Korean Wedding Tradition

In ancient times Korean weddings were performed in the bride's yard or house. The groom arrived on a horseback to the bride's house and after successful completion of the marriage took his wife on a palanquin (cart) to his parents' house to live. The bride and groom flaunt court hanbok costumes for the wedding ceremony.

The bride's attire for the wedding includes a chogori (short jacket with long sleeves) with 2 long ribbons which are tied to form the otkorum. A chima, a full length, high waisted wrap around skirt is worn. Boat shaped shoes make of silk, are worn with white cotton socks. It also flaunts bright symbols and flowers. The groom's attire for the wedding includes a jacket (chigori) and trousers (paji) and an overcoat (turumagi). The jacket has baggy sleeves; the trousers are sizeable and tied with straps at the ankles. A vest and a black hat can also be worn over the shirt.

Professional matchmakers harmonize the ideal candidates for marriage, with the new couple often meeting for the first time at their wedding! Both the family believes in consulting with fortune tellers for predictions about the couple's future life together.

Wedding ducks are used as a symbol for a long and happy marriage. Today, many couples likes to have a small, intimate, traditional ceremony wearing traditional Korean attire followed by a formal 'Westernized' ceremony with tuxedo attire and white wedding gown.

Family surnames are considered to be a very powerful lineage in Korea. Women do not change their ancestral surnames after marriage.

Travour.com describes and provides information on the wedding traditions of Korean and around the world.

Here are some Wedding Traditions performed around the world