President Ma Ying-jeou will host a joint wedding for 100 couples Jan. 1, 2011 as part of the New Year's Day flag-raising ceremony, one of a series of events organized by the government to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China. The couples will also be allowed to have their wedding photos taken in the Presidential Office -- the first time the tightly guarded building will be opened to the public for such an activity. A pre-wedding briefing was held Saturday for the couples. Wu Teh-liang, a groom-to-be who was first to register for the mass wedding, said he was encouraged by his future in-laws to take part 'to show his sincerity.' He eventually succeeded in getting the No. 1 designation by sending his registration form simultaneously using five different fax machines with the help of his colleagues. Lee Ming-lung, another groom-to-be, said he had only dated his girlfriend for three months when he saw the mass wedding advertisement in August. He decided to pop the question and became the 70th successful registrant. 