KOREAN WEEDING CEREMONIES

In ancient times, weddings (Honrye) were held in the bride's yard or house. The groom travelled by horse to the bride's house and after the wedding ceremony took his wife in a palanquin (sedan chair) to his parents’ house to live. The bride and groom wore formal court costumes for the wedding ceremony. Ordinary people were permitted to wear the luxurious clothes only on their wedding day. Hand lanterns are used for lighting the way from the groom's home to the bride's home on the night before the weeding.

Traditionally, the groom's family would carry a weeding chest filled with gifts for the bride's family. Weeding geese area a symbol for a long and happy marriage. Cranes are a symbol of long life and may be represented on the woman's sash. Pair of wooden Mandarin duck carvings called weeding ducks are often used in traditional weeding ceremonies because they are represent peace, fidelity and plentiful offspring.

Weeding Attire

Korean traditional costume is Hanbok, which is made by white cotton, silk or scratchy coarse fabric called hemp. The bride would wear a short jacket with long sleeves with two long ribbons attached, and to be tied in the front and a full length, high-waist wrap around skirt. Boat shaped shoes made of silk are worn with white cotton socks. The bride’s attire might include a white sash with significant symbols or flowers. A headpiece or crown may also be worn. For the groom, a traditional jacket, trousers, and an overcoat are worn. 

Weeding Feast

The size of the wedding feast differs from one to the other. These days, a big feast would present a buffet with variety of food and desserts, and a rather small feast would serve thick-beef soup with rice and kimchi.