Many couples tied the knot in Japan on Wednesday to celebrate the start of the Reiwa Era, while babies born on the day started their life on the first day of the new era launched with the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito.

Here is a collection of photos of those happy couples and families.

(Photo taken at Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, shows a wedding ceremony for Yutaka, 47, and Sayoko Nakjima, 37.)

(Akira Tomimatsu, 34, and his wife Yoko, 36, pose for a photo against the backdrop of Okayama Castle in western Japan, after registering their marriage at the Okayama city office.)

(Makoto Akao, left, and Ayumi Otomo pose for a photo after registering their marriage at the Higashiosaka city office.)

(Sorata Hayashida, left, and Minako Inoue pose for a photo after registering their marriage at the Higashiosaka city office.)

(Akira Tomimatsu, 34, and his wife Yoko, 36, show a copy of their marriage certificate at Okayama Castle.)

(Miho Negishi holds her baby girl after giving birth at a hospital in Toda, Saitama Prefecture.)

(Michiko Fumita, her baby girl, and father Hayato at a hospital in Toda, Saitama Prefecture.)

(Risa Seki, left, and husband Keita showing a photo of their newly born baby on a smartphone in Kumamoto Prefecture.)

(Kaori Murakami and her baby in Kumamoto Prefecture.)

(Itsuka Kondo smiles beside her baby girl after giving birth at a hospital in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture.)

(Azusa Aoshima, right, and her husband Kenji look at their newborn baby boy at a hospital in Sapporo, Hokkaido.)