Wedding kiosks where guests can register and give monetary gifts digitally, replacing the traditional envelope-handling system (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — A growing number of young couples in South Korea are breaking from traditional wedding customs, choosing efficiency and personal meaning over long-established practices that some view as outdated or burdensome.
Take Oh, 29, who recently decided to skip the customary bouquet toss at her wedding. “I was concerned about the stress it would cause whoever caught the bouquet,” she explained. The tradition has evolved in South Korea to include an expectation that the recipient will preserve the flowers and return them to the bride as an artistic creation – a process that can cost hundreds of dollars if professionally done.
This shift reflects a broader trend among the country’s younger generation, who are reimagining wedding ceremonies to align with their values and practical considerations. Some couples are eliminating the traditional group photo sessions that often keep guests waiting before the reception. “For the first time, I could enjoy the wedding meal without rushing,” said Jung, 31, who recently attended such a ceremony.
Technology is also transforming these celebrations. Some venues now offer wedding kiosks where guests can register and give monetary gifts digitally, replacing the traditional envelope-handling system. The kiosks automatically issue meal tickets and compile gift records in spreadsheet format for the newlyweds.
However, not everyone is embracing these changes. Choi Yeo-jin, 30, who is getting married next month, decided against using a kiosk out of consideration for older guests who might find it impersonal. “I realized it’s still not commonly accepted to give wedding gifts through a machine,” she said.
The modifications extend to more symbolic aspects of the ceremony. Traditional customs rooted in patriarchal society are being questioned and altered. Some brides, like Lee Yoon-jung, 32, choose to walk down the aisle alone rather than participate in the traditional handover from father to groom. “I didn’t like the implied meaning of being transferred from my father’s protection to my husband’s,” she explained.
Wedding attire is also evolving. Some brides opt for shorter dresses that don’t require assistance to move around, and some forgo veils altogether. “I didn’t want to be a bride who couldn’t move without help,” wrote one user on Naver, a popular Korean web portal.
Sungkyunkwan University sociology professor Koo Jeong-woo sees these changes as significant. “Marriage symbolizes the beginning of a family. Especially in a country like South Korea, where gender conflicts are pronounced, the question of how to form a family is crucial,” he said. “As perceptions of family change, couples are reviewing gender roles, eliminating unreasonable practices, and establishing their own direction for their future family.”
Some couples are even turning their weddings into opportunities for social contribution, with one couple recently donating 5 million won to Gangdong Sacred Heart Hospital instead of spending it on elaborate ceremony details.
Huh Kyung-ok, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University’s Department of Family Culture and Consumer Science, noted that these changes partly reflect economic realities. With wedding venue meal costs exceeding 70,000-80,000 won per person, couples necessarily must pay attention to attendance and costs.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
