Wedding Ceremony in Japan

 In Japan, there are four kinds of wedding ceremonies, Shintoistic, Christian, Buddhist and non-religious styles. It doesn't necessarily match with one's religion. Many people are not that particular about religion so wedding style depends on what the couple feels like. For example, non-Christian couples often have their weddings at chapels in Japan.
 In general, weddings are held only on so-called "lucky days".
 

 Japanese traditional wedding ceremony is Shinto-style. It is held at shrines. Brides who choose to have a traditional Japanese wedding at a shrine wear a white kimono, called "shiro-muku". It means white and pure and also symbolizes that the bride will give up her family and become the color of her husband's family. 

 Actually I have never attended Shinto-style wedding ceremony. Because Christian-style wedding is more common in Japan. I think this is because many brides want to wear a wedding dress. My brother got married last year, and they also chose a Christian-style wedding.
  

 When I attend my brother's wedding ceremony, it was held at church in the hotel in Motomachi where is famous for night view. Then they Exchange of Wedding Rings and Exchange of Wedding Vows in the a million‐dollar view. kk

  After wedding ceremonies, reception parties called "kekkon hiroen" are held in the same hotel. There are relatives, friends, and co-workers are invited to wedding receptions. Usually people who attend wedding ceremonies bring cash for a gift. 

  And it's important that the cash is enclosed in a special envelope called shugi-bukuro, and your name is written on the front. It's polite to use new bills with no creasing.
 

 Female guests wear dresses or kimono. My mother wore Kimono. Then people MUST NOT wear white dress. Because the Brides wear a wedding dress, so if people wear white dress, the Brides cannot be conspicuous. And male guests commonly wear black formal suits.

 During a wedding reception, the my brother and his wife sat on a stage, enjoying the guests' speeches and performances. Many people sang congratulating songs for them. 

 

　It's typical for the couple to cut a wedding cake and to walk around the reception room, lighting the candles and greeting guests. We ate a full course meal that was very delicious. And my brother gave a teddy bear that has as the same weight as my brother was born for my parents, and his wife too.

My parents (left) and her parents also cut a wedding cake. 

  And the bride and groom went to change costumes a couple of times. Then my brother wore his job costume, and his wife wore yellow wedding dress. They were looked different.   
  After the ceremony, guests got gifts from my brother and his wife. It was gift catalogs from which guests can choose gifts are popular for "hikidemono" such as food, clothes, dishes or accessories whatever you want.

 And newly marries couple usually go to a honeymoon. My brother and his wife went to Australia.
 I really enjoyed their wedding ceremony... ❤