How Do Korean Weddings Work?

Korean weddings are a celebration of family, tradition, and cultural heritage, with a focus on the union of two individuals. The pyebaek ceremony, which is for family members only, is a traditional part of the wedding. The bride and groom wear special wedding hanbok and bow to their parents, who are seated behind a low table stocked with traditional and symbolic wedding foods. The largest population of Koreans outside Korea is in Los Angeles, making planning a Korean wedding a unique event.

The pyebaek ceremony involves sharing wine, exchanging vows, and receiving advice from parents. The couple wears Hanboks, traditional Korean dress, and performs a deep bow to the groom’s parents. The parents offer advice and blessings for their marriage. The wedding represents two families coming together as one.

Incorporating Korean wedding traditions can make your wedding a truly unique event, blending ancient customs with modern practices. The largest population of Koreans outside Korea is in Los Angeles, making it an ideal destination for planning a Korean wedding.

Korean weddings are short affairs lasting only a couple of hours, but pre-wedding traditions add a festive feel. Samulnori, or “playing four objects,” is performed before the wedding ceremony, while hahm can happen anytime before the wedding day. The traditional Korean wedding ceremony is the most significant event, celebrating love, property, and family. It consists of two parts: the ceremony and the reception. In modern Korean wedding traditions, a wooden goose is replaced by a wild geese, symbolizing structure and harmony. The groom must bow twice before presenting the goose to the bride’s mother. As a sign of respect, male guests typically dress in black suits, while female guests wear navy, beige, or pastels. Giving the newlyweds money as congratulations is a traditional custom in Korea. The Korean dating culture includes unique customs and traditions, such as meeting someone, going on a date, dating etiquette, family and gender roles, physical contact, long-distance relationships, gift giving, technology, moving in together, and marriage.

What is the etiquette for Korean weddings?

In the past, a Korean wedding was an arranged marriage where the bride and groom met for the first time. The bride and groom walk to opposite ends of the wedding table, and attendants spread rugs for them. The attendants wash the bride and groom’s hands to cleanse them for the ceremony. The bride and groom bow to each other. The bride bows twice, the groom once, the bride twice more, and the groom once more. Then, they kneel and face each other.

Hapgeunrye. The bride and groom drink from the same cup. The couple drinks from two halves of a gourd or from one cup. The gourd halves symbolize the couple becoming one. In one tradition, the first sip from the cup represents the couple’s relationship. The second sip is from the gourd cups, which are switched between the bride and groom. Finally, the couple bow together to show respect to their parents, ancestors, and wedding guests. Paebaek is a big part of Korean weddings. It shows how important family is to Koreans. In the past, only the groom’s parents were with the bride and groom for the paebaek. Now, both sets of parents are invited. This was a private ceremony for family members, but now many couples hold it during a cocktail reception so guests can view the ceremony and take photos. Both sets of parents sit behind a table with food from the wedding ceremony. Today, families try to make their food look impressive, but in the past, there were only three platters: chestnuts and dates, flat beef jerky, and anju, which was a plate of eight small appetizers.

What is the process of marriage in Korea?

How to get married in Korea. Bring all the documents listed above for U.S. citizens to the Embassy when you apply for marriage. The Embassy will review your documents and notarize your Affidavit of Eligibility for Marriage. The fee is USD $50. Only American citizens need to come to the Embassy for this step. Include the translator’s signature and date of translation (this is only needed when marrying a Korean national). It doesn’t have to be official. You and your fiancé/fiancée must bring the notarized Affidavit of Eligibility for Marriage, along with other Korean government documents, to your local district office to report and register your marriage. You must provide two witnesses’ names, addresses, and signatures on the Korean marriage form. Witnesses don’t have to come to the local district office. However, this may vary by local office. Contact the local district office for the latest information, including the witness requirement. The office will provide a “Certificate of Marriage Registration.” If both partners are U.S. citizens, they will get the certificate right away. If one spouse is Korean, this process can take up to 3-5 days. It will be reflected on the Korean marriage certificate. The “Certificate of Marriage Registration” document will be in Korean. The Embassy cannot provide this service. The Korean government will apostille marriage documents at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If you need the apostille for an official purpose, the requesting authorities will decide if it is acceptable.

How do traditional Korean weddings work?

A celebrant and a master of ceremonies lead the ceremony. After the vows are spoken, the bride and groom bow and sip wine from a gourd handed down by the mother of the bride. The ceremony is quick and usually lasts less than half an hour. After the vows and wine, the family and guests eat a simple meal. You must bring money to give to the bride and groom. The amount given depends on the guest’s relationship with the couple. It is traditional to give the chosen amount in one clean bill inside the white envelope. After the ceremonies, the groom’s family buys a house for the newlyweds, and the bride’s family provides the furnishings. Korean children are becoming more independent, so this tradition isn’t as common as it used to be. Both families decide what wedding gifts to give their children.

Are weddings a big deal in Korea?

