[Special Feature] Suwon City Public Wedding Venues... Playing a 'Spot-on' Role as Wedding Planners for Engaged Couples

[News S=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Kim Yun-ho (29), who works in Suwon, has decided to hold a somewhat special outdoor wedding ceremony in early November at Gwanggyo History Park in front of the Suwon Gwanggyo Museum. Originally, the Kim couple agreed to skip the wedding ceremony and substitute a family meal to save on ceremony expenses. However, upon learning that public wedding venues operate in Suwon, they completely revised their plans. After confirming the feasibility at reasonable costs, they quickly signed a contract. The public wedding venue chosen by the engaged couple is called 'Suwon Saebbit Tteul·Gwanggyo'. Kim said, "Thanks to Suwon's public wedding venue, we can hold the wedding ceremony we want at affordable costs," and "Since we're actually having a wedding ceremony we were going to skip, both sets of parents are happy, and all the family is satisfied."

◇A special wedding day, truly special Suwon's own wedding venues

Anyone living in Suwon or working in Suwon can hold special ceremonies at reasonable prices at a total of four public wedding venues in Suwon.

First, 'Suwon Saebbit Tteul·Gwanggyo' is a public wedding venue utilizing Gwanggyo History Park.

Located right in front of the Suwon Gwanggyo Museum next to Dong-Suwon IC, it is a space filled with freshness on a wide, green lawn in spring and autumn.

Crossing the Gwanggyo Stream bridge from the parking lot, modest stone walls are stacked here and there, and tall pine trees stretched out like a folding screen remove the hustle and bustle of the city.

A protected zelkova tree over 370 years old stands at the center, allowing couples to exchange marriage vows in a picture-like setting.

When using it for two hours, the rental fee is only 30,000 won with almost no burden. It can accommodate 100-200 people, and parking is available at 135 spaces, though a fee applies.

'Suwon Saebbit Tteul·Museum' is a wedding venue that decorates the outdoor stage of Suwon Museum as a stage for bride and groom.

The space prepared deep along a quiet path leading into the museum is small but cozy. The theater-style stairs in a semicircle surrounding the stage make the bride and groom stand out as protagonists. When flowers are added to the stage with well-grown trees as backdrop, they harmonize with the blue lawn to create a bright and charming atmosphere.

For just 30,000 won, you can use the space for eight hours entirely for your own wedding ceremony. It can accommodate 100-200 guests, and parking is free.

'Suwon Saebbit Tteul·Arboretum' is the name of the public wedding venue utilizing the visitor center of Ilwol Arboretum located in Jangan-gu.

The Ilwol Arboretum visitor center, with its expansive outdoor landscape framed like a picture through floor-to-ceiling windows, offers excellent bright and open spatial quality.

It is a popular venue where Suwon City's official events are frequently held. As the only public wedding venue where ceremonies can be held indoors rather than outdoors, it offers convenient amenities such as restrooms and parking.

It can accommodate up to 100 people, and the rental fee for two hours is 150,000 won.

However, rental is only available on Mondays when the arboretum is closed. It is a special venue that only couples with weekday wedding schedules can choose.

'Suwon Saebbit Tteul·Haengung' is a special public wedding venue where traditional wedding ceremonies can be held. Traditional ceremonies can be conducted in the courtyard of Suwon Traditional Culture Center near Hwaseong Haengung.

It operates on a small scale with up to 80 people, and a separate reception venue must be arranged at nearby restaurants, but it can be an excellent alternative for couples seeking traditional aesthetics and methods. There is no rental fee.

◇Burdensome wedding costs 'DOWN', happiness 'UP'

Special wedding venues such as museums, parks, and arboretums all share the characteristic of utilizing Suwon's public institutions.

These are spaces operated by Suwon City for citizens to promote healthy marriage culture and simplify wedding preparations.

Previously, only Suwon Museum was available for ceremonies, but Suwon City actively identified usable locations, expanding to four venues starting in May this year.

The most attractive aspect of using public wedding venues is the ability to hold ceremonies in differentiated locations.

Unlike general wedding halls where ceremonies are conducted according to predetermined formats and sequences, Suwon Saebbit Tteul holds a ceremony for only one couple.

Additionally, all aspects such as the order of events and composition can be decided according to the wishes of the couples, creating a perfectly personalized wedding ceremony.

Using Suwon Saebbit Tteul offers the advantage of receiving expert assistance for complex wedding preparations.

The previous method where only the venue was rented and all other procedures were handled individually has been substantially improved to provide comprehensive consulting by professional companies.

To this end, Suwon City selected two professional partner companies through public recruitment in April and signed a business agreement.

As a result, users of Suwon Saebbit Tteul can smoothly navigate complex procedures by utilizing the infrastructure of companies with extensive wedding consulting experience.

Most importantly, public wedding venues are advantageous cost-wise. Not only are rental fees low, but Suwon's public wedding standard prices are disclosed, allowing for more rational choices.

The standard price list presents planning and management fees as well as items such as outdoor special sound systems and chairs in budget and basic versions.

Optional items such as floral decorations (fresh flowers, artificial flowers) and reception meals (bento boxes, catering) also have disclosed standard prices to help with proper decision-making.

For studio, dress, and makeup (SD&M), you may choose freely.

If proceeding with the budget version, you can hold a ceremony for 13.6 million won based on 200 guests.

Considering that the average cost at major general wedding halls in Suwon presented by the Korea Consumer Agency is 20.19-23.79 million won (based on 200 people), this represents a savings of approximately 10 million won.

To reserve a Suwon City public wedding venue, check the desired date and location, then submit a pre-application through Saebbit Talk Talk.

After comprehensive consultation with partner companies, you can submit a rental application to finalize the ceremony.

◇"Marriage? YES!" Contributing to Public-led Marriage Culture Improvement

Beyond wedding venues alone, events creating opportunities for young men and women to lead to marriage are also contributing to marriage culture improvement.

Based on Suwon City's 'Youth Basic Ordinance' supporting the creation of a marriage-encouraging atmosphere, Suwon City holds events where young people understand each other and engage in healthy exchanges.

The goal is not simply couple matching.

It is an effort to strengthen public exchange so that young people who view romance and marriage as luxuries can positively refresh their perspectives on romance and marriage.

The 'Discovery of Romance' event held on the 19th at Suwon Yeongheung Arboretum is a prime example.

With courage, 30 unmarried men and women aged 25-34 who attended began in an awkward atmosphere.

However, starting with simple games, they introduced themselves with similar animal characters.

As programs continued with group activities organized by personality types based on pre-tests, a friendly atmosphere naturally formed among participants.

Following this, there was a time for freely strolling through the arboretum, with participants interacting in small groups as they walked.

One participant said, "Understanding myself and conversing with various people became an opportunity to think about which person would be a good match."

At the first event last year, positive evaluations reached 79% to the question "Did it help improve awareness?"

On the 27th, a festival titled 'A Very Ordinary Day' will also be held at Paldal Culture Center.

The event will support exchanges for 100 unmarried young people to have new meeting and communication opportunities through mission-based programs, dinner parties, and mini concerts.

Additionally, overnight programs are planned for the second half of the year.

A Suwon City official said, "Inquiries about Suwon Saebbit Tteul are coming in succession because ceremonies can be held at reasonable costs in distinctive and attractive public wedding venues," and "We will strive to provide customized support throughout the entire marriage preparation process to help Suwon citizens make a new start with marriage."