The Studio/Dress/Makeup Korean Wedding Package

• Source: Hellomuse

The Most Significant Coupon

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While I (and by “I” I mean 99% my wife) was preparing for the recent wedding celebration, my wife and I of course got to learn a great deal of the wedding industry and in particular, the differences between American and Korean norms and practices. Since we only had about a month after landing in Korea before the big event, we did a bit of research of what would be most efficient - preparing the bulk in New York or trying to squeeze it in Korea right upon arrival.

Luckily we were able to hand most major purchases and arrangements before the flight but I wanted to share one key little practice of Korea that we learned about while taking everything into consideration - the Studio Dress Makeup package. Called 스드메//“ShDhMeh” by taking the first Korean syllable of each word, the Studio Dress Makeup package is apparently a staple of wedding prep. Simply summarized, it’s a financial and planning deal where all 3 are handled in one go.

• package options | Source: Com Wed

• Source: Naver

These are just examples and they only cover some of the basics. Brides and grooms to-be can opt into a never ending list of options that go from smart budgeting to astronomically luxuriant. These can include the basics of photo/dress/makeup and even go on to include perks like botox shots and specialized massages, directed to slim that waistline and shrink that face before the big day.

3 Birds with 1 Stone

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But why? Who cares? Why not just take the initiative and take care of each separately? There are a variety of actual and potential reasons but it all boils down to simple consolidation. Weddings are expensive (no surprise) and there are particular reasons why Koreans are especially motivated to cram all the necessities together.

• Source: Eungi Korea Wedding

1_ Cost. Each of these things separately are particularly costly in Korea. Taking just a dress for example - besides the cost of the dress itself, Dress shops charge an extra ~100USD for each try. Every time you’re interested in a garment, you cough up a Benjamin. I know.

2_ Style. If you’ve ever purposely decorated the interior of a home, you know that’s it’s very difficult to coordinate the couch with the rug with the TV stand to the framed pictures to the coffee table books. (I’ve actually never done this but I’d imagine it’s pretty tough). Trying to coordinate a style between dress, make-up, and photographer can be a daunting task.

• Source: The Louvre Bridal

3_ Mental sanity. For most people in Korea, the wedding just may be the most important day of their lives. The pressure is enormous and many cave to the innumerable whims of others. With the widespread agony, the great opportunity for Studio Dress Makeup coordinators came into existence.

• These are just getting ridiculous. Source: Korea Wedding Concept Photography

At it makes sense in such a strange way. This is probably the most expensive affair for any young (and even older) people, why not apply cost-saving commercial sensibility to the prep?

Crisis Averted

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To be honest, I praise The Lord that I didn’t have to deal with this microcosm of madness. I like bootstrapping things and even though most decisions for venue, flowers, invitations, processions, after-programming, family events, exchanging of gifts, and dozens of other factors that are completely unknown were ultimately not up to me and handled by my then-fiance', I like the idea that this whole event was done with our 'collective' choices injected into each aspect. Being dragged around from venue to venue, being offered packaged deals like a paying amateur model didn't seem very appealing to me.

Nonetheless, this stuff really exists. So if you're ever stressed out in preparation for your big day, consider buying a little package and having everything handled in Korea!

Steem on lovebirds!