Two cultures combined - still exploring others

The big day finally came!



Mum, Dad and I went really early to Gwangalli beach - first we had a nice walk along the beach - just what I had always dreamed of before my wedding :)
It was then time to go to the hair and make-up shop.  Usually in Korean culture the bride and groom get ready together but we had organized for us to go first and then Hyunwoo come later once I had left.  When we arrived Hyunwoo's Mum was already there getting her makeup finished and they started the beauty process on Mum first (think they thought she may need more time!!!)
We had the whole works - full make-up and little heated rollers for our hair before the back combing began! But after working some magic we three ladies were looking beautiful!
I seem to look very very tall in this picture!! Think the hair adds a few inches!!

Then we went to the hotel in time to meet the rest of our gang! We went and decorated our tables and Em managed to practice her singing.
We took down the wedding cake - we had decorated all the little cakes by hand and one of my students - Hee-dok had made me the most beautiful bears for the top! Thank - you!!


It was then time to start getting ready before the invasion of the photographer!! Korean weddings are a little different! You have a mass of people photographers and guests all wanting to get into the bridal room before the wedding!!! it's insane! Luckily I had my bodyguard - Simon Strike on hand!!
Here are a few pictures from inside the bridal room before the actual wedding...








Hyunwoo came and met me to take me to the altar



Up at the altar we read our vows to each other - and then said our I do's


Finally we were married!

Emma - my cousin sang to us - It was beautiful and almost made me cry as I watched and listened to her



Then the two familes had to come up together and bow to the guests as appreciation for them coming




Two pictures of the happy couple!




and then once the offering has been made the family give us advice and well wishes for our marriage.

Then we bow to each family member as a sign of respect



Hyunwoo's parents then throw chestnuts at us which we must try and catch in the scarf i have on - it is quite entertaining!! I only hope the symbolic meaning isn't how many children we will have!!!


The two fathers then introduced their family to the other family - Dad even managed to do it in Korean! I was so so proud of him!!



Finally Hyunwoo and I had to do the couple rituals - first a love shot! Followed by the eating one date between us with no hands and then finally Hyunwoo carrying me around the table while I had to kiss him!!



It was a very fun but extremly hot affair!!

Finally, it was time to eat - we went to the buffet area to greet our guests, eat and watch our slideshow of our lives together so far.





So there you have a basic run through!! - these are only a selection of the hundreds of photographs I have been given by people - I will be adding more as I find them and as soon as the professional pictures are ready I will try and share them with you all.

A big big thank you to our wonderful photographer Jerry and video man Jay! Thank you sooo much!



Please leave comments if you read this! It's nice to know who has seen them!

Lots of love to everyone

The Kims!

xxxx

Thank you to everyone who made it out to our stag and hen party 'day'.  The girlies started the day with a spa trip - we went to Shinsegae Spa land and got pampered! Trying out all the different saunas and spas, going in the foot spa and then finally getting ourselves facials, body and leg massages! (Yes - we needed some special treatment for our beautiful bodies before the big day!!)
The Spa for anyone who would like to visit is amazing! It even has a yoga room, DVD room and TV area for those of you who are less inclined to be hot and steamy!!
The bathing area is also a great experience but requires you to remove clothing (not to everyone's taste but worth it if you can pluck up the courage!!)

While we had our spa treatment the boys played screen golf, followed by some eating (and drinking I expect!) and then took a road trip (boys and their toys or in this case Hyunwoo's very old liccle car!) to the tip of Busan - Igidae - to look at the rocks and view :)



In the evening the real fun began - first we were given our beautiful costumes! Ive never felt so British in my entire life!! haha!! You can see pictures to follow!! We headed to Seomyun for buffet - causing quite a few near accidents as heads turned to see the strange alien walking down the street!


We then went on to the bar for some much needed cocktails and to Norebang (kareoke room for you non - korean folk) where you have your own little room to sing your heart out!!



All in all a fantastic night out!!
Thank you for everyone for making it something we will never forget!!

Well the day came to try the hanbok. For those of you who don't know a hanbok is a Korean traditional dress which I must wear for my Korean wedding ceremony (yes, I am very lucky and get to wear two dresses!)

So, at Christmas we went to the hanbok shop and we chose the dress but it has to be hand made so we waited, and waited and waited! Finally the day came so off we headed to the shop - all six of us plus Hyunwoo's Mum and Dad. Well...getting into a hanbok is an interesting afair! You have to put on special long underpants (very fetching I know!) and special elf looking socks with a pointy toe and then comes the underdress. This must be tied to flatten any shape you have at the front! (Us Westerners are generally proud of our shapes!!) Then is the skirt - right up under the bust and then the tiny little jacket!

Well, I have never looked so tall in my life! It's like I've grown 2 feet! It's amazing! However I am having difficulty with the posture, I must stand like I'm very humble with my shoulders rolled forward but fir as long as I have known I have been told to stand tall with my shoulders back!! It's very confusing for a girl to remember!

However, I look very fetching in my new dress....as for pictures you will have to wait and see on my wedding day!! I can tell you though it is very pretty with a red skirt, blue jacket and pretty flowers embroidered. You definately will not miss me in a crowd.

Now for the hard part.......the sorting of the family for the big day!

Well, I thought it was about time that I started writing again as I had become very lazy since returning to Korea for the second time. It's now leading up to the big day and thought this would be a very good time to start again.

Mum, Dad, Grandma and Emma have arrived already so we are all (6 of us) living in my small apartment in Busan, South Korea. Hyunwoo and I recently moved and are now in a lovely little 3 room apartment - kitchen, bedroom and living room and it is like heaven! When you open the window all you can hear is quiet instead of the usual bustle of Seomyun night club and train (our entertainment in the last apartment!)
There is a wonderful stream only 5 mins walk from our house with a running / cycling tract. fitness machines and badminton courts so no excuse to be lazy anymore (I still seem to manage to find one though!)

I am now waiting to finish work on Wednesday and really enjoy the time with my family and friends. My two best friends arrive next weekend so I am very excited to have everyone all together at last. Here's to a new life and the many memories to come.