When you arrive @ Incheon airport there are buses that goes to Daejeon straight.

Look for airport limousine service in the airport and ask for Bus to Daejeon.

It costs around 13000 won (9Euro) and price differ depends on type of bus.

It takes 3 hours from Incheon to Daejeon and there are 3 stops. Hotels are usually around Yuseong area and government complex area. However taking taxi in Korea is easy and cheap. As long as you have written address (preferably in Korean) you will be saved

Seoul to Daejoen

There are several ways of coming to Daejeon, by train, by rental car and by bus.

However coming by train will be most convenient. I would recommend to take KTX train from Seoul station. This would take only one hour to reach Daejeon station. Plus from Daejeon station to our marriage place is not so far.

Cost of KTX is 32100 won (21euro) one way. If you like to save money, you could also take slow train. It takes 2 hours to reach Daejeon station and cost 10500 won (7 euro). If you like to book train ticket in advance, you can check http://info.korail.com/2007/eng/eng_index.jsp

From Daejeon station to wedding place, you can take taxi.

Address: Daejeon Donggu panam 2 dong 529 bungi Ssang chung wedding hall

대전광역시 동구 판암 2동 529번지

쌍청 웨딩홀

I would recommend to print address in Korean and show to taxi driver.

From Daejeon to Buyeo, it takes about 1hour half to 2 hour by car.

The reason why I wanted to go to Buyeo is to see famous beautiful Lotus field which has great love story.

There is also Buyeo National Museum where not only see the exhibition but also have places to do cultural experience. Enterence fee is free, and if you pay 3000 won (2 Euro), you can get headset with MP3 which explaines historical pieces in the museum.

The best thing is, around our wedding day, Buyeo is helding big festival called ‘2010 Great Baekje World Festival’ (From Sept 18th ~ Oct 17th). There will be lots of events and historical shows, I think either before or after wedding, it will be nice place to visit.

There are lots more places to visit in Buyeo and if you want more, check out on Official Buyeo tour website [here]

We decided to have Korea Traditional Wedding and it was way more beautiful and meaningful than we expected.

We had blessing weather and about 450 people came to congratulate us!

Korean traditional wedding was…

1. Opening  ceremony (Pungmul nori)

Since Wedding ceremony is very pleasant event, musical instruments takes place as pre-event in order to make the mood more festive and joyful.

2. Public announcement of the wedding ceremony –Daerye

Unlike western, In Korea marriage is not just about two individual getting married, rather emphasized as joining of the two families. Daerye means Great Ritual which means announcing tow individuals’ and families’ joining to heaven and earth, as well as wishing for good harmony between Ying and Yang (bride and groom)

3. Candle lighting

As beginning of the ceremony, bride’s and groom’s mothers would enter the wedding place and light candles. This candle flames represent the wish of the new couple’s bright future with passion.

This time, mothers would be super careful with light, since if the light goes off, it would be not so good luck. (haha don’t

worry too much Corrie! People will make sure light will go one until the ceremony ends)

4. Girukabi and Groom’s parade

Traditionally a wedding takes place at the house of the bride’s family and groom is traveling to the bride’s house with his attendants playing some musical instruments. Girukabi means person who leading the way to bride’s house holding

couple of wooden wild geese and usually groom asks one of his friend to do it. (Girugi means geese and Abi means man/father in Korean). The reason of using wild geese is because once they bound to each other they never meet another partner.

*This event would take in the wedding place not Suna’s parent’s house

5. Presentation of wild geese

When Girukabi enters wedding place, he gives wooden wild geese to the groom who then places it on the wedding table. Mother-in –law comes out to receive the geese and groom bows twice (This time groom need to put his hands up to his head for showing respect) to mother –in –law. Then mother-in –law takes Girugi in the house (her seat in this case)

6. Bride’s parade

Bride comes with beautifully decorated wagon and she does not show her face until entering the ceremony place. It is hard to believe, but in old days, lots of time, it was first time that the bride and groom see each other. (If groom is too curious, he would ask his friends to peek and see his bride beforehand)

7. Entering to the wedding table and washing hands

Groom walks to the east side of the wedding table and bride walks to the west

side. (Both of them have helper to assist, so no need to worry about figuring out which side is east or west) Then bride and groom face each other across the wedding table. The helpers wash the hands of the bride and groom which symbolizes cleaning both mind and body for the ceremony.

8. Bowing ceremony

The bride bows twice to the groom first then groom bows back once to the bride. The bride then bows two more times to the groom, who bows back once more. Bowing represents the promise of commitment to each other. After bowing, both kneel down and face each other.

9. Drinking and announcing the marriage to the heaven

Bride and Groom drink liquor in the gourd cups. (These cups are produces by splitting in half a whole gourd and symbolizes that the bride and groom each made up one half and only together could they be considered as whole) Both cups will be filled with liquor (by helpers) and both groom and bride drink only half (no one shot!!) then exchange the cups and drink all. Drinking signifies the destiny of the news husband and wife, and their harmony.

10. Weaving red and blue threads

The helpers weave red and blue threads into one and put it to the wedding table. (Represent Ying and Yang) The presenter of the wedding then performs a ritual ceremony to announce the binding of two people and families to the heaven, earth and all other places. He prays for prosperity of two families and asks to the heaven and earth to bring a bright future to new couple.

11. Receiving Girugi

Bride and Groom receive the Girugi (wooden wild geese) from bride’s mom. She would give one to groom and one to bride. This represents that the bride and groom will contribute to only to each other during their whole life.

12. Letter reading and bowing to the parents and guests

Bride and Groom may read a letter to the bride’s parents. (It is because in Korea, bride is consider leaving her family and entering new family –groom’s family, but I think in our case we can read letter to both family) Then they bow to both parents and guests for appreciating their support and joining.

13. Photographing

Of course! Group photo is very important!!!

14. Paebaek (family event-Optional)

We skipped this part, since we are going to have wedding party in Holland. But usually this is also included.

After the wedding, the bride and groom immediately meet their new parents-in Law in an area of the main living room. The groom’s father sits in the east and mother in the west. The bride and groom bows to them. (This is to show their respect to groom’s family and ancestors and expressing their loyalty.) Then I believe, groom’s mother would throw some nuts to both bride and groom hoping for grand children. (Joop and I need to catch these nuts very well this time)

After groom’s family, bride’s family enters the room and does same things.

*Curious guest are allowed to observe

Special Thanks Eunah & Dominik, who provided English brochure so that I would have some Idea and less work.

We are getting married!

On 16^th of October, Suna and Joop are getting married in Daejeon, South Korea.

This catetory “wedding” is dedicated to people who are invited to our wedding. Here you can find information of wedding culture of Korea, dress code, travel tip to korea e.t.c.

If you have any questions regarding Suna & Joop’s wedding, please do not hesitate to leave a message or send mail to akinasunita@gmail.com

Thank you

Comment by Joop:

I asked Suna the day we visited the Island of Visingsö, Sweden. This is where the picture was taken. (maps http://vl.am/Coe ) in the early summer of 2009.) At this time, we knew we wanted to stay together but we also knew we had a lot to do in order to stay together, as we were just graduating students from different countries. Now we have found a stable life in Shanghai we are ready to take the next step together. I’m very excited for the wedding and Suna will blog all the preperations on this blog. Stay tuned!!