Korean weddings are based on Confucian values. Everything about the wedding was important and had a lot of steps. In traditional Korean culture, like many traditional cultures, the bride and groom’s elders decided who they would marry. In Confucianism, family is more important than anything else. Marriage is a big deal. This is about two families joining together. Also, marriage was a way for the elite to improve their social status. A lot of time was spent preparing for the wedding. The first step is matchmaking, or euihon (議婚). This is when the bride and groom’s families discuss marriage. Factors like social status, personality, appearance, achievements, and harmony are considered. The euihon is set when the groom’s family sends a proposal letter and the bride’s family sends a reply letter. Once the bride’s family says yes, the groom sets a date for the ceremony. This is the second step, called naljja seoljeong (날짜설정; 날짜設定), or date setting. The groom’s year, month, day, and hour (according to the lunar calendar) is written on a paper and wrapped in bamboo and tied with red and blue thread. Finally, the package is wrapped in red and blue cloth and sent to the bride’s family. The groom’s birthdate is sent to a fortuneteller, who sets the date based on the saju. The date is sent back to the groom. The last step in pre-ceremonial traditions is called the napchae (납채; 納采), or exchanging gifts. Once the date is set, the groom sends the bride a box, called ham. The ham usually has three items: the honseo, the chaedan, and the honsu. The most important item is the honseo, or marriage papers. This is given to the bride to show she can only marry one man. The wife is expected to keep this paper forever. When she dies, the papers are buried with her. The chaedan is a set of red and blue cloths used to make clothes. The red and blue represent the Yin/Yang philosophy. Finally, the honsu is a variety of other gifts given to the bride’s family. This can include household items, jewelry, and clothes.

In ancient times, weddings were held in the bride’s house. The groom rode to the bride’s house on a horse. After the wedding, he took his wife in a sedan chair to his parents’ house. The bride and groom wore formal court clothes for the wedding. People could only wear fancy clothes on their wedding day. Hand lanterns are used to light the way from the groom’s home to the bride’s home on the night before the wedding. The groom’s family would carry a wedding chest with gifts for the bride’s family. Wedding geese symbolize a happy marriage. Cranes symbolize long life and may be on the woman’s sash. Wedding ducks are wooden carvings of mandarin ducks. They are used in traditional weddings because they represent peace, fidelity, and plentiful offspring.

What happens if I marry a Korean?

A foreign national married to a Korean can get an F-6 marriage immigrant visa. If a foreign spouse has been in Korea on another visa, they can change to F-6. The F-6 visa is valid for one year and must be renewed.

If you have been in Korea for more than two years with an F-6 visa, you can apply for a permanent residency visa, the F-5. Foreign residents can find themselves in complicated legal situations for many reasons. Ask a Lawyer covers the most common legal issues faced by expats in South Korea.

Who pays for a Korean wedding?

In the past, Korean weddings were held at the bride’s house. Most modern Korean weddings are held in rented venues, not at home. Who pays for a Korean wedding? Traditionally, the groom’s family pays for the main expenses, while the bride’s family pays for her traditional Korean wedding dress. But many modern couples split the costs.

Korean wedding traditions. Even before the wedding, there are beautiful Korean traditions. Here are some Korean wedding customs that happen before the wedding.

Pair rings/couple rings. In Korea, couples don’t usually exchange engagement rings. However, there is an interesting Korean tradition about rings for couples who are dating. Many South Korean couples celebrate 100 days of dating by giving each other rings to wear. These rings mean something different than Western engagement rings. While some couples get engaged later, these rings are a way for a couple to show their commitment early in the relationship.

How much money do Koreans give at weddings?

When attending a child’s first birthday party, people often give cash gifts in envelopes provided upon entry. The amount given depends on the relationship with the parents. Casual acquaintances give around 30,000–50,000 won (up to $40/€35), close friends up to 200,000 won, and family members more. Weddings are another occasion for cash gifts. Guests give cash to the happy couple at the wedding hall. A 2022 Statista survey says the most popular amount to give is 50,000 won, followed by 100,000 won. The amount given is likely to be noted, so the newlyweds can thank the gifter with a gift of cash at the next wedding. Gifting cash has deep roots. It represents wisdom and good wishes being handed down from older to younger, or gratitude and kinship between colleagues and friends. It’s also a good way to pay for a big wedding without embarrassing yourself.

What age gap is acceptable in Korea?

The most desirable age gap is between 4 and 5 years, but only if the man is older than the woman. This is because it is more accepted in some cultures. Anything outside this range is considered odd or uncomfortable, and anything above a 10-year age gap is taboo.

How many days is a Korean wedding?

Unlike wedding ceremonies in some cultures, Korean wedding ceremonies do not take up a whole day. They last about 2 to 3 hours maximum. *The majority of Korean couples hold their wedding ceremonies at a hotel or at a wedding hall for a few hours. Due to the high price of renting wedding halls, lots of couples want to minimize the usage time of the hall. The ceremonies follow the agenda sharp since there can be the next couple waiting to use the hall after. *I like how Korean wedding ceremonies are compact and quick! More importantly, you dont need to devote your precious Saturday or Sunday for a wedding ceremony. *Also, running late to the wedding isnt showing much respect for the couple. I suggest showing up at the wedding hall 20 – 30 minutes before the ceremony starts, so that you can have a chance to talk to your acquaintance/friend and congratulate them sincerely.

Who pays for Korean wedding?

In the past, Korean weddings were held at the bride’s house. Most modern Korean weddings are held in rented venues, not at home. Who pays for a Korean wedding? Traditionally, the groom’s family pays for the main expenses, while the bride’s family pays for her traditional Korean wedding dress. But many modern couples split the costs.

Korean wedding traditions. Even before the wedding, there are beautiful Korean traditions. Here are some Korean wedding customs that happen before the wedding.

Pair rings/couple rings. In Korea, couples don’t usually exchange engagement rings. However, there is an interesting Korean tradition about rings for couples who are dating. Many South Korean couples celebrate 100 days of dating by giving each other rings to wear. These rings mean something different than Western engagement rings. While some couples get engaged later, these rings are a way for a couple to show their commitment early in the relationship.

Can a Korean marry a non-Korean?

The Korean Ward office needs to see official documents proving you are eligible to marry. If your spouse is from another country, check with their embassy in Korea.