The Wedding Singers

Some of my favorite singers growing up were Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. I used to sing my heart out in the shower to Christina and my Mom would be polite enough to tell me I sounded nice. But in reality, I am completely tone deaf. I couldn't carry a note if my life depended on it! I have always wished I was talented in this area but just never could add this to my resume. So often I would blast my music while driving my car and actually fool myself into thinking I sounded decent. I mean who hasn't sung into their hair brush and danced around their room to girl power songs like the Spice girls or Avril? I have always wondered what it would be like to be a famous singer and if I had the talent, could I cut it?

Well a few months ago I was asked to sing in my coworkers Korean wedding. My first response was, "You know I can't sing right?" But that was irrelevant, as she wanted myself and another girlfriend of mine to sing along with our friend Kyle who actually has a great voice. My second thought was, "Ok he will drown me out, I will be alright." I realized after a few more conversations with friends here that it would look really good to her Korean friends if foreigners did something for her like this in her wedding. It would be pleasing to the older generation apparently, and would make it even more special. So, why not make a fool out of myself and sing in a Korean wedding? If not for the story alone!

So today me and my girlfriend got dressed up in matching blue outfits so we could look like a pop group. The Korean people walking along the sidewalk were giving us a few looks anyway, so I figured we must look pretty authentic! We decided we would be called 'Royal Sass' and we played up our pretend claim to fame the whole ride over! I mean, I was playing out my childhood fantasy of being a famous singer, may as well milk it, right? Where else in the world will anyone EVER ask me to sing in their wedding? This is a once in a lifetime mistake that was made, so make room for the 'talent' please people.

We got to the hotel in Sinsa where the wedding was being held and had to practice our song "Unforgettable" in front of about a hundred people that were already seated. It was beyond awkward but at least gave me a hint of what it would be like to sing during the wedding. It was so official with a real microphone and stage lights! All we needed was a few dance moves and a more upbeat song and we would have been the next pop sensation sweeping Korea! I could just see the billboards reading "Royal Sass, they've got class and look at that American a**"! (A bit rude I know, but they wouldn't be talking about our vocal ability.....)

Once our time to practice was over I had a chance to really look around and see how gorgeous the banquet hall really was. The tables were set up beautifully and we went ahead and grabbed one for all of us foreigners to sit at.

There were beautiful flowers all over the room also including white flowers arrangements at
 each table and around the stage!

Soon we were called to a back room to say hello to the beautiful bride Jenny, who truly looked stunning. She looked like a doll, so perfect and poised, ready for her photos.

 We sat down and the wedding ceremony soon began. First the mothers of the bride and groom came to the stage in their hanboks and bowed to one another in respect of the union of their children's marriage. Then Jenny and her husband came down the aisle, read a few words together (which I believe were the vows), and then a minister said a few words.

 Before I knew it I heard someone say something in Korean along with "Trista, Nikki, and Kyle." I looked at Kyle with a look of complete terror and walked towards the stage. This is how I know Royal Sass could never make it.....we all were shaking on stage. We began to sing and I tried to sway and act natural, but my entire body was shaking with nerves. I forgot some of the words although I had practiced countless times throughout the weekend! Basically the nerves totally got to me, as I thought of the hundreds of people watching, but I just tried to smile and sing through it.

 I realized the moment I sat back down at our table, sweating and shaking, that I could never cut it as a pop star. I am way too stage fright to ever sing in Madison Square Garden! Nevertheless, the bride was beaming throughout our song and everyone at our table said it went great! We apparently didn't sound completely tone deaf and it was a hit. The bride later called us and said she absolutely loved it! Who knew that this would be something that I could do, and more than that, something I could do WELL?

The ceremony only lasted 20 minutes and then the food came out. It was all quite a whirlwind of quick nuptials, a moment of chaotic singing, and then plate after plate of Korean food being placed in front of us.

 There was a moment that the bride and groom came out to cut the cake, but then we never got to eat it. I am still not sure who get's to eat that cake?

 After only an hour the whole wedding was over. The bride and groom came over and said a quick hello to each table and then people left. There was no reception, no dancing, no speeches or first dance as a married couple. It almost didn't feel like a wedding without everyone dancing to YMCA or doing the electric slide!

Overall the experience was totally crazy and terrified me! But it was once in a lifetime and the bride looked beautiful. There won't be any platinum albums for Royal Sass, and our pop star dreams will never quite become a reality. We will just have to settle for being one hit wonders, but I am totally OK with that. For the voices God gave us, I'd say we knocked it out the park!