At Korean weddings, it's customary for guests to give “congratulatory money” in an envelope. The money helps pay for the reception and goes as a gift to the couple. The amount varies depending on social status and relationship to the newlyweds. For a close friend or colleague, you may give over 300,000 won ($233).
The money amount depends on status and how close you are with the family. If you are close with the bride, groom, or their parents, then it would be a good idea to give between W50,000-W100,000. However, if this relationship isn't as close such as with a colleague from work, then W30,000-W50,000 is sufficient.
Envelopes of Money
Cash gifts in white envelopes are the most common gift at a Korean wedding. Traditionally, during the paebaek, the bride and groom receive words of blessing and money gifts from their parents. LeeHwa Wedding provides silk pouches in which guests may place their white envelopes containing their gifts.
Who Pays for a Korean Wedding? In Korea, it is customary for the groom's family to pay for the wedding. This includes the cost of the venue, food, and other expenses. The bride's family usually pays for her wedding dress and other incidentals.
Offering money on weddings has long been a tradition in Korea as well as in many other Asian countries. This is called 축의금 chugigeum (congratulatory money) in Korean. Usually, the amount of the money is based on the relationship of the guest with the bride and groom both personally and professionally.
At Korean weddings, it's customary for guests to give “congratulatory money” in an envelope. The money helps pay for the reception and goes as a gift to the couple. The amount varies depending on social status and relationship to the newlyweds.
Gifting the bereaved
While attending a Korean funeral, it is expected for guests to bring funeral money to pay condolences to the bereaved family.
In traditional Korean culture, like many traditional cultures, marriage between a man and a woman were decided by the bride and groom's elders. As in Confucian values family and the customs of a family is placed above all. Marriage is considered the most important passage in one's life.
Traditionally, the bride and her family are responsible for paying for all wedding planning expenses, the bride's attire, all floral arrangements, transportation on the wedding day, photo and video fees, travel and lodgings for the officiant if he comes from out of town, lodging for the bridesmaids (if you have offered ...
The marriage represents two families coming together as one. As a result, parents from both families take active participation in many aspects of the wedding. Parents wear special attire, give and receive special gifts, and provide many blessings to the bride and groom throughout the festivities.
Gifts are offered and given with both hands. Wrapped gifts are never opened in the presence of the giver. The gift should be wrapped nicely and preferably in bright colours. Stray away from black and the darker colours or red which connotates death.
Avoid wrapping gifts in dark colors or red. Always bring a small gift for the hostess when invited to someone's home. Give: small gift, candy, cakes, cookies, flowers, fruit. Do not give liquor to a woman.
In Korea, wearing a calm and darker shade outfit is recommended as a respect for the bride. Most of the male guests wear suits in black, while female guests are most likely to wear navy, beige, or pastels. In Korea, giving congratulatory money to the couple is another unique ritual.
For closer friends and family, you may want to consider going to $200, or higher if you can afford it. For others, $100 to $150 is more than okay as a wedding gift amount.
They suggest the following breakdown: coworkers or distant relatives should spend 50 to 75 dollars. Friends or relatives, 75 to 100 dollars. For close friends, family, or if you are in the wedding party, you should spend 100 to 150 dollars—or more.
A typical wedding gift is around $100. The exact amount depends on your personal budget and relationship to the couple, among other factors.
The bride paid for everything, including the ceremony flowers, the gifts for the bridesmaids, the groom's ring, and the groom's gift. Traditionally, the groom's family has footed the bill for the wedding ceremony and reception, including the rehearsal dinner, honeymoon, and transportation.
How much should a cash wedding gift be? The average wedding gift is around $100 (per guest), and this baseline is a great place to start. If you're bringing a plus-one, then you can give $200 as a couple.
As a guide, here's a list of the expenses traditionally covered by the parents of the groom: the wedding rings, officiant's fee, marriage license, the bride's bouquet, boutonnieres and corsages for the immediate family, music (band/DJ), liquor at the reception and the honeymoon.
Korean couples usually get a couples' ring when they hit the 100 days mark of being together. All in all, we hope and expect you to have fun if you choose to date while living in Korea. You could experience so many great things by having a partner here; however, your life will be fun and fulfilling even without one!
Korean weddings do not have exchanging of vows or rings like westernized wedding ceremonies. Another difference is the bride and groom do not kiss, when announced as husband and wife.
Marriage in Korea is a civil procedure, so a religious ceremony, while often more meaningful, does not create a legal marriage. Although marriage statutes in the U.S. differ from state to state, a marriage performed in Korea under the Korean law is recognized in all states.
While preparing the body for burial was a major part of Korean funeral customs in the past, most Koreans now elect to cremate loved ones rather than bury them. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), over 71% of South Koreans elect cremation.
Bowing and handshakes
Koreans bow to those senior to them both as a greeting and a show of respect. The junior person initiates the bow, bending from the waist to an angle of between 30 and 45 degrees from vertical. A less accentuated bow is returned as acknowledgment from the more senior person.
First, people should be mourning for three years during which time Jesa ceremonies must be held, because when their parents died it reflects their filial piety. It is the most important sentiment in Confucian culture.