Wedding Venue Selection Journey
서울특별시 강서구 등촌동 73-1
The first step in wedding preparation is undoubtedly booking the wedding hall.
With a target for the second half of 2026, we started our venue tours in September.
One day, we went on a covert tour to get a feel for the atmosphere.
(I was too shy and worried about being a nuisance, so it wasn't easy to see clearly... the covert tour was tough.)
Considering the guests from the provinces,
we looked for venues near Gimpo Airport.
Taking a day off, we visited two places!
Appel Gamo Gongdeok, Botanical Park Wedding
In fact, we considered many more places.
1. Louis Vives Gangseo
--> Still under construction and not yet open,
I initially thought it would open in the second half of 2025, but it changed to the first half of 2026.
I hesitated due to uncertainty.
It seemed to have great discounts before opening and the advantage of being a new venue,
but for someone who is extremely anxious, worries come first.
The perspective view looked very similar to the DMC Tower Wedding Felice Hall.
2. Grand Convention Dangsan
--> I was attracted to it because it had a chapel hall, but
after the renovation, it looked quite different from the chapel.
When I went for the covert tour, it didn’t feel like a chapel at all.
The wood tones were largely removed, and the white tone became dominant.
3. Amanti Hotel Hongdae Wedding
--> This also had a chapel vibe, so I included it as a candidate!
However, it was quite far from the subway station, and approaching it by car seemed very complicated.
But the overall atmosphere of the hall was very much like a chapel.
Unfortunately, it was disappointing.
Thus, the final choices were
Appel Gamo Gongdeok,
and Magoknaru Botanical Park Wedding!
Appel Gamo Gongdeok (La Robe Hall)
Gongdeok Station (Line 5, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, Airport Railroad)
It’s very convenient to access from Gimpo Airport.
However, it shares a building with other shops,
and surprisingly, it was a bit complicated to find after getting off the station.
(Although narrow, you have to cross the street once.)
But the hall's atmosphere was truly my style.
The space was all small, but I actually liked the coziness.
The marble virgin road shining in that hall is really beautiful.
The bride's waiting room is connected to the outer hall, but
it is separated by curtains during the entrance.
However, the fact that both sides' parents have to share the waiting room,
and the limited space for changing into hanbok,
and where to do makeup and hanbok fittings was a bit overwhelming.
Also, while the restaurant is separated for each hall,
they say they can't serve meals if the number exceeds 500.
Honestly, I don't think we will have 500 guests,
but since my boyfriend's side is a combined family, it's hard to estimate.
Let's not create unnecessary worries for someone who is extremely anxious!
The good thing about Appel Gamo is that you can check the rental fees and meal costs directly on the website!
I wonder if there’s no difference between walk-ins and online inquiries?
Do you need to walk in to get the same-day contract benefits?
After much contemplation, we ultimately decided on....!!!
Botanical Park Wedding (Kara Hall)
Magoknaru Station (Line 9, Airport Railroad)
Botanical Park Wedding seems to have great conveniences for guests.
First, it is directly connected to Magoknaru Station,
but once you go outside the station, it’s really hard to find.
It's easy to confuse with the office building next door,
and I've often seen guests getting lost.
The flow from the wedding hall to the banquet hall is extremely simple and close.
Being on the same floor and right in front is a huge advantage.
The hall is bright and seems designed to give an outdoor wedding vibe,
but there’s artificial grass on the virgin road??
Haha, but the reaction was so bad that it’s now covered with white.
They said they might renovate the virgin road, so please do it before my wedding.
The lighting can be adjusted to be bright or dim,
and you can choose and play videos during the ceremony or hide the screen for a clean look.
(But you can’t play videos during the meal.)
When taking photos, the screen is hidden.
Kara Hall has a lovely floral scent, but when I went for the afternoon ceremony,
the flower smell felt a bit overwhelming.
Another good point is that there’s a bridal makeup shop (Sua Atelier) and a hanbok rental service in the same building,
which means the bridal party can navigate less on the wedding day.
I might be worried since I can’t manage everything on the day,
but it seems they help each other with directions to minimize inconvenience.
Final Decision
Botanical Park Wedding
In the end, we decided on Botanical Park Wedding!
Although Appel Gamo Chapel still lingers in my mind,
I believe this is the best choice.
Get ready, Kara Hall!
Now, it's really starting.
Ahhh, there’s so much to do!!!!!!!!
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