Pyeongtaek: Attending a Korean wedding

When AC and I were visiting Korea, my Korean friend Shinae asked if we wanted to come to her brother’s wedding. At first, we were a bit hesitant to accept the invitation, as we did not want to intrude, but Shinae explained that weddings in Korea are big events with hundreds of guests, so two more did not make a difference. Well, in that case, we would love to go!

The wedding was held on a summer day at one of the nicest hotels in the city. The ceremony took place in a large ballroom, which was divided by a platform/catwalk into two halves: one for the family and friends of the groom, and one for the family and friends of the bride.

In Korea, the wedding not only celebrates the new couple but also the union of the two families.

First, there was a performance by a wedding singer, and then the bride made her entrance, descending from a balcony-like structure. What an entrance! Then her father slowly walked her down the platform to the end, where the groom and his parents, along with the mother-in-law, were waiting. It felt like a movie scene, with the bride as the beautiful star.

Next came the vows, which ended with the bride and groom bowing to each other and to their parents before walking out of the ballroom together.

After the ceremony, it was time for wedding pictures. The photo session started with just the bride, groom, and parents, then gradually included more and more family members.

The wedding reception was held in another room at the hotel, where the food was served buffet style. There were so many different dishes that I quickly realized there was no way I would be able to try all of them. I settled for a selection of seafood dishes, followed by traditional Korean desserts.

Shinae was the maid of honor, so she had been busy with bridesmaid duties all day. But at the reception, she finally had a few minutes to sit down—tired but happy. It was a beautiful ceremony and a wonderful experience that I’m so glad I got to be a part of.