[Cheongchun Report] "Afraid Friendship Will Break Before Marriage, Can't Even Speak"... Expressing Burden of 'Bridal Shower'

Western Culture 'Bridal Shower'... Popular Domestically
"Influence of SNS Vanity"... "Costs at a Burdensome Level"

Editor's NoteHow is your youth remembered? From teenagers to college students and office workers, we share the joys and sorrows unique to 'youth.'

Amid high inflation and economic recession, the 'bridal shower'?a party prepared by the bride's friends to celebrate her wedding?is emerging as a new headache among office workers. While it is positive in that it can create unforgettable memories for the bride before her wedding, the cost involved in hosting a bridal shower is not insignificant. Some critics argue that the reason for holding bridal showers is to post 'show-off certification shots' on social networking services (SNS) rather than genuine celebration.

Western Culture 'Bridal Shower'... Now Popular in Korea

[Image source=Getty Images]

A bridal shower is a party celebrating a bride-to-be, meaning 'friendship showers the bride like rain.' It is usually organized by the bride's close friends. It is said to have originated in 16th-century Europe, where friends gathered funds to help a bride who could not afford a wedding.

The Western cultural practice of bridal showers gradually became known in Korea from the mid to late 2000s through American dramas such as 'Gossip Girl' and 'Friends.' Recently, the popularity of bridal showers has surged, with some analyses linking this trend to COVID-19. Since large gatherings were restricted during the pandemic, small-scale, private bridal showers gained popularity.

In fact, searching the hashtag 'bridal shower' on Instagram yields over 1.17 million posts. Additionally, posts related to 'bridal shower cake' number around 240,000, and 'bridal shower party' has over 80,000 posts uploaded.

The Not Insignificant Financial Burden of 'Bridal Showers'

[Image source=Pixabay]

However, there is criticism that the original purpose of bridal showers has been diluted. It is pointed out that the event has become more about appearances than sincerely celebrating the bride's marriage.

Jo, a 28-year-old office worker in her second year, said, "A friend of mine is getting married for the first time among our circle, and the friends suggested having a bridal shower." She added, "I understand it’s meant to celebrate, but I think it would be better just to pool money and give a gift."

She continued, "They also want me to buy clothes to match the bridal shower, but I’m afraid refusing might damage friendships, so I can’t say anything. The wedding gift money is already a burden, and adding a bridal shower is too much financially," she lamented.

Another issue is the considerable cost involved in bridal showers. In an already high-inflation environment, expenses for venue rental, meals, and party supplies add up. Prices vary greatly depending on the party size, but can range from as low as 100,000 KRW per person to several hundred thousand KRW.

Posts related to bridal showers continue to appear on online communities. One netizen criticized on a marriage information community, "Since when did bridal showers start? It’s not originally part of our culture, and it’s strange that friends have to pay to host it." They added, "Bridal showers just feel like SNS photo ops. I don’t know when this culture became taken for granted."

Professor Eunhee Lee of Inha University’s Department of Consumer Studies said, "I understand that bridal showers can be fun and help build memories together. However, when combined with wedding gifts, the financial burden can double. It is necessary for the bride and groom’s side to be considerate so as not to burden those who celebrate with them."

She added, "The popularity of bridal showers is also related to the desire to show off on SNS. While showing off is not inherently bad, it is necessary to minimize it to some extent."