Behind The Glamour: Why Preparing A Modern Korean Wedding Brings Stress To Couples

Preparations for a modern Korean wedding are becoming a nightmare for engaged couples. What should be an exciting time has become exhausting for some people. From reserving a wedding venue to obtaining the necessary decorations, Koreans can't help but feel the stress.

What exactly are the challenges that Korean couples recently face while preparing for their wedding? Is money involved, or perhaps venue reservations? Stick around to learn what couples go through before the main event. We'll also look at the new trends that have emerged from those challenges.

What Happens in a Modern Korean Wedding?

Weddings in South Korea at present blend traditional customs and modern Western influences. Couples often prefer to hold two ceremonies: a modern one and the paebaek.

Modern Korean Wedding Ceremony

Most Korean couples hold wedding ceremonies today in grand halls, luxurious hotels, or outdoors with a splendid view. The bride wears a Western-style wedding dress while the groom sports a tuxedo or suit. The person who officiates the event can be a priest, a friend, or an officiant from the wedding venue.

The ceremony in Korea resembles that of the Western world. It involves the couple exchanging vows and the first kiss as a married couple. It also includes family and friends giving speeches during the event.

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Korean wedding ceremonies commonly last about 30 minutes to an hour. Afterward, a post-wedding event takes place. Every attendee is invited to a meal, so a meal ticket is given to them beforehand. When it comes to gifts, guests are expected to give cash instead of material ones. They are to hand over the money to the receptionist of the wedding venue. In return, the newlyweds give tokens of appreciation like food, soap, or hand towels.

One of the big changes today is the Korean wedding guest outfit. Most, if not all, attendees wear black clothing, which is traditionally associated with funerals. This has become a growing fashion trend in recent weddings in South Korea.

Paebaek: The Bowing Ritual in South Korea

After the modern wedding ceremony, Korean couples hold the paebaek ceremony. Paebaek is a traditional ritual where the bride and groom wear hanboks. The hanbok of the bride is vibrant red, and the groom's is deep blue.

During this ritual, the couple bows deeply to their parents and older family members to show gratitude and respect. The ceremony also takes place at a low table called daeryesang. The table is full of snacks and drinks for the family to share. The newlyweds serve tea or soju to the older family members. While they sit down, the couple's parents give advice and wisdom on married life.

At the end of paebaek, the parents throw dates and chestnuts at the couple, and the latter tries to catch them. This practice symbolizes the number of children the couple will have. Chestnuts stand for daughters, and dates indicate sons.

Why Preparing a Modern Korean Wedding Is Much More Difficult Than Before

But before Korean engaged couples experience all those glams and rituals, they must first prepare their dream wedding. However, it's not that easy today. This section focuses on the challenges that couples deal with before the big day.