[Luxury World] Shilla Hotel Also 'Joins the Battle'... Proposals Targeting 'May Brides' Starting at 2 Million Won

Hotels Offer Proposal Packages for Wedding Season
Additional Flower Charges... Prices Near 2 Million KRW
"Increase in Private Vendors and High Costs... Demand Down Compared to Last Year"

Bright floral decorations and balloons fill the room. On the table placed in front of the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the outside scenery, sweet cakes and champagne are prepared. Passing through the flower path called the 'Virgin Road' (the path the bride and groom walk down at the wedding venue) that extends from the room door, the groom-to-be holding an expensive proposal ring says this.

"Will you marry me?"

This is a scene of a romantic hotel proposal that brides dream of in May.

InterContinental Seoul COEX offers a 'Romantic Proposal Package'.

In the domestic hotel industry, proposal packages are being launched one after another to coincide with the wedding season. Hotels prepare the entire proposal process, easing the groom-to-be's worries and completing a successful event that satisfies the bride-to-be.

According to the hotel industry on the 15th, Shilla Hotel newly launched a hotel proposal package on the 1st of this month after suspending it during the COVID-19 pandemic. They had stopped the proposal package after the 2019 'Marry Me' package, but this year they introduced a new proposal package called 'Everlasting Moment.'

Shilla Hotel operated the package on a trial basis during Valentine's Day in February. It is said that after receiving positive feedback from customers at that time, it was officially launched as a package product.

The strength of the package lies in Shilla Hotel's flower team. One of the reasons Shilla Hotel is popular as a wedding venue is its floral decorations. To enjoy Shilla Hotel's floral decorations at a wedding, one must pay an amount equivalent to the price of a mid-sized car just for the flowers.

However, by using the proposal package, guests can enjoy floral decorations directly arranged by Shilla Hotel's flower team inside the room. The package offers benefits such as welcome champagne, valet parking, in-room (In room) dinner & brunch or The Parkview breakfast. The package price ranges from 1.4 million to over 2 million KRW.

Signiel Seoul, known as a popular proposal spot among engaged couples, has also been offering the 'Sweet Moment' package stay service since the 1st of this month. It provides the Signiel Premier Riverview room with a panoramic view through floor-to-ceiling windows, along with floral decorations, champagne, chef’s dinner, in-room breakfast, cake, macarons and chocolates, and valet service. Guests can also use the hotel facilities. The price starts from 1.62 million KRW.

Proposal packages at 5-star hotels start from at least 1 million KRW and can exceed 2 million KRW. Prices vary greatly depending on the hotel room and services. Costs increase if balloon decorations, flower virgin roads, or bathtub decorations are added.

Hotel proposal packages have gained explosive popularity since last year as demand grows for luxurious hotel services at a lower cost than 5-star hotel weddings.

While hotel weddings cost over 100 million KRW, couples can enjoy a romantic wedding experience with a hotel staycation and proposal for a much more affordable price in the 2 million KRW range. For example, Signiel’s 'Sweet Moment' package costs 900,000 KRW for a Premier Riverview room stay on weekends. Champagne, dinner, breakfast, facility use, and floral decorations can be enjoyed for about 700,000 KRW.

Some men choose hotel packages because it reduces the stress of planning a proposal. Mr. A, who booked a proposal package at a 5-star hotel, explained, “If you prepare it yourself, you have to be there early to avoid being caught, which is troublesome, but the package is set up according to the desired time. It’s also convenient because you don’t have to clean up decorations like flowers after the proposal.”

The hotel industry is diversifying proposal package services. The Chosun Palace’s 'Timeless Romance Package' offers a gift set of perfume from the French luxury niche fragrance brand 'Ex Nihilo.' InterContinental Seoul COEX’s 'Romantic Proposal Package' includes a Club Corner Suite room with a 180-degree panoramic window view and a 'Sky Lounge usage voucher' worth 1.15 million KRW.

However, it is expected that there will be no reservation wars for hotel proposal packages this year. In the first half of last year, suppressed wedding demand surged explosively, and many engaged couples chose hotels as their proposal venue. But this year, with prolonged high inflation, practical proposals have become the trend. A hotel industry official said, “Unlike in the past, reservations are not fully booked, nor are inquiry calls surging.”

The increase in private companies specializing in proposal decorations is analyzed as a reason for the decreased demand for hotel packages. To save on proposal costs, more people are booking only hotel rooms and using private companies specializing in decorations. The cost of private companies is about 600,000 KRW, which is 100,000 to 200,000 KRW cheaper compared to hotel proposal packages.