Yesterday I went to my gym teacher's wedding. I'm glad he invited us, even though we don't know him very well. He's Korean, and he probably knew we just wanted to see a Korean wedding. It was really interesting. I didn't really know what to expect. I think it was pretty typical, from what I've heard. My friend Clara went with me, as well as a couple from our school. Clara did my hair! It was just a fun excuse to get dressed up and go out :)
When we walked in, Martin, the gym teacher greeted us. He took us to this little room where the bride was. The room was exclusively for taking pictures with the bride. We'd never met her before, but she took a picture with us. The weddings here are in Wedding Halls, not usually in churches.
When the wedding began, the mothers walked down the make-shift isle and then the miliary men walked down the isle and lined up to make a tunnel with their swords. It was pretty cool! The the bride and her father walked down the isle. The whole ceremony only lasted probably 15-20 minutes. They said the vows, a man sang, and then they brought out the cake and cut it. They lit a candle and blew it out, just like at a birthday party! Then they walked back down the isle. When they walked out, the military men stopped the groom a few times to make him do funny things. The first time he had to do 5 pushups! A little strange, but funny.
After the ceremony they took pictures, just like at an American wedding. After all the family pictures, all of the friends had to go up and get a picture. We had to be in Martin's wedding pictures! Of course the four of us were the only white people there.
After the wedding was the banquet. We went down stairs and sat at a table. It was a little weird cause the dinner was buffet style, almost like in a cafeteria setting. There was another wedding dinner going on at the same time, in the same room! At this time, the bride and groom came around to greet people in their traditional Korean outfits. They disappeared, and within about 15 minutes, everyone from our wedding had left. A loud speaker came on, telling us to exit within the next 10 minutes because another wedding dinner was coming through. The reception was strictly eating. We didn't even see the bride and groom.
It was really interesting to see, but it's not exactly the kind of wedding that every American girl dreams of. It didn't even really feel like a wedding. It didn't even really feel like a celebration. It was just kind of robotic. The bride and groom looked happy though, which I guess is all that matters. The bride was beautiful! Another interesting experience in Korea!
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