Were You Invited To A Japanese Wedding?

If you were asked to a classical Japanese wedding, or if you have been curious about wedding traditions in general, you will see that there are some amazing points about a Japanese wedding ceremony that make it one of a kind from other similar events. A Japanese wedding can take on many different styles depending on preference. There are Buddhist, Shinto, or Christian types, or the ceremony may be strictly non-religious in nature. The style of the wedding most likely has more to do with the couple's taste than their religious preference.

The most traditional sort of Japanese wedding that you are likely to see is the Shinto style wedding, which are private affairs conducted at shrines. Only intimate family members will attend this service, though there will often be an older couple there as well, to act in the matchmaker role. The ceremony consists of rituals that involve drinking sake and in more modern context, the exchange of wedding bands. The respective families will also exchange drinks of sake to show that the two families are now linked together. The bride is typically dressed in shiromuku, a white kimono, while the groom will wear montsuki, a formal black kimono, and the wide legged trousers known as hakama.

After the service at the Shinto shrine, there usually follows a reception party, where the extended family, friends and co-workers of the couple will gather to celebrate the wedding. The dress is typically very formal and it is not uncommon to see women in suits as well as kimono in attendance.

It is expected that a Japanese wedding invitation is replied to as soon as possible and it is crucial to not forget that a gift of money is very important. There may be a specified 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 would give. Preferably, the money is given in crisp new bills, and is put into an envelope known as a shugi-bukuro and the name of the giver is written nicely on the front. The guests will be presented withoftentimes a very happy and entertaining event. The bride and groom are usually seated on a stage where many guests get to sings songs of celebration and congratulations for them. It is very common to see a Western style wedding cake, and in many receptions one will see the bride and groom walk around the room to light candles and to greet the guests. The bride usually changes into a less formal kimono than remain in her formal wedding dress.

A Japanese wedding can take elements from many different cultures and traditions, and it is just as likely to see a bride in an elegant Western wedding dress as it is to see her in a formal white kimono and elaborate headdress. If you have been invited to a Japanese wedding, you may wish to ask what is appropriate and what the couple is expecting from their guests. No matter where you are from, though, you will find that a wedding is a way to help a happy couple celebrate their love.

By: Neta T. Ratzin

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