As the only male wedding planner in Chuka Club, a wedding consultant company, Choi provides a different but profound perspective of what it is like to be a planner for such a special event of one’s lifetime. As a job that came from the United States (U.S.), to Japan, to Korea, a wedding planner oversees all the matters that need to be dealt with during the whole process of a wedding. This includes looking for the right photo studios to take wedding pictures, dress boutiques and hair shops for the brides and the grooms. Dealing with Honsoo, which is a tradition in Korea in which families exchange formalities in forms of houses, furniture and money, is also part of their job. They even help out choosing a new house for the newlyweds. Planners help couples usually prepare six months prior to the wedding until the moment when the newlyweds are off to their honeymoon.

Wedding planners especially have to be attentive to the trends in weddings.Choi said, “Especially in Korea, many people look at how celebrities get married. For example, when the famous celebrity Han Ga In got married, the bell-line wedding dress became very popular among the brides.” Therefore, news about which celebrity is getting married where is very important to the planners. However, as a male in this industry, things are little different for Choi. He explained the good and the bad aspects of being a male wedding planner.

Some companies do not even hire male planners but being a male does have its own merits. For example, male wedding planners can be much more objective in looking at the overall style of the bride, including the dress, hair, and makeup. “Because female wedding planners already have their own view of what is considered pretty or not, they might unconsciously impose their preference on the brides. However, being a male wedding planner without any of these experiences related to make-up, we can be much more unbiased and really tell the brides what looks good on them,” said Choi.

On the other hand, Choi mentions that because of the gender, the brides-to-be might feel a bit uncomfortable with the fact that they are showing their faces without make-up to another man, and putting on wedding dresses in front of a man who is not their future husband.

 

Choi did admit that being a wedding planner is not all rainbows and butterflies. “Because this job is one that always has to deal with people, you always have to put a smile on your face, whether you are feeling down or up.” Also there is not much free time for one self as the couples that usually get married both have jobs. “We have to work when the couples get off work, so we also have to work during the weekends when they are both free. If you really think about it, it really is a 24/7 job, as we always have to respond to the couples whenever they ask questions over the phone or even on KaKaoTalk.”

 

 

▲ Choi Jong Hak, the male wedding planner who works at Chuka Club.Photographed by Choi Ji Won.

 

Also, wedding planners have to take care of the couple when things get very “sensitive”. In Korea, there is a saying that goes “Wedding is a reality,” which means that preparing for a wedding might not be as sweet and dreamy as most people might imagine it to be. Therefore, the wedding planners caution the couple that this journey ahead of them will be a tough one. Especially, the future wives might feel that their spouse may be insensitive to the details that matter to both of them. Choi said he even saw some couples that break up during the preparation because of the conflicts.

 

When asked about the possible negative aspects of the whole wedding culture in Korea, Choi said, “I personally think that the weddings in Korea are too standardized. It is always the same type of dress, the same type of wedding hall, and the same type of flower. I think it would be better if there were more diversity within the scenery. For example, in the U.S., they have what is called a house wedding, where weddings are more like parties within the house. Instead of inviting tons of people into a wedding hall, the couple would usually just invite close families and friends and really remain faithful to the meaning of a wedding.” Choi continued that there are a couple of house-weddings being held in Korea, but he said that the Korean wedding culture still has a long way to go to achieve the quality of diversity.

For Choi, one of the things that make this job worthwhile, is the small things. For example, Choi said there was a time when the bride called him right after the wedding and on her way to the honeymoon. “When weddings end, the couples are usually out of their minds. Therefore, when they remember and call me to express their gratitude, it is very touching.”

In being a good wedding planner, there is always something that he tells his junior staff; “Do not be a salesman.” People usually have a prejudice that wedding planners are always trying to make money out of the couples by selling them services, but the fact is, wedding planners just introduce the hair shops or the boutiques. For wedding planners, money should not be the main purpose. Rather, Choi emphasized, it should be about treating the couple with sincerity. “At first it might be difficult, but after some time, it becomes something worthwhile. Besides, the income is not so bad, either.

 

 

As for the future prospect for this job, Choi explained that this market has a lot of potential. Currently, there are many wedding consultants within Seoul but many of them disappear easily. However, there is a huge potential for those that manage to stay. These days, people even come from China to go on wedding tours. Because of Hallyu, the wave of Korean influence, these foreigners come and get their wedding photo shots, hair done, and dresses matched.

 

There is no special certification to be a wedding planner, but one obviously has to know a lot about the wedding process. However it is not only in weddings that one has to be knowledgeable about, but also in economics, fashion, and social events. Being a wedding planner is not all about glitz and glamour as most people might think; there is also a lot of hard work and effort behind it. Therefore, students who want to plan out one of the most beautiful days in people’s lives might think of being a wedding planner in their future.

When asked what the merit of being a wedding planner is, Choi said, “I think this job holds a special meaning as it is a position where you get to help two people prepare for one of the most important events in their lives. Weddings are usually a one in a lifetime event, which makes the job very special.”