KOREA FOUNDATION

Since time immemorial, weddings have been one of the highlights of the social calendar, and it seems every couple planning to marry agonizes over every detail of their big day. While historically Koreans viewed an elaborate wedding with the largest possible number of guests as a status symbol, such ostentatious displays have waned in popularity over the past decade, as an increasing number of couples are choosing more personalized ceremonies on a tighter budget. Small weddings, self-planned weddings, and even “unique” weddings are emerging as popular alternatives to the traditional mode of exchanging nuptial vows.
  A small wedding involves a small-scale ceremony with only the bride and groom, their families and relatives, and a select group of friends in attendance. Such ceremonies were first popularized in Korea through a handful of pioneering entertainers. Singer Lee Hyo-ri and musician Lee Sang-soon got married in a small ceremony at their residence on Jeju Island, and actress Lee Na-young and actor Won Bin tied the knot in a private wedding in a barley field in Jeongseon, Gangwon-do. As small weddings make big waves, an increasing variety of venues have emerged to cater to couples’ needs, with personal residences, restaurants, small countryside hotels, Protestant and Catholic churches, parks, and historic houses all filled with the chimes of wedding bells. Even city and provincial governments have been swept up in the spirit of love, offering their facilities for small wedding ceremonies.
  Self-planned weddings on the other hand are favored by couples who seek a more customized experience. These happy couples plan every detail of their big day without the help of professionals, from selecting the gown and taking wedding photos to getting the bride and groom looking their best for the ceremony. While many couples find a wedding to be stressful enough without taking on the added responsibilities of a professional wedding planner, these more personalized weddings are popular with couples seeking to better cater to their own personal taste—without breaking the bank.
  “Unique” weddings are also setting hearts aflutter. For couples keen on marching to the beat of their own drum, a walk down the aisle is replaced with a flash mob, choreographed dance moves, or an entire musical production. Others still are eschewing the use of a celebrant in favor of serving as their own MCs, exchanging wedding vows and reading personalized letters to each other. Indeed, these unconventional weddings can take inspiration from the marrying couples’ own stories. In one such wedding that captured the imagination of the public, a man and woman who first met as members of the same band celebrated their union—and the band’s reunion—with a special matrimonial concert.
  Korean weddings are no longer strictly defined by traditional customs, and are increasingly reflecting the individuality of the marrying couple. Couples planning such personalized ceremonies may encounter certain logistical headaches, testing their patience and purse strings in the process, but the trend is expected to continue amid the ever-growing flocks of lovebirds hoping to make their once-in-a-lifetime event all the more memorable.

Written by Woo Ji-won