Angela + Mark wanted to infuse a part of their culture into their Korean-American wedding in Los Angeles. A truly fusion, Korean-American wedding incorporates a hint of tradition, Paebaek, within a modern western celebration.

Paebaek is a traditional Korean wedding ceremony where the bride is formally accepted into the groom’s family by being welcomed into the groom’s home. Current adoption includes the bride’s family for a mutual display of opening homes to each other.

Paebaek features other historical rituals such as formal bowing, a tea ceremony, a piggyback ride, and catching chestnuts and dates.

I personally think the decorative background panel, colorful silk table, and bamboo mat set-up along with the ceremonial attire worn for Paebaek is so elegant and beautiful. I was especially thrilled to see how the Paebaek portion of Angela and Mark’s wedding came out.

The Couple:

Angela + Mark

The Wedding:

Los Angeles, CA

In modern America, Paebaek has become an intersection of blending Korean heritage with western culture.

Paebaek is commonly held after the wedding ceremony and before the reception which should be coordinated with the wedding planner to accommodate the extra affair. That way you can have the best of both worlds without having everyone feeling drained.

Other things to consider would be if you want to hold a more formal and private Paebaek with just family, or to include the entire guest party. If one side of the family is not Korean, it would be recommended to hire a master of ceremonies to translate for everyone to enjoy the occasion.