Thousands of couples tie the knot in Rio's mass wedding

11:29 - 01 December 2014

A mass wedding was held in Rio by the authorities for thousands of couples who may not be able to afford their own private ceremony.

A total of 1,960 couples exchanged vows on Sunday, November 30, 2014, in Rio's mass wedding.

The nuptials were held in a hall next to the famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

At least 12,000 people, including brides and grooms, friends and families and authorities - including a pack of judges, a Catholic priest and an evangelical Christian pastor - gathered at the venue for the big event.

Popularly known as the "I Do Day," the ceremony was sponsored by authorities to encourage people who might not be able to afford to marry if they had to pay for licenses and banquet halls.

The huge crowd gathered at the venue which is often used for major concerts. Couples tied the knot and friends celebrated in a concert by samba star, Dudu Nobre.