How to Plan a Korean-American Wedding: Making it Authentically Yours
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Planning a Korean-American wedding often means walking a tightrope: honoring traditions your family values while still creating a celebration that feels authentic to you. This guide will help you navigate cultural traditions, choose the right vendors, and design a day that’s authentically yours.
Choosing which traditions to include
Deciding which traditions to honor can feel overwhelming, especially when family expectations are in the mix. Remember: it’s not about checking boxes, but about choosing what’s meaningful to you. These are the traditions Korean-American couples most often consider:
Paebaek (폐백)
A ceremony where the couple bows to parents and receives blessings, often involving the throwing of dates and chestnuts for fertility and prosperity and a piggyback ride (seriously). This intimate ritual usually happens after the main ceremony with immediate family, but modern adaptations are sometimes performed in front of guests.
Hanbok
Traditional Korean wedding attire. The bride wears a jeogori (jacket) and chima (skirt), often in vibrant colors, while the groom wears a traditional hanbok suit. Many couples wear hanbok for the paebaek and Western attire for the rest of the day.
Korean Wedding Ducks (원앙 won-ang)
Wooden duck pairs symbolizing lifelong partnership and fidelity, a modern adaptation of an older tradition of a groom gifting a live goose (gireogi or kireogi) to the bride's family as a promise of lifelong fidelity. Often used as ceremony décor or given as a gift to the new couple. Consider this if: you want to add a cultural nod that doesn’t add planning complexity.
Pro tip: Add bilingual programs or signage so guests understand and appreciate the meaning behind each tradition.
Choosing the right vendors
Cultural fluency matters. Not every vendor understands the logistics of a paebaek ceremony or other cultural nuances that matter to your celebration. Here's what to look for:
Venues
Not every space is flexible with cultural needs. If you need room for a paebaek or want to accommodate Korean dining preferences, ask early. Hotels or outdoor venues can work beautifully if they’re open to cultural accommodations.
Dresses & Attire
Many couples rent hanbok for the ceremony. When choosing colors, coordinate across families so the couple’s hanbok remains the visual focus.
Planners
A planner familiar with Korean wedding customs and family dynamics can be a lifesaver. They’ll help you navigate traditions, manage expectations from both families, and integrate cultural elements smoothly.
Caterers
Food is central, but approaches vary. Some families expect a full Korean banquet; others prefer a Western menu with a few Korean dishes. Talk with caterers early about the balance that feels right and confirm they can handle the service style and portions you want.
Entertainment
Traditional performances like samulnori (percussion) bring cultural flair, but also consider DJs who can mix Korean pop with American hits to get every generation on the dance floor. Make sure everyone has a great time!
Making it work
A Korean-American wedding isn’t about following a checklist or replicating someone else’s day. It’s about blending the traditions and values that matter to your families with the style and story that feel true to you. By choosing the traditions that resonate, working with vendors who understand your vision, and balancing heritage with modern touches, you’ll create a celebration that honors where you come from while feeling authentically your own.