Hi, welcome! It is so nice to have you here today to talk about a wedding, specifically the Korean wedding attire for guests and the dress code for women. As Korea has a rich history of wedding traditions, the wedding ceremony is quite formal, and therefore, there are certain dress codes for you to be aware of.

I got married last summer in Seoul, Korea, and I am heading to Seoul this Saturday for my brother’s wedding at the same wedding hall as mine! I am super excited about it.

The funny thing is that both my brother and I are Korean citizens, but we married a foreigner. I’m married to a Korean Norwegian who has Norwegian citizenship, and my brother is getting married to a Japanese fiancée.

So at both of our weddings, some of our foreign friends and family joined. Before my wedding, my sister-in-law, who was raised in Norway, asked my husband if it was okay for her to wear a hot pink dress to our wedding. (I said “yes, of course!”)

And that got me thinking… Some people may be interested in learning more about outfits to wear at a Korean wedding. So here I am writing this post.

Disclaimer: To make this easy to understand for you, I used AI-generated images for visual examples.

Introduction to Korean Wedding Attire for Guests

So you are going to a wedding in Korea or a Korean couple’s wedding, and you wonder what you should wear.

With a few things to keep in mind, it is quite simple! But before we talk about the guest attire, let’s go over what a Korean wedding is like, so you know what to expect.

A modern Korean wedding still follows some steps from traditional weddings, and therefore, it is still quite formal and big. Keep that in mind when you are picking out your guests’ wedding attire.

Then let’s get started! 👰🏻🤵🏻💍

Different Seasonal Korean Wedding Guest Attires

Korean Wedding Attire for Guests | Men & Women’s Outfits | Spring & Summer

My Other Articles About Korean Weddings

• Korean Wedding Attire for Guests | Men & Women Outfits | Spring, Summer
• Korean Wedding Attire for Guests | Autumn Look for Men & Women
• Korean Wedding Guest Attire | Winter Fashion for Men & Women
• Korean Wedding Gifts
• Korean Wedding Makeup | Natural Romantic Look
• Korean Wedding Hairstyles

Now let’s look at what Korean weddings are about.

About the Korean Wedding

1. The Joints of Two Families

In Korea, weddings are more than just a couple getting together. It is about the joints of the bride’s family and the groom’s family.

Family plays a big role in Korean culture,  and therefore, you will see most of the relatives of each bride and groom.

2. A Formal Wedding

This is another characteristic of a Korean wedding from the old Korean tradition – being formal.

In many Western cultures, they have a small garden wedding or an outdoor wedding somewhere abroad with only a few close friends and family. People also wear something a little more exuberant, a little closer to a beach dress or a party dress, depending on the theme of the party.

Most Korean weddings are held formally at a wedding hall, hotel, or church with a lot of relatives from the bride and groom’s sides. A groom wears a tuxedo and a bride wears a long wedding dress, oftentimes like a ball gown with veils.

So when you are going to a Korean wedding as a guest, try to have this in mind to get yourself dressed for TPO—time, place, and occasion.

3. A Big Wedding

A Korean wedding is relatively big, with many guests ranging from 150 to 250. (I heard some weddings in Korea had nearly 500 guests!)

Other parts of the world hold big weddings like they do in India (I have a few friends who’ve been to an Indian wedding, and they all said it was so huge and awesome!,) but in many other cultures, wedding guests can be as few as 20 to 50 people. For instance, in Norway, where I live now, weddings are held only with very close friends and family, and the number of guests is around 50 on average.

So I would say a Korean wedding falls somewhere between a couple of hundred and less than a hundred.

This is due to the fact that I explained in #1 that a Korean wedding is about the joining of two families. When all the relatives from both the bride and the groom come to the wedding, it can easily become larger. Also, the friends of the bride and groom’s parents love to join and celebrate. They come with their spouse or even bring their children. The number of guests can easily multiply!

4. The Wedding Ceremony is Short

Compared to how big and formal the wedding is, the wedding ceremony, per se, is quite short.

Here is a brief overview of the common wedding process in Korea.

