A coworker suddenly said, "Let's have lunch together this week," so I went, and after buying me a meal, he handed me a small envelope at the end of the meal. It was a wedding invitation. One foreign coworker said, "Why do you talk about a wedding over a meal?" and found it fascinating. ## What to do when you receive an invitation First, say "Congratulations!" and say hello. You can be honest on the spot about whether you can attend. It's okay if you can't go. Just say, "I'd love to come, but I have something that day," and express your feelings. On the day you go, put the congratulatory money in an envelope and hand it in at the reception desk at the entrance. And don't forget to write your name on the envelope. The most accurate way to find out the amount is to quietly ask a close coworker. ## Why Do We Buy the Meal First? A wedding invitation is a request that says, "Please come." Because it's a request that costs people time and money, many people feel that simply tossing it off by text or mail is rude. That's why people first meet face to face, buy a meal, and invite them politely. The person receiving the invitation can also comfortably tell you right there whether they'll go or not. ## A wedding gift of money is both a present and a way of sharing A wedding costs a lot of money. In Korea, relatives and neighbors have long helped out by chipping in a little money, and the wedding gift is what remains of that spirit. So an invitation I receive today becomes an invitation I repay later. When you go to a coworker's wedding, you trust that the coworker will come to your own happy occasion too. A single meal together is the first greeting in that relationship.