Kerry's Korean Adventure: A Korean Wedding

    This evening I went to my Academic Coordinator's wedding. It was a great evening, although very different than a traditional American wedding. Korean weddings are very commercialized. There is not a seperate venue for the vows, such as a church and another for the reception. Instead, weddings come in package deals. The vows and reception are within the same venue and there is one wedding after another. Also, the only gift that you give is monetary.
     I took the subway with my fellow co-workers and then a shuttle bus (provided by the wedding hall) to the venue. When I arrived, I greeted the bride, who was sitting posing for pictures.  Before I knew it, I was swept into a picture with her. Next, I signed in and a received a dinner ticket. This is very important to keep or else you will not be able to eat. I moved into the wedding hall and took my seat.
     There are anot any brides maids or grooms men. The mother's join hands and walk down the aisle together and take their seats. The bride and groom follow, joined together arm in arm. They exchange vows, a total of only 8 minutes, are serenaded with one song, and bow to each others mother. The odd part was what came next, the cutting of the cake. It was brought in and cut right next to the alter!

After a ton of pictures, we moved to the buffet. It was amazing. There was so much food. Crab legs, steak, duck, salad, various fish, noodles, rice, and lots of dessert. There is not any dancing or speeches. Basically, you eat and leave.