Over the weekend I attended my first Korean Wedding. The Couple in question are friends of my coworker, and they nicely extended the invitation to me.Contrary to popular belief, or at least my belief, South Korea’s religious population is about 40 % Buddhist and 40% Christian. This wedding turned out to be a Christian Western style wedding.
A wedding hall near Bangbae Station played host for the festivities. The bride to be dressed in a beautiful white wedding gown and her future ball and chain stepped out in a sleek tuxedo. In the reception are of the hall several young women who worked for the hall collected and recorded gifts for the couple. Gifts meaning cash discreetly slipped into an envelope.
Inside the hall there was a long raised runway platform, stenciled with flowers, that lit up with disco lights when walked upon. I noticed that it doesn’t seem to matter if the groom sees the bride before the wedding. During the actual ceremony, of which I couldn’t understand a word, there was much praying and singing. A professional singer even belted out a traditional wedding song before the bride’s and groom’s friends formed a chorus to serenade the new couple.
After the ceremony the couple took photos with close relatives, distant relatives, and then friends. Then it was off downstairs to the reception where a feast awaited us. The meal consisted of different styles of kimchi, a beef dish called bulgogi, sweet sticky rice cakes, a soup dish with vegetables and seafood, and various other side dishes.
At the end a fine time was had by all and I had my first Korean wedding experience.
Always a bride’s maid, never a bride. Sob! Choke!
Which is probably a good thing 🙂
always a bride’s maid but never a bride… 🙁