The Wedding

On Sunday, Emily and I went to church and then to my co-teacher’s wedding. It was our very first Korean wedding and it was quite different. Firstly, the wedding is held at a hall, as are most weddings here. The hall will often include everything (food, photographer, hall, etc.) and it’s actually not too bad for price (about $1500 for the whole thing, I think). It’s here that the differences start. To prevent extended narrative, I’ll post in point form.

Brides rent dresses instead of buying. (Really – when are you going to wear your wedding dress again?)
You get the hall for one hour. Previous wedding finishes, bride & guests walk out, new guests & bride walk in.
Wedding pictures are done months in advance, include only the couple and are photoshopped to the nines. You’ll have a picture in France, in a forest, with angel wings, in a pink outfit, in traditional Korean clothes, etc. (The photoshopping doesn’t stop at location, though – cheapest plastic surgery ever. Face, moles, teeth, arms (get rid of the flab), waist, boobs, butt, smile, head shape, hair – anything & everything. Wedding pictures often look surprisingly nothing like the person.
You can take a picture with the bride for 30 minutes before the wedding. She sits on a bench in a little room, you go in, take the picture with her and leave.
Generally, a teacher or boss-type person does the ceremony. They talk a little bit about the groom, a little bit about the bride, give some tips on a happy marriage. My favorite part: the guy kept clearing his throat and horking right into the mike.
There is no cake cutting, kiss, garter toss, or signing of the register.
The mothers walk down the aisle first, light the candles and leave. Then the groom walks down (to the tune of “Here Comes the Bride”) and then the bride (to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne”). People may or may not be sitting at this point. Chances are good people will watch this part of the wedding and then continue their conversation or leave.
The bride & groom have two wedding hall workers salute them with swords as they walk down the aisle. After the wedding, as they walk back, the wedding hall workers shoot streamers out of big trumpet looking things.
After the ceremony, there are 3 quick photos at the front of the hall: new couple, new couple & family, new couple & friends. Everybody stand up there (stairs make it easier), smile, 2 pictures, finished and next.
I was the only guy on the bride’s side of the friends. Emily & I were the only foreigners in the building.
My other co-teacher got chosen to catch the bouquet. In Korea, one person is chosen and, after the picture with friends, they stand in front of everyone and catch the bouquet. All of the friends clap. You might have to do a couple of tries in order to get the best picture. Also, if you are chosen to catch the bouquet, you have 6 months to get married, or else you will never get married. (Talk about pressure!)
You give a gift of money (either before, during or after the wedding). Occasionally a present. Sometimes your ticket to eat is based on the size of your gift.
Once the wedding is finished, everybody (minus the new couple & family) go upstairs to the buffet, hand in your meal ticket and sit with the guests from every other wedding of the day to eat.
The new couple then goes and changes into traditional Korean clothes, bows to the parents and they may come up to the food hall to say hello/goodbye. Maybe not.

Interesting and different, to say the least. It’s faster (start to finish, including meal – 90 – 120 minutes) and probably cheaper. It’s a lot busier and more noisy in the actual hall and everything does appear a little rushed to the Western eye. An interesting experience, to say the least. I was really thankful for my co-teacher who sat with Emily & I for the ceremony and dinner. She translated for us and explained what was going on.

After the wedding, Emily and I went shopping and then Emily met some friends for coffee & Dr. Fish (these little fish that eat the dead skin off of your feet, or whatever part of your body you put into the water). I joined them for dinner, came home, finished my lesson for Monday and called it a night.

All in all, an eventful weekend!