What Color Do Korean Brides Wear?

In Korean culture, the color red is believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. The bride wears a red hanbok on their wedding day, while the groom wears blue, symbolizing the Confucian idea of yin and yang. The bride often wears a red robe, while the groom wears blue to symbolize the balance between Yin and Yang.

The bride wears a paebaek robe over her hanbok, and some brides may choose to adorn their cheeks with red dots. The marriage typically occurs at dusk, representing the balance between light and dark. In South Korea, brides, grooms, and their family wear ceremonial robes called hanbok to the kunbere, the traditional Korean ceremony.

There are no rules on what color to wear as the bride’s mother, but many Koreans choose a calm or pastel tone. Some brides even opt for green and gold combinations in their outfits.

In Japan, a bride often wears several kimonos of different colors throughout her wedding day. A Japanese Shinto bride wears white. Korean silk wedding robes were red, green, and yellow, and traditional Korean fashions were also strictly regulated by Zhou- and Han-ruled China.

Color schemes can hold great cultural significance in Korean culture, and the bride wears red and the groom wears blue. The bride’s mother wears warm tones like pink, purple, or orange, while the groom’s mother wears cool tones like blue, gray, or ochre.

In conclusion, color schemes hold great cultural significance in Korean culture, and the bride and groom wear specific colors to represent the Confucian idea of yin and yang.

Is there a kiss in Korean wedding?

Korean weddings don’t have vows or rings like Western weddings. The bride and groom don’t kiss when they’re announced as husband and wife. Weddings in Korea are very traditional. Bride and groom hold hands during the ceremony.

What’s Boogie Woogie? One of the best parts of weddings is dancing. I love boogie-woogie with my husband. I also like taking silly pictures in the photo booth.

Do Korean married couples sleep separately?

In Korea, some couples live together but sleep in separate rooms to avoid or resolve conflict. This differs from conflict strategies in other countries that often lead to separation or divorce.

1 Department of Psychotherapy, Jeju National University, Korea.

2 Department of Psychology, Chonnam National University, Korea.

Contact: Gahyun Youn, Chonnam National University, Korea.

What are the red dots on Korean brides?

The bride and groom enter together in traditional Korean wedding attire. The groom’s parents are already seated. The bride wears a traditional Korean robe over her dress and sometimes puts red dots on her face to look young and innocent. The groom’s Paebaek robe looks like the clothes worn by the lowest-ranking officials during the Chosun Dynasty. The groom could wear this royal uniform, even though he didn’t hold a palace position. Family members will take turns sitting in front of the table to receive a bow from the couple.

The bride will stand, put her hands against her forehead, and slowly kneel and bow until her hands touch the ground. The bride needs help from her bridesmaids to kneel.

Who pays for the wedding in Korean culture?

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.

Do Korean wives take their husband’s name?

Do all Koreans have the same last names? These five are the most common Korean family names. Not all Kims, Lees, Parks, Jeongs, and Chois are the same. Korean names have two parts: a family name and a given name. Traditionally, children take their father’s surname, but Korean women don’t take their husband’s surname after marriage. Korean family names are usually one syllable, but some are two. They are divided into different clans. Bon-gwans show where a name comes from and tell us which family a name comes from. The two most common Kims in Korea are Gimhae Kim and Gyeongju Kim. The two Kims are different despite having the same surname. The number of surnames has increased by nearly 800% between 2000 and 2015. In 2015, Statistics Korea conducted a census of population and housing. It found that there are 286 hanja surnames and around 858 clans with more than a thousand people. Korean names are often two syllables. One syllable shows the child’s biological generation. The representative syllable for each generation is chosen at the bon-gwan, which is the house of the family’s direct descendants. It was traditionally given to sons who kept the family’s lineage going. Nowadays, this syllable is sometimes given to daughters too. The generational syllable lets you know which generation you’re in and shows who’s older in the family. The last syllable was the child’s. The grandfather or eldest family member chose a few combinations. A naming center called a jakmyungso (작명소) studied the child’s horoscope to select the best syllable to combine with the generational name. The parents made the final decision. People don’t use the generational syllable anymore for various reasons. Some call it an old tradition; others don’t use the syllable to choose more names for their child. Also, more parents are choosing pure Korean names, so many have stopped using the generational syllables, which are mostly based on hanja. With changes in Korea’s demographics and perceptions, younger people may not know that names were traditionally composed of a surname and a given name with a generational syllable.

