More than 600 couples married simultaneously in Paraguay's capital, Asunción, on Saturday.

Thousands said "I do" in unison as part of a government initiative to make civil weddings more accessible across the country.

The campaign, called "United by Love and Protected by Law," aims to legalise relationships in which couples forgo marriage because of economic or bureaucratic reasons, preventing them from receiving benefits such as social security, pensions and inheritance rights.

"All Paraguayans have access to the right to formalise their union," Vice-President Pedro Alliana said on X.

The Civil Registry and the first lady's office prioritised weddings for long-term couples considered vulnerable.

"It was about time to get married," said Jonathan Garay, who has lived with his partner, F

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