Wedding Customs Around the World – Japan
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The main religion in Japan is Shinto, and traditional Japanese wedding ceremonies are performed in a Shinto shrine. Shinto wedding ceremonies are very personal and are attended only by family members and close friends.
The bride wears a traditional white Japanese wedding kimono and is painted white from head to toe to symbolise her maiden status. The brides hair is styled in a traditional hair style and adorned with beautiful gold combs and accessories. A white wedding hood is meant to hide two front golden horns during the wedding ceremony to symbolize obedience.
There are wedding accessories that are worn for tradition and to bring good luck. The bride carries a small purse style sack and a small encased sword. A fan is worn in the obi belt as the gradual widening of the open fan implies happiness and thus brings a happy future.
Japanese grooms wear a traditional black kimono with a short overcoat that shows the family crest along with pleated pants.
Traditional Japanese weddings are conducted by a Shinto priest. The first part of the ceremony calls for the purification of mind body and soul of the couple. After the purification ceremony the couples exchange marriage vows while their families face each other.
Central to the traditional Japanese marriage ceremony is the ritual of drinking nine cups of sake to symbolise their unification. After the first drink they are considered to be married. Families and guests also drink sake, to symbolize the bonding of the couple as well as of the two families. The fathers of the groom and the bride then introduce their respective family members.
Traditional Japanese flute music is often performed at the wedding ceremony and guests are expected to offer the couple money in a festive envelope either before or after the wedding ceremony.
At the reception party the bride wears an elaborate silk brocade kimono over the white one. It is embellished with scenes of flowers, cranes, pines, flower carts or nature motifs. Although usually red it can be other colours from imperial purple to sea green. The bridal kimono is sometimes handed down in the family or made into futon bedding later in life.
Due to the climate, many Japanese brides prefer spring and autumn weddings. Certain wedding anniversaries are considered lucky, so it is common to see dozens of newlywed couples heading for their honeymoon on the same day.