Can you wear white at a Korean wedding?

Guest clothes. Korean guests don’t have the same dress code. If a guest wore white to a Korean wedding, they wouldn’t be shunned. In Korea, it’s not common to have an unwritten rule against wearing white.

A Wild Goose. One unique thing about a Korean wedding is the groom giving the mother of the bride a wild goose. Today, wooden geese are often used because they’re convenient. Wild geese mate for life, so his gift symbolizes a lifelong commitment to her daughter.

Dates and Chestnuts. After the official wedding, there is a smaller, more intimate ceremony called Pyebaek. This is for family only. The bride and groom wear traditional wedding clothes and exchange food with their parents. Then the entertainment begins. The bride must catch dates and chestnuts with her skirt. This symbolizes how many children the couple will have.

Can all brides wear white?

White dresses aren’t traditional everywhere. White wedding dresses are not a common tradition because they are not a cultural tradition. Some brides want a traditional wedding, while others want a more modern wedding. Some brides choose bright and colorful wedding dresses instead! Examples of non-white wedding dresses. Indian wedding saris and Japanese kimonos are easy examples of non-white wedding dresses. Both are red, which symbolizes good luck. Indian wedding saris can be made from many fabrics and are often very detailed. Japanese kimonos are made from silk. The bride may wear a white kimono during the ceremony, but change into a red one afterward to symbolize luck. Eastern cultures aren’t the only ones with unique wedding dress traditions. In Africa, many different tribal wedding dresses can be found. In Ghana, the traditional wedding dress is made from Kente fabric. These are brightly colored, hand-woven fabrics made of silk and cotton. Many West Africans, especially Nigerians, wear shimmering head wraps with matching dresses.

Can a Korean marry a foreigner?

In Korea, you must be at least 18 to get married. Those under 20 need permission from a parent or legal guardian to get married. If a Korean marries a foreigner, they must register their marriage at a local Si·Gun·Gu Office.

Proof of citizenship: Any valid country passport, naturalization certificate, or driver’s license.

Affidavit of eligibility for marriage: Prepare the affidavit in advance and bring it to the embassy. The Embassy will review and notarize your Affidavit of Eligibility for Marriage.

When can a bride not wear white?

Not everyone looks good in white. If wearing white makes you uncomfortable, don’t feel like you have to wear it. Other colors could be better for you, so don’t rule them out when shopping for your wedding dress. If you’ve found a dress in white, you could ask if it can be dyed to your color. When we say “color,” we don’t mean only bright or dark. It could be pale blush or lemon. It’s your choice! White shows dirt and marks. If you don’t want your dress to get dirty, choose a different color. Your dress will get dirty. No matter how you plan your wedding, the dress will get dirty. Some people like to be different. If you want to be different, choose a dress that makes you happy. Make this day perfect for you. If you want a black dress, go for it!

Do Korean married couples wear wedding rings?

Korean couples often exchange jewelry early on in their relationship. These rings are simple and don’t have expensive stones or much embellishment. Many couples get rings on the 100-day mark. It’s thought that after 100 days together, you’re ready to commit. This is celebrated with special rings that are often engraved. Couples wear rings on their ring fingers. It doesn’t matter if it’s on the right or left. A ring on the ring finger shows love and commitment. A ring on your index finger means you’re friends. Many older couples don’t wear wedding bands. It’s usually younger couples who wear them.

