The Korean Traditional Wedding Ceremony called Paebeck (폐백).
Traditionally, the Paebeck is a ceremonial practice where the groom's family accepts the new bride into their home as part of the family.
Obviously, these traditions have been catered to fit the modern Korean family as well as the traditional. Back in the day, the bride paid respect to the grooms family during the ceremony with close family and friends being present. However, the modern Korean family incorporates both families as a way to bless the marriage. Through the years, Pae Baek's have been the same in terms of the ceremonial practices. However, the way to go about presenting this practice has been catered to each couple. Some couples choose to have the Pae Baek immediately after the Western Style Wedding at the reception location. While others choose to have it before or after the Western Wedding at their home. It is a time consuming ceremony so choose wisely.
Hanbok (한복)
During the ceremony both the bride and groom wear Hanbok(한복). These traditional outfits date back to the Joseon Dynasty where women and men of the Royal Family wore these decorative, bright colored outfits for formal functions or ceremonies. The 20th century has modernized the Hanbok for practical reasons. But for the purposes of the Pae Baek, the Hanbok remain in the traditional sense where the bride and groom wears a head dress and many layers of the vibrant colors of royalty.
Elements of the Table(폐백상)
Generally there is a Korean Style table set up where the Grooms and Brides family sit on one side of the table (one family at a time) and the bride and groom on the other. The table is set up with two wooden ducks facing each other which symbolizes fidelity. Why ducks? Well like Geese these birds mate for life. Also present on the table are dates which symbolizes the female gender and chestnuts which symbolize the male gender. These are thrown at the bride for her to catch in her dress. And tradition states that however many the bride catches, is the number of children she and her groom will be blessed with. The dates and chestnuts are later eaten by the couple.
During the ceremony the bride and groom bows and pours tea or wine to the parents and often other members of the family. Then in turn the parents and family members impart words of wisdom to the couple. During this ceremony the bride and groom are bowing, pouring wine and the groom even gives the bride piggy back rides around the table. This symbolizes the journey of the new life ahead. The groom may also give piggy back rides to the mothers and grandmothers. Plenty of cash and words of wisdom are provided for to the new bride and groom.
During the ceremony the bride and groom bows and pours tea or wine to the parents and often other members of the family. Then in turn the parents and family members impart words of wisdom to the couple. During this ceremony the bride and groom are bowing, pouring wine and the groom even gives the bride piggy back rides around the table. This symbolizes the journey of the new life ahead. The groom may also give piggy back rides to the mothers and grandmothers. Plenty of cash and words of wisdom are provided for to the new bride and groom.
Paebeck Order
1. The groom's parents are seated first.
2. The bride and groom bow deeply and a half-bow (standing) to groom's parents.
3. The bride and groom serve rice wine(or tea) to parents after bow.
4. The parents offer words of wisdom and blessings to the couple.
5. The parents will throw dates and chestnuts which the bride and groom will attempt to catch
with the bride’s apron. According to legend, the number of dates and chestnuts caught signify how many girls(dates) and boy(chestnuts) the will bear. Later in the evening, the couple is supposed to eat the dates and chestnuts that were caught.
6. The parents also give them white envelope filled with money to start the new couple in their way.
7. As the elder member of the groom's family is seated next. Bride and groom give them a single deep bow.
(Do the same things(serving rice wine, throwing dates and chestnuts and giving white envelope ...) with elder family member.
8. For sisters and brothers, the new couple and sisters and brothers give a single deep bow to each others. The sisters and brothers offer words of wisdom and blessings to the couple but no serving rice wine, throwing dates and chestnuts and giving white envelope ...
9. Repeat with the bride’s family after the groom’s family.
10. The groom carry the bride piggyback around the room as a signal that he is prepared to support her fully as her husband.