Hotels offer wedding packages to Chinese couples

By Kim Se-jeong

Recently, many Chinese tourists to Korea have been preferring low-budget accommodations to luxury hotels. To gain their market share, some high-end hotels are offering packages to niche market customers, such as young couples who are fans of Korean dramas and who want to get married in Korea.

THE PLAZA’s “Love Is the Moment” package includes Mariebelle dresses and tuxidos for the wedding rehearsal, make-up by byBOM and photos of the couple at the hotel taken by Kuho Studio.

A hotel representative says brand recognition is important to Chinese customers. They prefer brand names associated with Korean celebrities. byBOM’s makeup services are used by Korean celebrities like Han Ye-seul, Han Hyo-ju, Lee Yun-hee and Chae Jung-ahn.

Lotte Hotel’s “Royal Romantic” package includes a one-night stay in the hotel and a photo shoot at the hotel’s Athene Garden. The Wedding gowns, tuxedos, make-up and other services will be provided in the photo shoot. The package is inspired by Korean soap operas, like “The Heirs” and “My Love from the Star,” which were hits in China. Guests who stay at the hotel for at least two nights will be able to tour the Han River, Bukchon Hanok Village and Insa-dong where the soap operas were shot.

The package costs 8.8 million won for the couple for a one-night stay and 11.8 million won for a two-night stay. The hotel also offers Chinese-speaking guides and a pick-up service from the airport.

InterContinental Seoul COEX’s “Korean Wave Life Style” package offers dresses made by a Korean wedding dress artist Lee Myung-soon. Her dress was worn by Sunye, one of the Wonder Girls members, and Jessica from the Girls’ Generation. Make-up will be done by Kim Chung Kyung Hair Face, a high-end beauty salon that also gave the service to Korean celebrities, such as Chae Jung-ahn, Soon Ae and Kim Jung-eun. InterContinental also offers a personal shopper service. The hotel is close to Hyundai Department Store, a popular destination among Chinese tourists.

Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel stands out with outstanding customer service and interior design. Sheraton gives the Chinese guests the freedom to select its own photographer and make-up artists. The hotel has interior design in red, which is favored by the Chinese. The hotel also provides silverware and tableware with golden decorations, which the Chinese consider very important.