Postponement and Invitation Cancellations Due to Social Distancing Level 2 Upgrade... 'Mental Breakdown' Weddings

Social Distancing Raised to Level 2
Guest Limit Under 100
Financial Loss Due to Adjusted Guaranteed Numbers

"Who Says No One Should Come..."
Mental Stress from Contacting Guests

New Trend of Holding Second-Part Events Later

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] "The closer the wedding gets, the more painful each day becomes."

Park Mo (30), who is getting married on the 28th in Mapo-gu, Seoul. The happiest time in life turned into a time of suffering due to the 'Social Distancing Level 2.' When the government announced the upgrade to Level 2 on the 22nd, Park broke a sweat adjusting the number of attendees with the wedding hall. Under Level 2, the allowed number of people is limited to fewer than 100. Park said, "I contracted the venue for 300 guaranteed guests, but I lost 5 million won trying to change this." This was because the venue demanded that the loss for the 200 reduced guests be shared equally. Unable to move the wedding just a week away, Park reluctantly agreed to the venue's demands through gritted teeth.

Cost is not the only issue. It is also difficult to explain to those who had already received invitations and expressed their intention to attend, and awkward to decide who to invite and who not to. Yoo Mo (31), who has a wedding scheduled for early next month, shares similar concerns. He said, "I plan to give return gifts to acquaintances who had shown intention to attend but cannot come due to the attendance limit," adding, "Some are coming from far away, and some have deliberately kept their schedules free, so I feel sorry that I cannot invite them."

As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) intensified, Level 2 social distancing was implemented in the metropolitan area from the 24th, throwing prospective newlyweds into confusion. At Level 1.5, the number of people allowed at wedding and funeral halls was limited to one person per 4㎡, but at Level 2, it was restricted to fewer than 100 people. Wearing masks and other quarantine rules also became mandatory. Given this situation, prospective newlyweds find it difficult not only to reduce the number of guests but also to inform those who received invitations about attendance restrictions.

Prospective bride Lee Eun-ha (35) decided to postpone her wedding scheduled for the end of this month to next year. She was deeply shocked when she attended a friend's wedding in August where the number of guests was limited to 49. She said, "The friend's wedding felt so empty that it didn't feel like a place to be blessed," adding, "Since I couldn't invite acquaintances on the day of the wedding, which is the biggest celebration in life, I discussed it with both parents and eventually decided to postpone." She continued, "The situation next year is also uncertain, so it's mentally tough ahead of the wedding."

A second event for acquaintances who could not be invited to the wedding is also becoming popular. The main ceremony is held with family and relatives, and acquaintances are invited separately later for a second part of the wedding. This is somewhat a revival of the almost extinct kind of 'housewarming party.' Prospective groom Kim Mo (32) said, "I think it's not right to only receive congratulatory money via bank transfer, so I plan to invite acquaintances to my home and treat them." Prospective bride Ahn Mo (29) also said, "Although I gave invitations, I plan to hold a small gathering combining a housewarming party with acquaintances who could not attend the wedding."