1. Pre-ceremony information (10 minutes before the ceremony)
2. Opening remarks & wedding officiant’s greetings
3. Ignition of fire on candles
4. Officient’s introduction
5. Groom entrance
6. Bride entrance
7. Bride & Groom wedding bows to each other
8. Wedding vows
9. Declaration of marriage
10. A speech from the wedding officiant
11. Epithalamium
12. Greetings to the bride and groom’s parents
13. The Bride & Groom bow to the guests
14. Bride & Groom’s march
15. Photo time & Closing of the wedding ceremony
16. Banquet hall
17. Buffet

This whole process can take about a few hours, but no longer than 5–6 hours.

5. A Big Buffet After the Ceremony

Instead of cutting a huge wedding cake at a wedding in America, people just go straight into the buffet after the wedding ceremony is done.

A buffet is one of the most important parts of the wedding, as it is a way for the newlywed couple to show gratitude towards their guests.

My mom always said, “The top three things people remember about the wedding are the wedding hall, the bride’s dress, and the feast.” If the buffet had a great variety and quality, guests would be happy.

Now that you’ve learned the main characteristics of a Korean wedding, let’s get to the fun part: the dos and don’ts of Korean wedding attire for guests!

Korean Wedding Attire for Guests | Dress Code for Men & Women

Korean Wedding Attire Dos

1. A Formal or Semi-Formal Suit

A formal or semi-formal suit is acceptable for both men and women at a Korean wedding for guests.

2. Stylish yet Toned-Down

It is best to avoid clothes that are too flashy or too shabby. If it is too flashy, you need to be considerate so that the bride and the groom become the center of attention.

Clothes that are too casual can make the bride and groom feel like you are not considerate of how much effort they have put into this wedding event.

So try to be stylish, professional, and considerate of what you wear at a Korean wedding as a guest.

3. Be Humble

As a Korean wedding is still a formal event that evolved from Korean wedding traditions and has many older relatives coming, you want to have humble clothing without showing too much of your skin.

Opt for a classic suit that fits your body well and makes you feel comfortable.

Korean Wedding Attire Don’ts

It’s a wedding, not a funeral! Avoid all black that looks like funeral attire.

1. No Funeral Attire

In Korea and many other places in the world, wearing all black is funeral attire. Wearing all black, which reminds people of funeral attire, is not permitted.

However, it might be difficult for men to distinguish funeral attire from wedding attire.

Reserve white for the bride to flaunt at her wedding.

2. No All-Black or All-White 

This is also common in many other places in the world, where a bride wears a white wedding dress but avoids wearing all-white attire.

I would recommend not wearing a full white top or a skirt either. A little bit of white color in your attire is alright.

But when in doubt about whether you should wear something or not, I recommend not wearing it, and you can choose something else. You don’t want to take the risk of wearing something inappropriate at your friend’s or family’s wedding and have that as proof in their wedding picture.

If you want to wear something bright, then opt for beige or light colors.

All-black attire also resembles funeral attire, as mentioned, so avoid that as well.

This is a great outfit; I love it! Just not at a Korean wedding… It is often perceived as impolite to wear something too flashy at a Korean wedding. Remember that it is an occasion for the bride and the groom to shine.

3. Not Too Flashy

Your clothing should not be too flashy, as in not showing too much skin or being too extravagant. Remember, the bride and groom should be the center of attention at their wedding.

Korean Wedding Attire for Guests: Examples

Wearing a formal or semi-formal suit involves a little more than just putting on a jacket and trousers. It’s about assembling an outfit that adheres to specific dress codes, expresses personal style, and ensures comfort and confidence.

A sleek formal attire for both men and women is a great choice for Korean wedding attire!

1. FORMAL ATTIRE

Formal Attire for Women

Formal attire is the safest way to present yourself at a Korean wedding.

Think of business formal attire for both men and women. That’s great attire to wear at a Korean wedding!

Tops for Women

• Suit: A tailored suit in a dark color, consisting of a blazer and trousers or a skirt that falls to the knee or longer. Fabrics should be high-quality.
• Blouse: A blouse in a solid color or with minimal embellishments.

 My Pick 

Invest in a gorgeous silk blouse that is natural and comfortable to wear. I love the 100% pure silk long-sleeved tops from Lily Silk.

Bottoms for Women

• Tailored Trousers: Opt for warmer and heavier fabrics that can keep you warm, like wool, wool-blend, or tweed. Make sure they fit you comfortably.
• Knee Length to Medi-Length Skirts: A pencil skirt or an A-line skirt that is just above the knee to below the knee is a great choice

Wide pants are comfortable and stylish!

