By Ayuka Tamaki
Story: Do You Have a Chance to Go to A Wedding in Another Country?
What would you do if you were to attend a wedding in a different country? There are various weddings in the world. It’s important to respect the culture of the country if you are invited. Guests should be aware of the right cresses, gifts, and behaviors. In this essay, I would like to compare the differences between Korean and Japanese weddings.
First, I’m going to talk about three things about Korean weddings. The Korean wedding ceremony is very short. The average time for a wedding in Korea takes only 30 minutes to an hour and a half. Some people come in between work because the time is so short. Why is it short? There is a good reason. That’s because the bride and groom often leave for a honeymoon right after the wedding. So, there is no after-party after the wedding. Second, the congratulatory gift is interesting. In Korea, guests send money, but the amount is not as big as that of Japanese. The average amount of money they give at a wedding is 3,000 yen to 5,000 yen. In the case of a close person, the average amount of the gift money is 5,000 yen to 11,000 yen. In general, guests give a congratulatory gift their parents instead of the newlyweds. Finally, the bouquet toss is also interesting. In Korea, the bride doesn’t throw a bouquet. The bride decides who will receive the bouquet in advance. The groom will talk to her friend who is likely to get married soon and ask her to get the bouquet. Why do the groom act like this? That’s because there is a superstition that if you don’t get married within six months after receiving a bouquet, you won’t be able to get married for another six years.
Next, I’m going to talk about three things about Japanese wedding. First, the average time of a Japanese wedding is two and a half hours. In addition, there is also a second party. So, it takes a lot of time if you go to the second party. Second, the congratulatory gift money is sent to the newlyweds. In the case of friends and colleagues, the amount of money is 30,000 yen. However, in the case of relatives, they give 50,000 yen to 100,000 yen. The guests must wrap money in nice envelopes. Finally, the bouquet toss became popular in Japan and performed at chapel-style weddings. The bride throws her bouquet, and any an unmarried woman can try to get it.
In conclusion, the wedding culture of Korea and Japan are different. If you’re going to a wedding in a different country, you should do research in advance.
