Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sistersarah]

I'm planning a wedding for May. My husband's parents (we got married on paper, but the ceremony is in may) are pretty dead set on the "wedding hall" thing. I don't want a wedding hall wedding.

I want to know my options here in korea. we can't have it in a church because my husband and his family don't practice any religion and are uncomfortable with that.

I want to hear about other peoples' weddings here in korea, the location and how they went, and if possible, the price.

thanks!

sister

[katydid]

I'm not married but if I ever get married, no question about it:

Vegas.

I'm so not kidding.

Me, Elvis and the poor sucker.

And some of our friends.

[Chillin' Villain]

Man, wedding halls suck so bad... I've seen a few that say they know how to do a "���� ��ȥ", whatever that may mean... Maybe it means it will be sans the flashing light couple conveyor machine and cheesy tape-recorded music? Dunno.

BUT!

One option I know of is where a buddy of mine got hitched a bit over a year ago- at Korea House (forget exactly where it is... near the base of Namsan, I think). It's a really nice-looking outdoor courtyard area surrounded by some traditional-looking house structures. They did their ceremony w/ all the Korean traditional things, which may or may not be your cup of ��.... I reckon they'd have a western option available as well? They also had the banquet hall on-site for added convenience, with a decent Korean buffet thing. I gotta say, the format of it all was still sorta close to a wedding hall deal, but the suroundings were way nicer (not the cheesy faux castle/mall facade), and the ceremony was better (not the tuxedo w/ gloves and Las Vegas neon deal) than the typical wedding hall.

I know if I get hitched here I'll be doing the reception better. Most of them I find pretty cold and impersonal, with the couple stopping in to say hi while everyone's slurbing their kalbitang, then bolting. I'd love to rent out a medium sized Shinchon bar (or elsewhere) for the night and do a party proper-like. All of the receptions I've been to here have been anti-climatic to the point of almost being depressing.

Anyways, congrats and good luck!

[Bulsajo]

Traditional ceremony at Lotte World's Folk 'Museum' wedding hall. It was great- lots of fun, floored everyone who attended (especially Koreans- I had so many people tell me that my wedding was the first time they had attended a traditional-style ceremony!), great food was served, and to top it all off it was actually cheaper than most run of the mill wedding halls where they rush you in, rush you out, and serve you a crappy buffet. I highly recommend it.

I've also heard good things about the Yong In Folk village, where you can do the same sort of thing outdoors.

[sistersarah]

[animalbirdfish]

Check into the local hotels. Some, like the Shilla and others around Namsan, have pretty good facilities for such things.

Not sure about the cost, though.

[Chillin' Villain]

[sistersarah]

thanks for your help, chillin villain!!

[Chillin' Villain]

[jjurabong]

I'm having my wedding to a Korean man at Korea House in May, too...My family is coming, so I think that it will be interesting. I understand that it may be possible for you to go and watch a wedding there (real or for show...) to see what's involved....

[hellofaniceguy]

Me being me....I'd tell the parents to screw off. It's my wedding...don't tell where to have it. But...that's just me and I am not one to keep my big trap shut.
Choices. Besides the ones mentioned? Fly to another country where it would certainly be far more beautiful than korea. If you have the money of course.
A park? Many beautiful parks around korea. Along the river banks? Along a lake? Many around.
Problem I can see is...people attending don't want to travel too far...so...you're limited. But.... wedding halls?!?!?!
So impersonal! They are like an assembly line! And it's monkey see monkey do...everyone does it in korea so I might as well also type thing.
Why not have it in a real church?
Many places along the Han river also.
Out/in laws dead set against an outdoor wedding!?! That's reason enough to have one!
Hey...it's YOUR special day. Hopefully only a once in a lifetime thing. Do what YOU want! And you'll have fond memories instead of only wishing you had done it differently instead of listening to the outlaws.

[Bulsajo]

I'd try to find out WHY your parents-in-law to be are dead-set against an outdoor wedding... they may have concerns that you can put to rest non-confrontationally...
Maybe they're worried about everyone getting caught in the rain, or a yellow dust storm or something... there are some practical reasons for being reluctant to have an outdoor wedding in Korea in the spring. But of course an outdoor wedding anywhere is a bit of a gamble but the pay off is huge if everything goes your way- nothing better than an outdoor wedding on a beautiful day.

[chiaa]

sistersarah, I am just curious and please do not take this as an attack in any way shape or form.

Why did you get married on paper 4-5 months before the ceremony? Because when you have the ceremony, you will have already been married for 4-5 months.

[fidel]

KBS wedding hall in Youido, you can see it from the road, one wall is completely glass. Not decked out in your wedding hall style and they only hold two weddings a day so you get to spend 2/3 hours after eating, drinking whatever. HOWEVER I'm not sure whether it is open to the public or just employees. Manhattan Hotel did the catering, mix of western/korean buffet.

[sistersarah]