Jung Ha-nui (34) married her boyfriend of two years, Choi Jeong-ho (29), last September without a wedding ceremony. “It didn’t make sense to plan for a year for something that lasts less than an hour,” she said. She was inspired by older coworkers who had skipped weddings during the pandemic and were happily married. Instead of sending traditional invitations, the couple created a digital announcement to introduce themselves to friends and family. The money they saved went toward a honeymoon in California’s Yosemite National Park. Their time at a mountain lodge became a cherished memory, and the day they left for their trip is now their anniversary.
Like Jung and Choi, many newlyweds in South Korea are choosing to skip traditional weddings, elope, or hold micro weddings with fewer than 20 guests. These couples are rejecting expensive wedding culture in favor of more personal celebrations. For some, this means swapping tuxedos and wedding dresses for jeans and simple outfits.
Yoon Ji-soo and her new husband, Kim Jae-hyun, tied the knot this year without a formal ceremony. They spent just 50,000 won on printed invitations and hosted intimate gatherings with friends, sharing their favorite Japanese sake with guests. “We even had a venue booked,” Yoon recalled, “but we couldn’t see the point of a cookie-cutter wedding where we’d only have 30 seconds to greet each guest.” Instead, the couple focused on meaningful conversations and enjoying meals with their loved ones.
Kim Hyun-seok and Park Go-eun also chose to elope with a family meal in February, inviting their parents to receive their blessings as a married couple. They skipped the usual wedding elements, such as studio photos, dresses, and makeup. Instead, they spent 10 days and 11 nights on a honeymoon in Italy and Spain, visiting football stadiums in each city. “We invested our time and money into the honeymoon rather than the ceremony,” Kim said. “It gave us the best memories we could have asked for.”
For couples who still want a ceremony but find wedding hall costs unreasonable, micro weddings offer a more affordable alternative. Cho Ha-jung, a 29-year-old who runs a nail salon in Gyeonggi Province, shared, “It felt wasteful to spend the congratulatory money from family and friends on a wedding company we had no personal connection with.” With only six months before moving into a pre-purchased apartment, finding a suitable venue was nearly impossible. Cho invited just 12 immediate family members, including parents and siblings, holding a micro wedding with only 14 people in total. The ceremony cost 2.77 million won, while the couple spent 7 million won on a seven-day honeymoon in Japan instead.
Couples who opted for a “no wedding” or micro wedding unanimously reported no regrets and felt more satisfied with their choices. Kim Chae-rin, who married last October with just 21 guests, shared, “Unlike typical weddings where the bride and groom feel distant from the guests, I could see every reaction clearly.” The 29-year-old added, “It was so nice to make eye contact and actually talk with our guests.”
Kim Hye-ri, a 29-year-old who held a micro wedding with just 10 close family members in April last year, said, “Friends who had traditional weddings all told me they don’t remember anything because it was so hectic.” She continued, “We saved a lot of money and spent meaningful time with our families. If I had to do it again, I’d make the same choice.”
