Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kopee]

Looks like I am gonna' in December. BUT. Where did you go on honeymoon? Did you go at all? Any recommendations?

And should I wear a kilt or a hanbok?! I feel more entitled to wear the former, but it'll be a wee bit drafty in the mountains, and talk of kilts has reduced too many people into fits of laughter already.

Ah, questions... Anyhows, if it's no too much trouble I'd like to hear about your weddings...

[HardyandTiny]

I once made that mistake.

The wedding is very fast. Usually you have a 20 minute Western ceremony and then you go to another room for a 20 minute Western reception, then it's to a small side room for the traditional garb and some ancient ceremonial traditions that were invented about 30 years ago. After that it's off to the airport for the honeymoon.
My entire wedding cost about 9 million won but I only got about 8 million in gift money, so I lost about a million. Koreans are cheapskates.
I had a private party at a bar afterwards and didn't go on a honeymoon untill three months later. (the private party and honeymoon were not part of the 9 million)

Prior to the wedding we had a separate day for taking pictures. We went to some palace grounds and walked all over the place taking ridiculous pictures. It felt like the entire palace was staged. I believe all the palaces in Seoul are staged and were never really palaces. That's because I'm an angry prejudice bastard.

Whenever you go to the Incheon airport you'll see couples dressed in matching shirts waiting to begin their honeymoon. Not sure why they wear matching shirts. By the time I saw two people with matching shirts I was already sick of Korean explanations and didn't want another one.

In the recent past most Koreans used to take go to Jeju Island for their honeymoons (God, this is boring ), but as the country became wealthier more people started going overseas. Saipan and Guam were very popular at first but not so much anymore. A few years ago there was a Maldives trend, but that seems to have lost steam. Now that the economy is a little bouncy a lot of people are opting for Thailand and the Phillipines.
The rich like Japan and Europe, especially Italy and France, after marriage people tend to not go to Germany in fear that the Korean female may bump into her former lover.
Oh yeah, no one likes to mention this, but a growing number of Koreans actually go to Hawaii!.................Traitors!

Oh yeah, I went to Saipan. The Niko Hotel. It was expensive, but it was very nice, great beach. I spent the entire time staring at the Japanese female guests wishing I wasn't married.

[Cthulhu]

I got married back home (Canada). Unhurried, open bar, speeches and some control over the proceedings. I prefer a marriage ceremony (and reception) that isn't a 3-ringed circus: e.g., bubbles, guests talking on cell phones during the ceremony, people coming and going and having the whole affair shoved out the door within 30 minutes while a bunch of strangers make their way in. Perhaps it is possible to have control over those things (anyone who married in Korea escape the tackiness?) but I wonder. I did miss the envelopes full of money though...

A wedding in a park would be a good alternative but December seems a little too chilly for that. You should have no problem wearing a kilt--the hanbok isn't for the main ceremony, but for the bowing to the parents-in-law in a small room afterward. Dress however you like--it's your (and her) big event.

[Harpeau]

My wife and I will be celebrating 4 years on the 24th. We got married outdoors in Seoul in a beautiful park in the midst of autumn folliage on a mild autumn day. (The same park has been bulldozed and is now under heavy building construction- sad, isn't it?)

The hanbok ceremony took about an hour, the reception took about 90 min. Put the photographers on a leash (they kept their distance). We had total control over what happened. It was rather tastefully done. Also, the presider was very funny and kep the ceremony very light and interesting. It was a piece of art!

Harpeau

[Dazed and Confused]

I got married here. We had a great outdoor ceremony in a secluded restaraunt with garden. Went to Indonesia for the honeymoon.
PM me for details

[Squid]

Got married locally 3 months ago. Cross between a circus and a disco. We'll be repeating our vows in a more traditional ceremony when we travel to my turf.
The honeymoon in Japan was excellent.
The wedding cost a bundle, the guests gave a bundle, and a liquored-up time was had by all- hardly any of whom I knew. Very bizarre.

Life is short, enjoy your nuptials.

Squid

[Ryst Helmut]

[Holyjoe]

Getting married in 2 weeks time, and we're taking the outdoor photographs on Sunday. I'm planning on wearing the kilt for some of the photographs (as there are various costumes etc that you get to use)

We're going to Scotland for our honeymoon, purely because no-one from my mum can't make it out here for the wedding so it's the best chance for my gf to see my country and my family, and hopefully persuade her to move there someday

[anae]

We got married in a traditional ceremony in the grounds of a Confucian school in the town we met, so we both wore Hanbok. The ceremony and pictures were 900,000 won. The cost of the two receptions were covered by the guests. This way we managed to avoid cell phones, bubbles, smoke, and tacky music, etc.

Honeymoon in Guam because hubby only had 4 days. Hated it. Don't go unless you like over priced hotels and the largest K-mart in the region.

[mack the knife]

Yikes!

Here's a topic that's been done to death. However, since you haven't figured out how to use the simple "search" feature on this board, you are probably in desperate need of help. So...

A kilt, hmmm? What sort of ceremony are you planning? Traditional Korean, wedding hall, or church? A kilt is out at the first two, and should be out at the third choice as well...

Honeymoon...How much time do you have? How much moola are you willing to cough up? Remember, you only get one. Some people seem to take the honeymoon in stride. Forget that! You're gettin' married, for God's sake! Congrats, by the way...This will only happen once in your life (if you're a real man), so live it up, mate! Wife and I went to Spain for 2 1/2 weeks. No regrets. Spent an assload of cash and I have stories for a lifetime. Oh yeah...screw your boss if he/she won't give you at least a week off...

Forget Guam. Guam is a Chuseok/Solal thing. If you're not going to leave the ring o' fire, at least have the gumption to make it down to the Phillipines, Thailand, or Indonesia.