💍 Korean Wedding Photoshoots and Pre-Wedding Rituals

Getting married in Korea isn’t just about the wedding day. There’s a beautiful and detailed world of pre-wedding customs and photoshoots that couples prepare months in advance. From studio glamour shots to centuries-old traditional rituals, the Korean wedding experience is a unique blend of modern style and historical culture.

📘 Table of Contents

1. Korean-Style Wedding Photoshoots
2. Pre-Wedding Rituals (전통혼례 전 예식)
3. Wearing Hanbok for Tradition and Beauty
4. Modern Additions: Skin Care & Couple Rings
5. Did You Know?
6. Self-Study: Learn Korean Through Culture
7. Want to Learn More Korean?

📸 1. Korean-Style Wedding Photoshoots

In Korea, engaged couples almost always take pre-wedding photos. These photos are typically taken in a studio with multiple outfit changes, including formal wedding gowns, tuxedos, and sometimes traditional Hanbok. The goal is to capture dreamy, cinematic images before the actual wedding.

Average Cost: $800–$3,000 USD
Photo Styles: Classic, Romantic, Modern Chic, Traditional
Location: Indoor studios or scenic outdoor spots like Jeju Island or palaces

🎎 2. Pre-Wedding Rituals (전통혼례 전 예식)

Before the main wedding, traditional families may observe old customs like 함들이 (Ham Delivery), where the groom’s family delivers a box of gifts to the bride’s house, often at night with loud shouts and performances. There is also the 폐백 (Paebaek), a bowing ceremony held after the wedding where the couple pays respect to the groom’s family.

👘 3. Wearing Hanbok for Tradition and Beauty

Wearing Hanbok is a major part of wedding traditions. Some couples even have a full traditional wedding ceremony in Hanbok, which makes for stunning photos. Hanbok rental shops often include wedding photo packages.

💅 4. Modern Additions: Skin Care & Couple Rings

Modern Korean weddings involve a lot of preparation. Skincare treatments, diet programs, and even hairline correction are part of the beauty routine. Couple rings (커플링) are exchanged even before engagement rings, often during dating.

💡 5. Did You Know?

According to a 2023 survey, 68% of Korean couples say the pre-wedding photoshoot was more stressful than the wedding itself! Also, South Korea has the highest spending per wedding guest among Asian countries — about $230 per guest on average.

📚 6. Self-Study: Learn Korean Through Culture

Watch Korean dramas featuring weddings (e.g., Crash Landing on You) and note cultural differences.
Learn vocabulary: 결혼 (gyeolhon = marriage), 신랑 (sinrang = groom), 신부 (sinbu = bride), 예식장 (yesikjang = wedding hall)
Describe a dream wedding in Korean using new vocabulary

🎓 7. Want to Learn More Korean?

Curious about more Korean traditions and want to speak confidently? 👉 Join my Korean class on italki and learn with stories, grammar, and real-life culture.

Learning about Korean weddings is like opening a window into the heart of Korean culture. 💕 I hope you enjoyed this glimpse — and I’d love for you to keep exploring other posts on my blog. There’s always something new to discover! 😊