth.

In addition, in collaboration with the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the sixth Nottingham healthcare alumni annual conference and future Intelligent manufacturing industry forum took place. Partnering with Nottingham University Business School China, an industry sharing session focusing on overseas business expansion was also organised, encouraging the exchange of ideas, industry insights and collaboration opportunities.

A mentor-mentee networking session was also held, strengthening connections between alumni mentors and current students, and fostering a platform for knowledge sharing, experience exchange and career guidance.

UNNC continues to witness the growth of generations of students - education not only inspires a passion for learning, but also nurtures the most genuine human connections. No matter how far our alumni travel, UNNC remains a place of reunion and a starting point for new journeys.