The Seoul City government announced that it is establishing a comprehensive wedding support system set to launch officially, aiming to offer soon-to-be-married couples more reasonable and unique wedding options through beautiful wedding settings such as cafes with views of Namsan and traditional hanok houses. This system includes not only wedding ceremony support but also encompasses photography, production, and the promotion of wedding culture.
The ‘More Beautiful Wedding’ project allows couples to use iconic urban spaces in Seoul as wedding venues and provides support from consultation to the wedding ceremony. Currently, there are 61 wedding locations in operation, including the Namsan Hanam Wedding Garden, with about 506 couples planning their weddings through this program this year.
The project supports various themed weddings, such as ‘Small Weddings’ for gatherings under 100 people, ‘Traditional Weddings’ that blend tradition with modernity, and ‘Eco-Friendly Weddings’ that incorporate the use of reusable items and campaigns for public transportation.
The city is also offering to-be-decided iconic locations such as Namsan and the Han River as places for pre-wedding photo shoots during non-wedding hours, with plans to expand the number of locations based on feedback. To promote wedding photography at these landmark venues, starting from May, the city will provide support for photography fees and venue styling to couples conducting their first photo shoot at these places.
In June, the city will host the ‘Seoul Wedding Festa’ at the Seoul Botanic Park to introduce a new paradigm in practical wedding culture. The event will include wedding consultations, information on marriage and childbirth lifecycle policies, and lectures from experts. A ‘More Beautiful Wedding Remind Competition’ will be held to emphasize weddings as cherished cultural events in families’ lives and memories.
The number of wedding service partners will increase from 10 to 15 to offer more choices to couples. Furthermore, efforts will be made to improve the quality and satisfaction of wedding services through mandatory application of Fair Trade Commission guidelines and standard contracts, as well as continuous refinement of service systems based on satisfaction surveys.
To continuously expand wedding venue options and secure unique spaces, the city will work with experienced partners and gather feedback from users to discover urban spaces suitable for weddings.
The city will accept applications for weddings from March 3 to 5 on a first-come-first-served basis. Residents of Seoul, those with Seoul-based family members, or those whose parents are citizens of Seoul can apply. However, financial support for supplies (up to 1 million won) is available only if either the bride or groom resides in Seoul.
Ma Chae-sook, head of Seoul’s Women and Family Policy Office, stated, “The ‘More Beautiful Wedding’ project is recognized for its symbolic value, turning weddings into cherished, long-lasting memories intertwined with the city, rather than being one-time events. We will continue to create an environment conducive to marriage, ensuring that couples face no obstacles from the start.”