A Korean Wedding Experience

A lot of things seem to happen to me randomly here.  I think it's because, when you're a foreigner, Koreans are either asking you questions, showing you spectacular hospitality, giving you something, or inviting you places.  When this is a constant goal of those who encounter you, random things are bound to happen.  The weekend before last was no exception.  A student at the institute came up to me and asked what I was doing that afternoon.  I told her I had no plans.  She then suggested that I go to a wedding with her and a couple others from the institute.  To me it was a strange, impromptu idea to go to the wedding of someone I didn't know at the last minute, so of course I said, "Why not?" and went along.  I had no idea what I was in for.

We took the bus across town to a tall building.  You see, in Korea, it is a rarity when couples get married at a church.  The majority of weddings take place at wedding halls.  Sometimes these halls are small, boasting only one chapel.  The one we arrived at had at least ten floors and six or so chapels.  The lobby of the building was ornate and decorated with large driftwood carvings.  Live music set the mood as we waited for an elevator to be free.

I didn't really know how the order of things went for a Korean wedding, so I just decided to go with the flow as much as possible.  As we traveled to the ninth floor, my friend told me we would meet the bride and groom in the pre-wedding greeting room.  So much for the custom of the groom not seeing the bride before the ceremony.  As it turned out, they were not in the waiting room.  Rather, they were having their photos done in the studio on the same floor.

I stealthily took a photo...

...then they noticed and posed

I had to take advantage of this opportunity (who put that fan there?)

Soon we headed down to the chapel, several floors below.  We shared the elevator ride with the groom, who looked a little nervous to be getting hitched.

Lemme just make a few adjustments

When we exited the elevator, we entered a room hustling and bustling with activity.  My friend said people were giving gift envelopes filled with money for the newlyweds.

We take this job very seriously

In exchange, they were given a ticket to the buffet downstairs.  She and another student went to turn in their gift envelopes.  That's when I noticed the room we were in was simply a wide entryway to the "Topaz Hall," and there was a wedding taking place at that very moment!

 Sure 'nuff

How anyone could possible hear the ceremony over the din the crowd in the back was making I can't imagine, but it seemed to be moving forward just the same.  I stared in awe at the proceedings and tried to take in the fanciful decor.  I was a tad mezmorized when my friends returned and so I hardly reacted when they informed me that their friend's wedding would not take place for another hour and a half, so we would be going down to eat first.

How strange it seemed to be heading to what we Americans would consider the wedding reception without having first seen the wedding!  It felt so terribly wrong to me...but it didn't take me long to get over it.  Especially after we walked into the dining room.

Oh, so yummy

Mmmmmmmmmmmm

This was the selection at every table...don't get the wrong idea

Finally, after much feasting, it was time for the main event.  Back up to the chapel we went.  Here's the play by play:

Groom patiently awaits the bride

The three-piece band keeps it real

Here comes the Bride!  (Serenaded as she marches by the on-staff crooner)

And here's the pass...

....COMPLETE!

Now it's time for the turn-around, with a nice assist from the lady in red

The lights change and she calls for backup

The crooner croons, "Heard enough from me yet?"

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present the newlyweds!

And a nice bow to the parents of the bride

Time for photos...family members sporting an assortment of outfits from traditional to formal to mufti-day

Finally a photo just for the friends

Throughout the ceremony the atmosphere was less than reverent by American wedding standards.  Those in attendance carried on conversations or remarked on the proceedings at random.  Also, just as I had suspected, the large group of people congregating in the back waiting for the wedding following this one was rather distracting with their carefree banter.

Have mercy, even this woman thinks it's a little much

All in all it was a fascinating experience.  I tried to orient my thoughts inside my head, and came to the conclusion that there was really nothing wrong with the wedding at all, it was just not what I am used to back home.  Nonetheless, I have no plans for a Korean-style wedding anytime in the future.