Accessories for Women

• Footwear: closed-toe pumps or high heels in black or a color that matches the outfit.
• Accessories: They should be elegant and understated.

My Pick

I love looking nice and professional, but I hate feeling uncomfortable after wearing heels for a long period. Are you with me, ladies? This type of quality low-block pump is a lifesaver for events like weddings, where you’ll be walking around for a while. Naturalizer Women’s heels are known for their comfort, so perhaps you could wear these to your wedding event!

Formal Attire for Men

What to Wear for Men

• Suit: Choose a classic, dark-colored suit with natural fabric. The suit should be well-tailored to fit nicely on your body.
• Shirt: A crisp, white dress shirt is standard. Pair it with a silk tie that complements the suit. You can leave a bow tie for the groom to flaunt.
• Footwear: Black Oxford shoes are the gold standard. They should be polished to shine.
• Accessories: Keep accessories minimal. A watch, cufflinks, and a nice belt would do.

2. SEMI-FORMAL

Want to have a little more fun with your outfit? This kind of semi-formal attire is also a very popular clothing choice at a Korean wedding for guests!

Semi-Formal Attire for Women

Outers for Women

• Suit: Suit sets could also work for semi-formal attire for women. Blazers can be in lighter colors or subtle patterns.
• Tweed Jacket: These are a great choice! It’s quite popular in Korea to wear these, and they can come in many colors, patterns, and buttons.

 My Pick 

Tweed blazers are a great jacket to have over your top for a chilly season! Goelia has a great tweed dress, blazers, and skirts for you to take a look at.

Tops for Women

• Blouse: You have more freedom to choose regarding textures, colors, and slight embellishments.

Accessories for Women

• Footwear: You can opt for open-toe shoes or even stylish flats, depending on the occasion.
• Accessories: You can dress bolder with accessories. But avoid something that is too big or that distracts from the overall outfit.

Semi-Formal Attire for Men

• Suit: You have more flexibility with colors and patterns. I personally really love light linen suits!
• Shirt: You can experiment with shirt colors and patterns. But ensure they don’t clash with the suit. Ties are recommended, but you can leave them out. If you choose to wear ties, you can have more colors and patterns.
• Footwear: You can wear slightly less formal styles that are more comfortable, like brogues or loafers, and even suede can be acceptable.
• Accessories: You can express more of your personality with accessories such as colorful socks, a unique tie clip, or an interesting belt.

Styling Tips for Men

Shop WoodBelt

It can feel limiting and difficult to stylize formal or semi-formal attire, especially if you are a man. One of the best ways for men to stylize their suits is to wear a gorgeous statement belt. This wood belt is beautiful, eco-friendly, and artisanal, and is a great way to stylize your suit as a man. The wood buckle is light, so it’s easy on your waist, but you might have to readjust now and then to make sure they are in the right place. They ship worldwide, so check this out if you are interested!

Features of Woodbelt

• Beautiful artisanal and eco-friendly wood buckle belt
• Light and easy on the waist (might have to readjust because of it)
• Worldwide shipping

3. HANBOK: Korean Traditional Clothing

The groom’s mom wears a Hanbok in a blue-shade skirt, and the bride’s mom wears a red-shade skirt.

Hanbok, Korean traditional clothing, is usually worn by a close family. Especially, if you are the mother of the bride or the groom, you usually match the Korean traditional clothing hanbok with different colors of the skirts. If you are the groom’s mother, you wear a blue skirt. If you are the bride’s mother, you wear a red skirt.

As an older sister to my brother, my mom also asked me if I wanted to wear a Hanbok for my brother’s wedding.

I wish you all a great wedding day! Have fun!

My Thoughts on Korean Wedding Attire for Guests

I hope you found this blog post on Korean wedding attire for guests helpful!

When I found out that many people were looking for Korean wedding attire for guests, I gladly started writing this post. Had I known that this was something people were curious about, I would have written this post and sent it out to my non-Korean friends and family.

Now that I have another Korean wedding to attend with foreigners, I knew that I had to write this post as soon as I could so I could share it with my foreign friends and family.

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