Wedding Culture in Korea

Dawon’s Article

Hi everyone! I am Dawon and as my first post for myHUBS, I am going to share a very recent experience. I went to my uncle’s wedding this Sunday and I thought it would be fun to share the wedding culture in Korea. In this post, I am going to explain some interesting customs and things you will need to be aware of if you were to attend a  wedding in Korea! 

First of all, recent wedding customs have changed from the traditional form.  Traditionally, the bride and groom had their wedding at a Han-ok (a traditional type of house) with their Han-bok (a traditional type of dress) on. However, traditional weddings got mixed with new cultures and got to appear in a new way. The interesting part is that the  bride and groom wear suit and dress but their parents still wear Hanbok. The bride’s side always wears a pink colored dress while the groom’s side wears a blue colored dress. Usually, the two mothers march together first and light up the candles signaling the start of the wedding. Then, the groom marches in alone with grand music. Afterwards, the bride comes in holding hands with her father. It is a very moving moment for all the guests too. Then comes the congratulatory address, singing, and so on. The wedding finishes off with the romantic kiss of the couple. Our family celebrated my uncle with all our hearts and wished the couple happiness.

Now here are some tips for those planning to attend the wedding. The most important thing about the dress code is to be aware of white clothes. Since the bride’s dress is white, it is considered that it is an etiquette to avoid overlapping with the main star of the day. There is even a saying that if you want to make a revenge at someone’s wedding, wear a white dress to his or her wedding. 

Another thing you need to take with you is a white envelope. Cash gifts in white envelopes are the most common gift at a Korean wedding. The amount doesn’t matter much, just show your blessings for the bride and groom. Then in return, they will give you a meal ticket. A buffet will be waiting for you after the ceremony. This time personally, I had a very satisfiable meal at my uncle’s wedding ☺