Diamonds weren’t used in Korean jewelry. However, many Korean couples now choose diamond rings over rubies, jade, and emeralds. Many couples go to Seoul’s jewelry district to buy rings. There are many wholesalers and jewelry stores in this district, including Jongno 3(sam)-ga and 4(sa)-ga. The Jongno 3(sam)-ga Jewelry district has shops along the main street for a kilometer. It is estimated to have between 2,000 and 4,000 jewelry stores. The jewelry street has been around since the 1960s. A Korean wedding ceremony has many symbolic elements. The bride will probably wear a hanbok, a traditional Korean dress, while the groom may wear a suit or hanbok. These colors have special meanings. The colors the bride and groom wear symbolize the “taeguk,” or “eumyang” (also known as yin and yang). The bride wears red and the groom wears blue. Together, the two colors represent balance. The formal groom wears a samogwandae, the court attire of the Chosun Dynasty. He wears a long robe-like vestment over pants and a jacket, with a belt and a black cap with wings. Color is important at a Korean wedding. The marriage would usually happen at dusk, representing the balance between light and dark. The mother of the bride will wear warm colors, like pink, purple, or orange, while the groom’s mother will wear cool colors, like blue, gray, or green. The bride and groom drink from the same cup during the ceremony. The bride and groom drink from the same cup or from two separate cups connected by a thread. The gourd halves symbolize the bride and groom 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 groom and bride bow together to show respect to their parents, ancestors, and wedding guests. At Korean weddings, guests give money or gifts. Money is given as a gift for the couple, not as a wedding registry or other gifts. Guests sign a white envelope with money inside. Then the money is given to the bride and groom before entering the celebration hall. The money is counted and recorded. The idea is to help the newlyweds start their life together and to contribute to the cost of the wedding. The cash gift is supposed to be returned. Newlyweds get money when they get married. Guests should give the same amount back.

What are the Korean rules for marriage?

Marriage in South Korea. Who can and can’t get married. In South Korea, marriage is only between a man and a woman. Same-sex marriage is not recognized. People over 18 can marry with their parents’ or guardians’ permission. Otherwise, the age of consent in South Korea is 20. People over 20 can have sex. South Korea also recognizes what it calls “de facto marriages.” These are marriages like common law marriages. Couples who have not registered their marriage can have a “de facto marriage” if they: 1. publicly say their relationship is like marriage, 2. have a wedding ceremony, or 3. live together like married couples.

Marriage within the same clan. Before 2005, marrying someone from the same clan was illegal in Korea. Marrying someone with the same last name was also socially prohibited. As of the mid-1990s, about half of South Koreans shared one of five last names. The most common surnames in South Korea are Kim, Park, Lee, Choi, and Jung. About 40% of South Koreans belong to one of three major clans: the Gimhae Kim clan, Jeonju Yi clan, and the Miryang Park clan. This prohibition was inspired by similar taboos in Tang China during Korea’s late Joseon dynasty. Traditional Korean weddings are based on Confucian values. Everything about a wedding is important and has a lot of steps. In traditional Korean culture, 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 a union of two families. Also, marriage was a way for the rich to keep their status. A lot of time was spent getting ready for the wedding.

What do Koreans wear at weddings?

The bride and groom wear colors that symbolize the “taeguk,” or “eum-yang,” which represents yin and yang. The bride wears red, and the groom wears blue. Together, these colors represent the balance of complementary entities. The marriage would usually happen at dusk, representing the balance between light and dark. The mother of the bride will wear warm colors, like pink, purple, or orange, while the groom’s mother will wear cool colors, like blue, gray, or green. If your mothers have specific color preferences, they can swap tones, says Park.

Processional Parade. Before the ceremony, couples will walk in a parade to traditional Korean music. In the past, the groom would ride to the bride’s house on a horse. Now, an officiant will enter and explain the wedding, guiding the audience through the ceremony. The two mothers will walk in first, each with a candle. The bride’s mother carries a red candle, and the groom’s mother carries a blue one. These colors symbolize the balance of cosmic forces in nature. When the mother reaches the end of the processional, they light one candle, symbolizing the beginning of the Korean traditional wedding. After the procession, the officiant will explain the items on the table, which include wooden ducks, pinecones, bamboo, dates, chestnuts, persimmons, red beans, gourd cups, and a copper bowl. The copper bowl is for washing the couple’s hands to symbolize their purity for each other. Pinecones and bamboo symbolize loyalty, while dates and chestnuts represent fertility.