Japanese Weddings

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   A customary Japanese wedding is held in a Shinto shrine which, more often than not, are now included in the banquet hall where the wedding reception takes place.

    The Japanese bride wears a white kimono and an elaborate headpiece. The bride's head is adorned with various ornaments which invites good luck to smile down upon the happy couple. The bride is painted pure white from head to toe which signifies her maiden status to the Gods. The groom dons a traditional black kimono during the wedding ceremony.

   The ceremony consists primarily of the bride and groom drinking rice wine also known as sake. The drinking of sake symbolizes the bond of marriage and the unity between the two individuals. After the sake is poured in three stages, the bride and groom drink from their individual cup. The process is repeated two more times progressing with larger-size cups. The number three is significant in Japan. Therefore, three (stages to pour the sake) times three (number of times the bride and groom drink from their cup) times three (the number total cups) equals nine - the English translation of this ritual called "San-San-Kudo." At the conclusion of this elaborate ritual, the couple is considered married.

   The bride will change dresses several times during the wedding reception. Her dress will begin with a colorful red kimono and end with a more Western-style evening gown.

    As a wedding guest, it is customary to offer goshugi as your wedding gift to the wedding couple. Goshugi is commonly known as money and should be given in a festive-colored envelope either before or after the day of celebration. The goshugi can be spent by the wedding couple for wedding-related expenses.

    Due to better climate, most Japanese get married during the spring and fall seasons.

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