Whether you have been invited to a traditional Japanese wedding or you are just curious about wedding traditions in general, you will find that there are some fascinating aspects about a Japanese wedding ceremony that make it unique from other similar events. A Japanese wedding is usually Buddhist, Shinto, or Christian in form, or it may not even be religious at all. The style of a wedding often has more to do with the couple’s tastes than their religious beliefs.
The most customary sort of Japanese wedding that you will most likely observe is the Shinto style wedding; they are private events held at a shrine. Only close family members will take part in the ceremony, although there might be an older couple attending too, to take on the role of the matchmaker. The ceremony consists of customs that involve drinking sake, and in more modern context, the exchange of wedding bands. The families of the bride and the groom will also exchange drinks of sake to display that the two families are now linked together. Japanese brides wear a shiromuku, a white kimono, for wedding dresses, while the grooms will wear montsuki, a formal black kimono, and the wide legged trousers known as hakama.
When the service has ended at the Shinto shrine, there is often a reception celebration, where the extended family, friends, and colleagues will attend to celebrate the wedding. Guests typically dress formally, and it is common to see women wearing suits as well as kimono to this event.
It is expected that a Japanese wedding invitation is replied to as soon as possible and it is imperative to not forget that a gift of money is neccessary. There may be a specific amount on the invitation, but if not, you can decide how much to give based on how close you are to the happy couple; the closer you are to them, the more you are expected to give. The money, ideally in crisp new bills, is put into an envelope, known as a shugi-bukuro, and the name of the giver is written carefully on the front. The guests will be given gifts as well in the form of wedding mementos known as hikidemono; lately there has been a fad where the guests get to pick their gifts from a catalogue.
The wedding reception is normally a very charming affair, where the new couple sits on a stage and many people sing songs of celebration or congratulations in their honor. There is usually a Western style wedding cake and in many cases the couple will stroll all over the room to light candles and to chat with the guests. Rather than staying in their formal wedding dress, the bride will likely change into a less formal kimono.
A Japanese wedding can take styles from various different cultures and traditions, and it is just as probable to see Japanese brides wearing elegant Western wedding dresses as it is to see them in a formal white kimono and elaborate headdress. When invited to a Japanese wedding, a good idea would be to inquire what is suitable and what the couple’s expectations are from the guests. No matter where you are from, though, you will find that a wedding is a way to help a happy couple celebrate their joy.
