Korean weddings

I went to the wedding of my head teacher a couple weekends ago. Here are the things I found interesting, in comparison with typical American weddings.

There was a flower girl and a ringbearer; no bridesmaids, no groomsmen. Both the groom and then the bride walked up the aisle, and when they got up there, the only other people onstage were the pastor and both sets of parents, sitting on opposite sides according to their offspring. The bride's dress was a typical foofy gown with a tulle skirt, glitter, etc., and a 10-foot veil (oh yeah, a good-sized tiara, too). She did carry a bouquet. The groom wore a black tux with tails, but on the jacket's front corners and the back of the collar was elaborate white embroidery--a nice touch. The mothers wore traditional hanbok; I don't remember if the fathers were in tuxes or hanbok. All three couples wore white gloves (the bride's were delicate mesh).

The decorations consisted mostly of a few long white banners stretched overhead from the back of the hall to the front and 3' wrought iron stands with silk flowers and lit candles on top. Proudly attached to the very huge white lectern (we're talking 10' wide of a seashell/fan shape) was a 1'x1 1/2' Samsung plaque. Throughout the ceremony, they utilized gelled lighing instruments, an upstage projection screen playing live-action wedding footage, dry ice fog, and a bubble machine.

The music was interesting. They had a few live instrumentalists, a soloist, and a choir, the latter being the most entertaining. At one point in their song, the choristers shouted a "3--2--1--blastoff!", during which the groom picked up the bride in the over-the-threshold-style and bounced her up and down in time to the countdown. Her hoop skirt wasn't rather the best thing to hide her lacy bloomers at that point.

There was a bow to both sets of parents (to the bride's first, wherein the groom bowed all the way down to the ground) and some hugs; there was a lighting and blowing out of two candles on the tier cake, which was then given one downward slice; there were a couple prayers--but I couldn't figure out what was the equivalent of exchanging vows.

Given the number of engaged women I know who live in Korea right now, I think my yearly wedding tally is going to drop way below average. Down from roughly five to one--not bad, not bad.