Japanese Weddings Today
Couples in Japan enjoy weaving both the ritual of Japanese wedding tradition with modern Western culture. Because Japanese weddings are considered a life event, the wedding ceremony and reception are usually very elaborate. By infusing both ancient old Japanese wedding traditions with borrowed modern Western culture, couples create an unforgettable wedding day.
Japanese Wedding Reception
After the wedding ceremony, the couple greet their guest at the large reception party where all their friends, family and co-workers are in attendance. The reception starts with an introduction of the bride and groom. The reception meal is usually of either French, Chinese or Japanese cuisine and exquisitely served. Guests make contributions of speeches and songs.
The bride will normally change her dress several times, a Japanese wedding tradition dating from the 14th century called "oiro-naoshi" that signifies that she is prepared to return to everyday life. If the bride was married in a traditional white wedding kimono, she may arrive in a colorful embroidered kimono and then change again into an American style party dress. If she had a Western style wedding, she may arrive in a wedding dress, change to a wedding kimono and then to a party dress. The female guests attend in traditional Japanese kimono attire. Young women wear colorful kimono with long flowing furisode sleeves and married women wear more subdued homongi kimono. Male guests traditionally wear Western style suits. At the end of the evening, the couple thanks all the guest for attending. Recently, the Western rituals of exchanging rings, cake cutting, candle lighting, flower bouquet tossing and honeymoons have also been adopted.