Korean Wedding Traditions A Washington Park Botanical Garden Wedding

Today in the life of the traveling photographer we have another spectacular wedding in the heart of Springfield Illinois. Hosted at the Washington Park Botanical Garden, Sharon and Joseph had the perfect Korean Wedding!

I am ecstatic to show of these GORGEOUS photos from their special day. This day was loaded with tradition, heartwarming family, and beautiful clothing. I am incredibly proud of how these photos turned out.

As a wedding photographer I get to learn about so many different traditions and cultures and I eat it up! It’s such a beautiful experience that I would never had without this career.

I am honored when someone trusts that I can capture their wedding. It is even more of an honor when it’s a new custom or tradition for me. This means that my photography and personality stand out so much, they don’t blink an eye to include me. AMAZING. This is my first Traditional Korean Wedding and it’s my first wedding at the Washington Park Botanical Garden. I have shot families there but not a wedding, so this was so wonderful!

At Sharon and Josephs wedding I learned a lot about Korean Wedding Traditions, specifically the Pyebaek.

SIDE NOTE: Do you remember by post about To Look Or Not To Look? A Photographers Guide to the First Look? In that feature, I discuss how many American weddings consider it bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony. However this is anti-customary for Korean weddings! So when I suggested a first look for portraits pre-ceremony Sharon and Joseph are like, duh. haha. So we have SO many gorgeous photos (thankfully, it didn’t rain!)

Now to the really fun stuff.

Following the ceremony the bride and groom changed into their Hanbok, this is a traditional Korean dress.

Sharon and Joseph’s hanboks were custom made and stunning. Don’t you think?

I have also learned the the hanboks represents generations of tradition. It’s normally bright and lightweight. The bride normally wears pink or purple. The brides mother wears pink or purple and the grooms mother wears blue.

Then they put on their Pyebaek robes over the hanbok and began the bowing ceremony.

The Pyebaek is amazing to me, because it’s one of the many Korean Wedding Traditions that symbolized and highlights the importance of family within the Korean culture.

It’s SO honoring and I’m wondering why everyone doesn’t do this? lol.

All About The Pyebaek (폐백)

The Bowing

The couple bows twice to the family who is seated at a low table containing traditional and symbolic foods, such as dates, jujubes, dried persimmons.

Tea Serving

The couple serves tea to their elders. The bride must hold the tea cup under the long apron while the groom pours the tea. Usually a close relative will assist with serving it across the table.

Words Of Wisom

The parents/family bless the couple and offer them words of wisdom. They also present them with a white envelope with cash for their new life.

Dates

The grooms parents throw the dates and chestnuts from the table into the brides Pyebaek robe skirt. This fun game represents how many children they will have)

Piggyback Ride

The ceremony concludes with the groom giving the bride a piggyback ride around the room! This is yet another symbolic Korean Wedding Tradition. This is a gesture of his promise of everlasting devotion and love for his wife throughout their life together. IS THAT NOT SWEET????

Want to see more wedding inspiration? Check out my pinterest boards here: https://www.pinterest.com/fullyalivephoto/arizona-wedding-photography/

Korean Wedding Traditions Washington Park Botanical Garden Wedding