A bride's family and friends have added a new twist to an old wedding tradition involving picking up the bride after they padlocked the groom's Porsche and demanded cigarettes to release it.

Footage shows the luxury black vehicle decorated with wedding flowers, and secured with more than 40 padlocks, as amazed villagers go around checking them out on December 2.

The novel custom was reportedly implemented by friends and family of the couple in the city of Nantong, in Jiangsu Province, eastern China, who demanded one carton of cigarettes per every two padlocks they released.

Car-locking is reportedly a modern addition to an old Chinese wedding tradition called 'Picking up the bride' in which the groom participates in games, rituals, and challenges, to show his devotion to the bride.

It is also common for the groom to give red envelopes with cash, as well as sweets, and other gifts to the guests. Some wedding industry experts, however, claim that the practice is not new, but rather part of a long-standing local tradition.

A local wedding planner said: 'Years ago, when conditions were poor for everyone, locking the car during the wedding was seen as a way to invite good luck.

'Nowadays, the locks are for fun and celebration, with no real intention of receiving cigarettes. Typically, the groom will symbolically give a few packs of cigarettes.'

A county government official said that the act was just for fun and the locks were removed quickly without the exchange for cigarettes.

The state representative said: 'Customs and traditions require guidance and if a wedding car cannot leave the scene, reporting the situation to the police is an option.'