It was not until the early 1900's, when a booklet describing the new procedures for "western-style marriages" was published in Shanghai, that marriage ceremonies were simplified to their present state.
直到國父推翻帝制，創建民國，婚儀也經歷了一次大革命，由六禮縮減成訂婚與結婚兩儀，或合而為一，省略訂婚。這種簡化後的婚禮，稱為「文明婚禮」。據說民國初年，上海文明書局印行的「新式婚禮儀式手冊」，是「文明婚禮」的起源。