South Korea - May 2013 (part two)
So at the end of our stay in Seoul, we had the very good fortune of being invited to attend a Korean wedding.
The daughter of the family we were originally going to stay with had extended the invitation to us as an apology for us not being able to stay with them. It was completely unexpected and so very kind of them. I knew a little about Korean weddings but really didn't know what to expect so I tried to do a little research, as to what monetary gift to give and things like that. We were met and invited to meet the bride and groom and rest of the family as they were getting photos taken before the ceremony. It is apparently considered quite good to have foreigners at a Korean wedding - not sure why.
The happy couple.
Myself and the bride's famly - grandmother, younger brother (Dong Hyung), and mother, Mrs Kim.
The bride, Dong Si, and myself.
The wedding was the Western white wedding first, then the traditional style which is only immediate family usually attending. The whole wedding process is very regimented and planned to the minute. It was held in a function room and the noticeboard indicated a wedding prior, and one following immediately after. We got there a little early and so saw the wedding before finish and the guests file out and ushered into the dinning room for the buffet, and immediately the table before the wedding room was stripped of the photos of that couple and next couple's photos and theme items were displayed, and the room inside reset ready for the next.
At this time also the reception desk, to sign in and hand over the monetary envelope was opening for our wedding, as the one opposite was closed up from the previous wedding. The event was lovely, it was all beautiful but it did seem a little strange as there are people arranging the bride's dress every moment, photographers and video cameras (professional) right there in their face (literally sometimes!) all the time.
Mothers of the bride and groom in place first, then groom walks down aisle to alter, followed by father of the bride leading bride.
Once the ceremony was over we were all filed out to the buffet dinner and things were already getting ready for the wedding to follow us. The buffet dinner was great - loads of food, no way could you go hungry. No way of knowing what you were eating so I was just trying different things - discovered I had eaten jellyfish. I really liked it! The happy couple changes and have to then go to every table in the reception to greet the attendees and thank them for coming etc.
After this, they then go to do the traditional ceremony - which was fortunately held in the same area just another smaller room. This is usually only attended by close family, but we were asked to come and see it also which I certainly hadn't been expecting to be able to do. It was wonderful to have this opportunity, such a fantastic experience all round. There are so many specific things, such as the dress that they wear (and I had already seen this traditional style of dress in one of the museums so it hasn't changed for many years!), the foods that have to be placed on the table which are particular items and arranged in a particular way, the different activities such as throwing chestnuts (which somehow determines how many children they will have or if it will boys I think(?)), pouring tea for different relatives present then for each other, and others as well as a few fun things also!
The dress was exquisite - so much embroidery! I just loved the red dots on her cheeks!
Throwing the chestnuts by the groom's mother.
The bride's dress was stunning but it was extremely difficult for her as she had to have an assistant help her sit and kneel (and there's a lot of bowing down, including forehead to floor deep bows) and she needed help getting down and getting back up without losing the headress.
Pouring tea for each other after going through this process for numerous different relatives.
A bit of fun - the groom got carried away and instead of biting in half took the whole thing!
And what better way to finish a wedding ceremony off with - a piggy-back ride! Wonder how many grooms spend months at the gym before the wedding to build up strength!
My friend, Robin, and I were kindly asked to have a photo with the bride and groom - and didn't I feel dowdy compared to how they were dressed but unfortunately I couldn't find a way to politely decline. A great honour though.
Part 3 will finish Seoul and a little bit of other places we managed to squeeze in during the rest of our stay in South Korea.
The daughter of the family we were originally going to stay with had extended the invitation to us as an apology for us not being able to stay with them. It was completely unexpected and so very kind of them. I knew a little about Korean weddings but really didn't know what to expect so I tried to do a little research, as to what monetary gift to give and things like that. We were met and invited to meet the bride and groom and rest of the family as they were getting photos taken before the ceremony. It is apparently considered quite good to have foreigners at a Korean wedding - not sure why.
The happy couple.
Myself and the bride's famly - grandmother, younger brother (Dong Hyung), and mother, Mrs Kim.
The bride, Dong Si, and myself.
The wedding was the Western white wedding first, then the traditional style which is only immediate family usually attending. The whole wedding process is very regimented and planned to the minute. It was held in a function room and the noticeboard indicated a wedding prior, and one following immediately after. We got there a little early and so saw the wedding before finish and the guests file out and ushered into the dinning room for the buffet, and immediately the table before the wedding room was stripped of the photos of that couple and next couple's photos and theme items were displayed, and the room inside reset ready for the next.
At this time also the reception desk, to sign in and hand over the monetary envelope was opening for our wedding, as the one opposite was closed up from the previous wedding. The event was lovely, it was all beautiful but it did seem a little strange as there are people arranging the bride's dress every moment, photographers and video cameras (professional) right there in their face (literally sometimes!) all the time.
Mothers of the bride and groom in place first, then groom walks down aisle to alter, followed by father of the bride leading bride.
Once the ceremony was over we were all filed out to the buffet dinner and things were already getting ready for the wedding to follow us. The buffet dinner was great - loads of food, no way could you go hungry. No way of knowing what you were eating so I was just trying different things - discovered I had eaten jellyfish. I really liked it! The happy couple changes and have to then go to every table in the reception to greet the attendees and thank them for coming etc.
After this, they then go to do the traditional ceremony - which was fortunately held in the same area just another smaller room. This is usually only attended by close family, but we were asked to come and see it also which I certainly hadn't been expecting to be able to do. It was wonderful to have this opportunity, such a fantastic experience all round. There are so many specific things, such as the dress that they wear (and I had already seen this traditional style of dress in one of the museums so it hasn't changed for many years!), the foods that have to be placed on the table which are particular items and arranged in a particular way, the different activities such as throwing chestnuts (which somehow determines how many children they will have or if it will boys I think(?)), pouring tea for different relatives present then for each other, and others as well as a few fun things also!
The dress was exquisite - so much embroidery! I just loved the red dots on her cheeks!
Throwing the chestnuts by the groom's mother.
The bride's dress was stunning but it was extremely difficult for her as she had to have an assistant help her sit and kneel (and there's a lot of bowing down, including forehead to floor deep bows) and she needed help getting down and getting back up without losing the headress.
Pouring tea for each other after going through this process for numerous different relatives.
A bit of fun - the groom got carried away and instead of biting in half took the whole thing!
And what better way to finish a wedding ceremony off with - a piggy-back ride! Wonder how many grooms spend months at the gym before the wedding to build up strength!
My friend, Robin, and I were kindly asked to have a photo with the bride and groom - and didn't I feel dowdy compared to how they were dressed but unfortunately I couldn't find a way to politely decline. A great honour though.
Part 3 will finish Seoul and a little bit of other places we managed to squeeze in during the rest of our stay in South Korea.