The Sweet Meaning of Korean Wedding Ducks & How to Include Them

Korean Wedding Ducks: These cheerful ‘lovebirds’ bring good luck and lasting love to your multicultural wedding 

 

Looking for a meaningful addition to a multicultural Korean wedding ceremony, or a timeless ritual for a traditional celebration? It doesn’t get much cuter – or more meaningful – than exchanging wooden wedding ducks. 

 

These handcarved and handpainted ‘lovebirds’ are carved to look like wild geese and Mandarin ducks, which often mate for life. In this way, the wooden wedding ducks symbolize family, devotion, harmony, and longevity in marriage. Traditionally, the craftsman who carves the ducks prays for the couple’s happiness as he works, infusing them with positivity and optimism for the future.

 

Many wooden wedding ducks are painted or stained in bright colors like red, green, yellow, purple, and blue, to resemble their colorful wild counterparts. Contemporary carvings might be painted with festive designs instead, such as colorful flowers or patterns, or left natural with a clear varnish.

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(Illustration by Jessica Levey)

 

Korean wedding ducks are usually presented to the bride by the groom and his family about a week before the wedding ceremony, during the "hahm" ceremony, part of a formal engagement party. Then, on the day of the wedding, the ducks are included in the ceremony decor, as a meaningful symbol of the couple’s commitment and the joy ahead.

 

It’s easy to adapt this ritual for same-sex and same-gender weddings too – either partner can present the wedding ducks to the other, or purchase them together to feature at your engagement party. You can also put a modern twist on this tradition by asking your chosen-family and close friends to present the ducks to you both during a pre-wedding celebration. 

 

Related: Wings of Love: Whimsical Bird Themed Wedding Ideas

 

If you’d like to include symbolic wedding ducks (or geese) in your own traditional or multicultural Korean wedding, there are many places to purchase them online. Or commission a custom set of ‘lovebirds’ from a local artisan. 

 

Place the cheerful pair on your wedding altar or welcome table, for all your friends and family to see on the special day!

 

 

(Photo: adamkaz / iStock)

 

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More Multicultural & Interfaith Wedding Ideas from American Marriage Ministries

 

• How to Perform a Buddhist Wedding Ceremony

 

• Add a Log Cutting Ceremony to Your Wedding as a Symbol of Cooperation
   
• Simple Guide to the Chinese Tea Ceremony Wedding Tradition
   
• 5 Chinese Love Poems for Your Bilingual Wedding Ceremony
   

 

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Learn How to Officiate Multicultural & Interfaith Weddings with an Online Class

 

We have some exciting news for professional wedding officiants (and pros-to-be) – AMM’s new Interfaith & Multicultural Wedding Course is now available! 

 

In this unique training course, you’ll discover a wide array of rituals and cultural elements used in interfaith and multicultural weddings worldwide – and learn how to perform and incorporate these practices into the weddings and elopements you officiate. This class is designed for beginner wedding officiants to seasoned wedding pros, and everyone in between.  

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New Wedding Officiant training online: AMM’s multicultural and interfaith wedding class created by expert officiant Rev. Dr. Samora Smith!

 

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