2021 Jeonbuk LIFE! Summer Edition

Life Events: Weddings
EXTRA WEDDING WISDOM
Whatever your style, budget is always a concern. “I
was surprised by the prices, especially just for rentals.
Renting a dress was a lot more costly in Korea than it was
to own a dress in Canada,” Bree said of her experience,
and Mariam told me that when she attended a wedding
hall ceremony, “one thing that was negative was it
looked pretty expensive.” One major motive behind the
self-wedding trend is couples looking to cut costs and
simplify their wedding process. When reading up on
wedding costs in Korea, you might come across staggering
statistics of the average wedding costing upwards of 200
million KRW. However, that figure includes the fact that
many families still observe the tradition of providing
a new home and furnishings to the newlyweds, so the
ceremony itself is only a fraction of that cost. Also, the
money often comes back to the couple through the
ceremony since it is customary to give money rather than
gifts at Korean weddings. “I really think it's a practical
way of helping the couple with their wedding celebration
as the money goes to the food and venue payments. I've
learned that this is a communal way of supporting the
couple,” Dianne said. But be sure to keep track of how
much you receive since “you have to give at least the
same amount to the person who came to your wedding
if they get married,” she advised.
Planning a wedding at any time comes with its share of
excitement and stress, more so during the uncertainty of
a pandemic. Whether you choose to wait COVID out or
hold a wedding now under social distancing guidelines,
Jeollabuk-do offers a variety of unique wedding venues to
suit your needs. Mixing customs from your home country
with Korean wedding traditions can help you create a
memorable wedding to treasure for a lifetime. Especially
for multicultural couples, “it's best to have an open mind
and compromise on which style you prefer, while also
considering your partner's preferences,” Dianne said.
“Just enjoy every moment!”
Jeonbuk Life Magazine
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