Christine's Wedding

A teacher friend of ours got married this weekend and we were invited to the wedding. Traditional Korean weddings are quite different from western style weddings, however in recent years "wedding halls" have become very popular. At these wedding halls they provide everything you need for your ceremony and reception. And they churn out close to 100 weddings on a good day. Many western traditions have become part of the Korean wedding system. We really enjoyed ourselves although we were a little sad to see how westernized weddings here had become. It seemed like so many traditions had been adopted without the meanings behind those traditions. Most couples still do a tea ceremony, but it is usually done in private, instead of as a part of the overall ceremony. All in all though it was a fun experience to go and see how weddings were done here! Here's a glimpse of the event:


To start off when you arrive at the wedding hall you drop your cards off at a "front desk" of sorts. Some attendants then open your card and count the money that's inside so that the couple has a nice lump sum when they head out for their honeymoon. Then you can go to a small room next to the main room where the bride is sitting and you can have your picture taken with her.

 

Afterwards, you go into the reception/ceremony hall and you are seated at tables that surround a runway. 

Finally the ceremony begins with a candle-lighting by the mothers of the bride and groom. Then the groom struts his stuff down the aisle to a beat-box tune.

Next, the bride walks the aisle with her dad.

Then there's a short ceremony, and while this is going on the guests are chatting and walking around, while remembering to clap at appropriate moments.
At the end of the ceremony, the bride and groom are announced to the guests and they happily stroll back down the aisle.

Then there are professional pictures taken, with family, friends and co-workers.
After that, the happy couple goes to change in the their hanboks (korean traditional clothing), while the guests are served a meal. This meal brought with it an onslaught of Celine Dion songs. :)

 

Next the couple returns in the their hanboks, for the cake cutting, the champagne fountain pouring and to greet all the guests. 

After your table is greeted by the newlyweds the wedding's over and you can go home.