Extravagant Wedding Customs Are Becoming a National Embarrassment

**I think people spend way too much money on weddings these days. I watch TV shows where people spend over $10,000 just on a dress. I can't see spending that much money on something that only lasts a day. It's an important ceremony, but mine will be done on a budget (IF there ever is one. Doesn't look too favorable right now). I'll be paying for it on my own and there won't be people lining up to give me extravagant cash gifts. .
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Read the article here: http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/11/25/2009112500607.html


Last week the New York Times wrote an article about the Korean tradition of collecting cash gifts at weddings. They described how some families send out a lot of invitations to weddings and guest line up to hand their cash to a cashier. Some invitations include bank account numbers so that guests who are unable to attend can still send in their money.

Korean couples spend an average of $13,000-$17,000 on weddings. If the wedding is held in a hotel it can be around $40,000. The wedding is usually covered by the cash gifts.

Recipients view many invitations like tax bills. When bank numbers are included it sends out the message of "repay us for all the money we have given out".

Rich families fill up expensive venues with wreaths and spend tens of millions of won on banquets to feed lots of guests and on decorations that will be gone by the next day. This tradition has spread through Korean society. Parents send out invitations so their children can collect an amount of money that is equal to their social status. Invitations are even sent to business acquaintances like IOUs.

At some weddings there are only a few people who actually know the couple getting married. Many guests drop off their money and leave.

Recently a high ranking government official tried to set an example by not sending out invitations and declining cash gifts. If the country wants to quit being mocked for this lavish tradition the leading officials must set an example. When smaller weddings become common then the couple can invite only those people who they actually want to be there.