Couples-to-be Anxious Over COVID-19... Ultimately Choose 'Small Wedding' [Heo Midam's Youth Report]

Over 50 Guests Banned at Weddings, Engaged Couples 'Anxious'
New Trend Amid COVID Crisis: 'Small Wedding'

As social distancing in the Seoul metropolitan area is raised to level 2.5, the worries of couples preparing for marriage are deepening. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] [Editor's Note] How is your youth remembered? From teenagers to college students and office workers, we deliver the joys and sorrows unique to 'youth.'

# Kim Mo (33), a bride-to-be preparing for her wedding, is very worried due to COVID-19. She was supposed to get married earlier this year but postponed the ceremony to mid-September because of the pandemic. However, with social distancing measures recently raised to level 2.5, Kim is once again troubled. She said, "Many acquaintances have been asking if the wedding will proceed as planned," adding, "I postponed the wedding hoping that COVID-19 would be over by autumn, but as the situation worsens, I don't know what to do this time."

With social distancing in the metropolitan area elevated to level 2.5, the worries of couples about to get married are deepening. The government has, in principle, banned weddings with gatherings of 50 or more people according to distancing guidelines, making it practically difficult to hold the long-prepared ceremonies.

As large-scale weddings become difficult, 'small weddings' inviting only close friends and relatives are emerging as an alternative. Experts analyze that many young people are pursuing 'small weddings' due to economic burdens and the COVID-19 situation.

With the spread of COVID-19, strict quarantine guidelines must be followed even at wedding venues. According to guidelines announced by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, weddings must be held with fewer than 50 people indoors and fewer than 100 people outdoors, the same as other gatherings and events. Failure to comply with these guidelines can result in fines of 3 million KRW imposed not only on the wedding hosts but also on the guests.

Quarantine rules must also be observed when taking commemorative photos. When taking group photos, everyone must maintain at least 1 meter distance and wear masks. However, an 'exception criterion' applies allowing the bride and groom not to wear masks when entering or exiting the venue, after makeup, or when taking commemorative photos inside the wedding hall.

Given these circumstances, many couples-to-be are conflicted about whether to proceed with their weddings. One bride-to-be expressed on an online community for wedding preparations, "If I had predicted COVID-19, I wouldn't have even started preparing for the ceremony," adding, "My fianc? and I are discussing whether to proceed as planned, postpone, or cancel and marry next year, but even this process is stressful."

The burden is the same for invited guests. Besides fear of COVID-19 infection, if the ban on gatherings of 50 or more is violated, not only the wedding hosts but also the guests must pay a fine of 3 million KRW.

Office worker Lee Mo (29) said, "I'm worried about whether to attend a colleague's wedding," adding, "It's a close colleague and a once-in-a-lifetime event, so I really want to go and congratulate them, but I'm scared of getting infected with COVID-19." He continued, "If guests are unlucky, they might have to pay fines too. I wonder if it's worth taking such risks to attend."

On the afternoon of the 19th of last month, officials were conducting disinfection at a wedding hall in Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

As a result, more couples-to-be are turning to 'small weddings' inviting only close friends and relatives. This approach not only avoids the risk of COVID-19 infection but also aims for an economical and practical wedding.

Preference for 'small weddings' is also reflected in related surveys. In April, Embrain Trend Monitor conducted a 'Perception Survey on Marriage and Weddings' targeting 1,200 unmarried men and women aged 19 to 45 nationwide. The results showed that 70% of respondents said they would consider a small wedding if they marry in the future.

When asked about preferred types of weddings, they chose ▲ economical and practical weddings (36.1%) ▲ small weddings inviting only close acquaintances (32.3%) ▲ weddings with minimal attendees (16.8%). In contrast, only 6.5% preferred grand and lavish weddings.

Especially, evaluations of 'online weddings' were positive. 50.3% of respondents said 'online weddings are a good idea,' and this favorable view increased with age (20s 44.4%, 30s 53.2%, 40s 58%).

In summary, among young people, there is a clear tendency to prefer economical and practical weddings over extravagant ones.

A bride-to-be who recently had a 'small wedding' shared on an online community, "Only family and close friends attended, creating a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere," adding, "Although it was a small-scale ceremony with few people, it will be remembered as a happy wedding without envy." She also said, "It cost much less than I expected, and I didn't have to worry about who to send invitations to."

Experts analyze that demand for 'small weddings' was high even before COVID-19. Professor Kwak Geumju of Seoul National University's Department of Psychology said, "Even before COVID-19, economic burdens increased due to the recession, leading many couples-to-be to pursue small weddings," emphasizing, "Especially in Korea, there are many excessive wedding customs and formalities. Many young people want to hold weddings focusing only on the essentials, excluding such extravagances."

She added, "Weddings are one of the major stress factors for couples-to-be. Many even break off engagements while preparing for weddings," and continued, "Therefore, some choose small weddings to reduce the burden of the ceremony."