It was very interesting to attend a Korean wedding, that was neither traditional or Christian. I believe that the Christian ceremonies are more similar to ours in that vows are exchanged. However in Xuen's ceremony she and her husband never spoke to each other. It was definitely a new experience.
When we arrived there was a big meeting area with lots of people milling around. Through that doorway there was another wedding taking place. It was hard for us to understand why weddings would be that close together. In this room there were tables set up for both weddings, with the bride and grooms families sitting at tables accepting wedding gifts (mainly money).
Also before the ceremony Xuen was sitting in a special room for photos. Everyone would go in a visit her and have their picture taken. A beautiful bride.
After the first wedding finished we went into the hall and sat down (the bride and groom sides are the opposite to those at home). The wedding started right on time (3:50 pm because 4 is a bad number). First the mothers walked down the aisle together. Then the groom (on his own and very fast). He then bowed to the man who would conduct the service and to the room. Finally Xuen, looking beautiful, walked down the aisle with her father. This, by the way, was her first wedding dress.
During the service Xuen and her husband stood in front of the official while he spoke to them. They never said anything. After that they had a friend of theirs sing a song to them.
After the song they bowed to their parents. First to her parents and then to his mother. This is the bow to his mother.
then they told him to pick her up. He is such a tiny guy that this was quite fun to watch, and you can tell it was surprising to her too!
After picking her up they walked back up the aisle together.
That officially ended the ceremony and then they came back in for photos. This was cool -- but it was hard to get photos, because all the photos were obviously meant for the professional photographer, and the woman who seemed only to be there to fix Xuen's dress was always in the way! This first photo is the happy couple and their parents (on his side it is his mother and uncle).
After the photo session we went upstairs in the wedding hall for a meal. The group before us had already eaten. We sat at a table that was set up and started to eat (no waiting for everyone else). The food was very good (as always). Then a bit later the couple came in having changed into traditional clothes. They cut the cake and then visited all the tables for about 2 seconds. At our table Jen and Joy gave her a cup of beer (she had asked them to beforehand), she was very happy about that.
After the meal there are another ceremony, but it was mainly for family. It was in a tiny room. The bride and groom had changed again into a different traditional outfit and her makeup had been redone. They had to bow to their families again.
That was it. We didn't stay to see her in her 4th dress, a formal party dress. As that dress was just for leaving, but most people leave during (or before) the bowing ceremony. All in all a fun and interesting day.
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