A polygamous marriage in Korea

I had a traditional Korean wedding. It was beautiful. I wish everyone could have been there and we're still accepting gifts.

I crack myself up.

This past Saturday I went to an event held by the Gwangju International center; a cultural experience where we would be able to learn about traditional bowing, traditional clothing (Hanbok), and traditional weddings.

After a quick lunch we walked to Gwangju Hyanggyo, a very old Confucian school with a pretty amazing history in the city. The staff started our cultural experience by teaching us how to properly sit on our cushions. This was just good to know since I go out to eat to plenty of restaurants where we sit on the floor (I always seem to wear a dress or skirt on those days). After we were all properly seated, the staff demonstrated different traditional bows. How you bowed depended on your sex and the age of those you were greeting. I'm sure it also depends on more (situational) but I think we learned the very important bows.

I wont get into all the nitty-gritty details but traditional bowing is really interesting. There's an exact place for every body part- which tend to be different between men and women, differing degrees of bending (45? 90?), how to walk away from those who are older (backwards), certain amount of steps you need to take, etc.

Staff showing us how to bow. One is dressed in a women's Hanbok (L) while the other is dressed in a male's Hanok (R)

It was all really fun to learn but then it was time for the main reason I signed up for the cultural experience- HANBOK.

After a very quick introduction to different types of Hanbok, we were allowed to pick any Hanbok and try it on. I think Hanbok are really gorgeous-although not the most flattering-and everyone was really excited to get a few pictures in our cool new duds. We had the most giggly, happy group photo-shoot outside.

Showing us different styles of Hanbok

All the girls that were at the cultural experience

Posing in my Hanbok.

We already knew that we would be acting out a traditional wedding and had been warned that only one person would be able to dress up in bridal attire (it just takes too long for everyone to do it). One of my friends, Jamie, was roped into being the groom. As soon as they asked who wanted to be the bride Megan and I both raised our hands. To our surprise and excitement the staff said we could both be brides.

Let the polygamous marriage begin!

The staff immediately started doing up our hair, putting on layers of clothes, and making us beautiful brides. Traditional Korean brides wear red stickers on their cheeks and foreheads but for some reason the lady helping me could NOT get the stickers to stick. Next thing I know she had whipped out a glue stick and was applying the stickers to my face with glue. When we were all finished there was a mini photo-shoot for everyone else. I felt like a celebrity...or maybe that's just how brides feel on their wedding days. Us brides were placed on stage behind a barrier and people were assigned to be our helpers/parents (it wasn't clear). The groom walked down the length of the room to the stage with others acting as lantern carriers leading the procession. When the brides were finally called to meet the groom we all had to traditionally bow 3 times to each other and then we bowed to the audience.

Picture of the procession of the groom taking place

Selfie with the wedding party behind the barrier!

Bowing to the groom. He's the process of bowing.

Bowing to our wedding guests

Singing while Jamie's feet are attacked.

Wedding photo with the groom

Looking regal in my wedding attire.

Out of nowhere Jamie was told to lay on his back and lift up his feet. Another person was called to hit his feet with a stick. At the same time, Megan and I were handed a microphone and told to sing any song. I could only thing of Disney's Aladdin so we started singing A Whole New World (and by "we" I mean Megan sang and I nervously giggled the entire time). While we were singing Jamie was just getting his feet smacked with a stick. That was the end of our wedding. We had another photo-shoot and then it was time for the tea ceremony. We were served delicious tea and shown how to properly serve, drink, and nibble on a traditional snack. When the staff told us that it was over and we had to take off our Hanbok, I thought of rebelling. Could I just hang out at the temple all day in Hanbok? No. So we left.

Having a traditional tea ceremony.

It was a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone. It was educational but just downright fun.

Peace!