First Korean Wedding

Today I went to the most beautiful wedding I have ever seen.  My small group leader - a bubbly, cheerful, positive, passionate, sweet, kind, considerate, fun woman named Sarah - married the love of her life today and it was BEAUTIFUL!  There was so much emotion and joy and hope and praise in that well-decorated room.  The smiles on everyone's faces was a sight to behold at this joining of two individuals and three cultures (the groom is Korean but was an MK in Brazil). Jesus was very much honored in the ceremony and that was really cool.

Korean weddings are different from American weddings in that they are much more of a pre-paid package deal.  The wedding was held in Apgujeong in a wedding hall - a building designed specifically to host weddings.  I am so accustomed to large conference centers or hotels in the States: sprawling rooms, wide hallways, the subtle neutral design on the walls, the patterned carpet, the tables dressed in linen, etc.  This Korean wedding hall was different in that it was in the lower half of a building, Basement 1 and further below, Basement 2.  The large, winding staircase was set a bit off to the side and so had skylights and chandeliers that let in natural light.  Basement 1 was the buffet, surrounded by medium-sized rooms that can be separated or joined to accommodate the guests of each wedding.  Basement 2 was the wedding hall.  When you walk in, you see liveried men on your right, standing politely behind a table.  On each table (there were three or four) is guestbook to sign your name, meal tickets, a few pens, and lots of plain white envelopes. You are handed an envelope in which you place at least 50,000 won (approximately $43 by today's exchange rate) and then you may sign the guestbook.  He then hands you a meal ticket.

To your left is a small room, beautifully decorated with white and cream flowers, mirrors, and artistically draped fabric. In the center of this little room is a chaise lounge and the bride is sitting in the middle.  Friends and family come up and sit next to her (individually, in pairs, or groups) and have their picture taken by the photographer.  The groom was out talking with his family outside so obviously the American custom of the groom not seeing the bride before she walks down the aisle is not followed.  My two friends and I had our picture taken with Sarah (breath-taking!) before we entered the room where the ceremony would take place.

I've been told that when you get married in Korea, you pay one bill which includes the wedding hall, the meal, the photographer, the wedding dress (the bride does get to choose which dress she wants),  and just about everything else you could think of.  It is a big expense and generally paid for by the groom's parents. Having a wedding is a social event and everyone is invited. Paying for the cost of the wedding is why people are expected to bring no less than 50,000 won (mere acquaintance) or more depending on your close connection to the bride and groom's families. However, I think the package deal on weddings is worth it.  Sarah's dress was absolutely lovely and had gorgeous bead work on the long train.  The wedding hall had a raised aisle with flowers on pedestals lining the aisle every two rows.  The chairs were covered in white with purple flowers and ribbon on the back.  The ceiling above the aisle had crystal beading hanging the length of the aisle.

Another difference from American weddings was that there were no ushers and no bridal party. Instead, we found our own seats.  The wedding hall comes with two uniformed attendants who help prompt and direct the audience so we know when to clap, when to stand, etc.  These two young ladies also helped set up and move the microphones for the special music, provided the flames for the lighting of the unity candles, and there was even another woman whose sole job was to help Sarah move. Instead of a maid of honor adjusting the dress, this woman was constantly making sure the train was just perfect and then when Sarah left the platform to greet both sets of parents, this woman carried her train.

It was such a beautiful wedding and such a mixture of cultures.  Everyone reacted with grace and laughter and applause even though not everyone knew what was going on or why at any given moment.  If I ever have a wedding, I want it to be exactly like the one I saw today.