A couple that travels together, stays together. That is what I believe, anyway.

So when it came to taking our wedding photographs, my husband and I agreed it was going to be overseas.

The moment we chanced upon a Korean travel-cum-wedding photography package offered by a local bridal shop, we knew that was it! The country - then an untried destination to us - offered beautiful scenery unmatched by anything you could find in Singapore, and the weather was cool (we had heard horror stories of couples sweating buckets under their heavy gowns and suits).

Plus, I would not have to worry about piling on the kilos. It is nigh impossible to get fat on that Korean staple, kimchi, which has only 33 calories per cup (less than 15 cal/100g).

Together with three other couples, we went to Seoul in October last year, with an entourage comprising a make-up artist, a hairstylist and two photographers. The photo shoot would take place on Nami Island, located 63km north of Seoul on the Han River. Nami Island is also the main location site for Winter Sonata, a tearjerker that made popular heartthrob Bae Yong Jun a household name among aunties in Singapore.

Stars in the making

I felt like part of Hallyuwood - the Korean version of Hollywood - when I strutted around in my wedding gown, full make-up and all.

Understandably, we generated quite a bit of interest among the locals. Intrigued by the sight of four wedding couples, many stopped to wish us well. A few bolder youngsters asked to take pictures with us, while many probably happily snapped away without our knowledge.

Nami Island in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do province, is as picturesque in real life as it is on TV. In autumn, the leaves turn a passionate hue of red, or various shades of green and yellow, and an inexplicable aura of romance lingers in the air.

No wonder it was picked as the location site where the two main characters of Winter Sonata fall in love. I heard that Nami Island in winter looks drastically different, when the rows of chestnut trees and poplars, as well as the beautiful lawns of grasslands, are covered in a blanket of snow - still romantic, but with a hint of melancholy.

Our acquaintance with moviedom did not end at Nami. The drama continued when we had the chance to don the Korean national costume, the hanbok, back in a palace in Seoul city. Hanboks used to be everyday attire for Koreans until Western-style clothing made its appearance in Korea about 100 years ago. Today, the hanbok is worn only on special occasions such as weddings.

By the time my hair was combed back and tied in a bun - as a traditional Korean woman would do when wearing a hanbok - I thought I looked quite like a Jang-geum wannabe in the series, Jewel of the Palace.

Cool climate

Glamour aside, the best part about taking your wedding pictures in Seoul has to be the cool weather. I could have a shoot starting at 9am, and not have to touch up my make-up for the entire day. The only inconvenience was not being able to visit the loo as often as I liked, because of the heavy gowns. But for the sake of a wedding album with a difference, this was a little sacrifice.

Food and fun

Every single meal in Seoul is accompanied by kimchi, fermented vegetables that can be preserved for long periods of time. But don't worry - there are more than 160 varieties differentiated by region and ingredients, so you will not have a chance of tasting the same kimchi twice.

As part of the package, we visited Namdaemum market, where over 1,500 accessory stores are concentrated. Here is shopping with a difference: Namdaemun opens daily except Sundays, from 11 pm to 5 pm the next day. My only grouse is that we did not have enough time to go through all the stores!

Still, navigating through the shopping district, hand in hand with your loved one, has a romance all of its own - one you cannot put a price on.

If you are planning to travel to Korea, visit http://english.tour2korea.com/

Photos: Korea Tourism Organization

Note: This article was part of the Natas Travel 2006 Special published in The Straits Times on March 23, 2006. Its headline, '33 calories is all that is in Korea's 'hottest' dish', was used as a reference to the project's main lead: 'Travel is a numbers game'.