May is known as Family Month in Korea. It is a month of celebration with family-oriented holidays, and also a popular month for weddings with its pleasant spring weather. If you are an avid fan of K-dramas, you may think that Korean weddings look like the banquet style of weddings we have in Singapore. However, weddings in Korea are very different and in the most unique ways to boot! Korean weddings are uniquely efficient, a little formal, but also surprisingly casual in certain aspects. Here’s a quick guide to help you know exactly what to expect so you may fully enjoy the experience without feeling lost!
Most modern Korean weddings are held at dedicated wedding halls. These big venues are designed to host multiple weddings on the same day, sometimes even concurrently in separate function rooms. During peak season, weddings are scheduled back-to-back, so everything moves like clockwork. When you arrive, you will usually find a signboard or an electronic display showing which room or floor the couple’s wedding is happening. Don’t be surprised if the atmosphere feels more like a well-organized event center than an emotional ceremony space — that’s normal!
Before you enter the main hall, you will stop at the reception tables. Here’s where you hand over your cash gift. Just like in Singapore, cash is the standard wedding present in Korea, and it’s considered polite to bring a new, crisp envelope or use one provided at the table. How much should you give? In Singapore, it is common practice to decide the amount based on the wedding venue. However, in Korea, it would depend on your relationship with the couple. This cash gift is usually given in denominations of ₩50,000 (roughly SGD 50). ₩50,000 to ₩100,000 is standard for casual friends or colleagues. On the envelope, guests will write their names and affiliations (such as company name if they are colleagues) and hand it over to the reception. They will then receive a meal voucher and a parking ticket – which they can use later after the main ceremony.
You will normally see the groom together with the parents of the new couple around the reception area greeting guests as they enter. The bride, on the other hand, will usually have their own waiting room. After dropping by the reception area, guests would visit the waiting room to see the bride and take some photos with her.
The ceremony is surprisingly short and sweet, often lasting around 30 minutes. The groom and bride will first make their opening entrance down the aisle individually. There would be opening remarks by the emcee or a short speech by their officiant. The couple exchanges vows or bows to each other, followed by a congratulatory song or dance performed for the couple typically by family or friends. The newlywed couple would bow to both sets of parents and conclude the ceremony with a recessional walk as a couple – and just like that, the ceremony is over!
Once the ceremony is over, guests head straight to a large dining hall. You would present the meal voucher you received earlier at the reception at this point. Korean wedding buffets are often lavish, offering a wide range of cuisines. You won’t usually sit with the couple; instead, you can find your own table, pile up your plate with food, and enjoy. Don’t expect a long program of speeches, performances, or a dance floor. In Korean weddings, once you’ve eaten and congratulated the family (if you get the chance), it’s perfectly normal to leave after an hour or so.
Korean weddings may feel fast and structured, but they are rich in tradition, thoughtfulness, and celebration in their own way. Enjoy the experience with an open mind and be ready to appreciate a different but beautiful take on one of life’s biggest milestones!
We hope this article was informative and gave you a better idea of what to expect when you attend your first wedding in Korea! If you would like to better appreciate the intricacies of the Korean culture, we can help you learn and speak Korean fluently here at Sejong Korean Language School. We offer Korean language courses in Singapore for anyone from beginners to advanced learners. You can find out more about our Korean classes by browsing the rest of our site, and feel free to reach out if you have any enquiries!
Written by: Ms Luisa Lim, May 2025