Not so long ago in Russia such a popular tradition as holding weddings in the style of a certain nation came into fashion. Indeed, every couple wants to have not an ordinary wedding, like everyone else, but with its own “zest.”
American-style weddings have become widespread, but for some reason people are most attracted to the East. Thus, weddings with Asian motifs become a kind of novelty that will undoubtedly surprise the invited guests.
Japan has been famous for its customs since ancient times. As you know, for the Japanese, preserving traditions is a very important part of life. This is what attracts young people to hold a wedding in the Japanese style. But doing this will be much more difficult than organizing the usual holiday.
However, this idea of celebration attracts with its unusualness. Mystery, beauty, national costumes and incomparable music will appeal to both the guests and the newlyweds themselves.
A real Japanese wedding is usually celebrated in the spring and consists of numerous traditions and rituals that are not always clear to representatives of other nationalities.
It is not at all necessary to repeat all the details and nuances of a traditional wedding in Japan, you just need to give the celebration a light exotic style.
Invitations
You should start preparing for the wedding with invitations. Wedding invitations in Japan are usually sent out 3-4 months before the celebration. In turn, the guests send reply letters indicating whether they will be able to come to the holiday.
Invitations, of course, need to be designed in the chosen style, folding them, for example, like origami. Fan invitations or silk drawings look good. You can decorate such cards thematically with images of Japan, sakura flowers, etc.
Modern engagement
According to statistics, in modern Japan, 26% of couples still turn to matchmakers in memory of long-standing traditions. And although the participation of parents has not diminished, the Japanese now marry out of love and mutual consent. And engagements are held less strictly, for example, at a family dinner in a restaurant. At the festive feast, the groom gives his future wife a platinum engagement ring with a stone symbolizing the bride's month of birth. Parents exchange gifts (yuino), usually giving envelopes with money. The main expenses for the wedding are borne by the groom's parents. And if the engagement has taken place, preparations for the engagement begin.
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Creating the image of the newlyweds
Dear girls, the first thing you need to remember is the image of the bride. At a real wedding ceremony in Japan, the bride changes her look at least three times throughout the day. That is, if you follow all the traditions, you need to look for three whole outfits.
As a rule, at the very beginning the girl puts on an ishikake - a white kimono, after that - a red one, and at the end of all kinds of ceremonies - a European dress, familiar to all of us. Of course, not every bride will decide to wear a kimono or a geisha costume.
But you shouldn’t despair - just a few traditional Japanese features will be enough, such as, for example, a fan, hairstyle, and a wide obi belt.
As for makeup, Japanese women make their faces very white and their lips, on the contrary, red. Here you need to be very careful - the main thing is not to go too far (after all, we should not forget that we will, to put it mildly, look askance at a girl with a bleached face and in a kimono).
Therefore, in order to only emphasize the theme of the wedding, it is better to make the makeup natural, but leave the red lipstick.
The hairstyle should also be in Japanese style. Eastern brides traditionally hold a fan in their hands instead of a bouquet. You can approach this issue creatively and experiment by making, for example, a fan of flowers.
As for shoes, we can say that it would be better to leave the usual ones - Japanese ones are not very beautiful and can cause discomfort.
For the groom, the image of a samurai is most often created, and for those who prefer a classic clothing style, you can choose a black or gray suit, which, if desired, is recommended to be diluted with bright oriental-style accessories.
Japanese style wedding: images of the bride and groom
For a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony, the bride usually wears a white kimono made of heavy, thick fabric. The Japanese color white symbolizes that the future wife no longer belongs to her family, but has not yet joined her husband’s family.
This outfit is complemented with pearls, flowers, a wig decorated with gold threads, or a white scarf with a red lining - “tsunokakushi”.
Throughout the wedding, the outfit is changed several times, which is considered a kind of ritual.
After the ceremony, the beautiful Japanese bride wears a red kimono over a white kimono - “uchikake” - to the banquet. The Japanese believe that the red hue symbolizes marital happiness and is able to ward off evil spirits.
At the end of the ceremony, she appears in front of the guests in a brightly colored outfit, decorated with gold and silver. It is important to note that the last kimono should not be purple, since in Japan this color foreshadows the imminent breakdown of a marriage.
The base for makeup is whitewash and bright red lipstick.
For the groom, everything is much simpler - his outfit consists of loose-fitting hakama pants and a haori jacket, decorated with family crests.
Of course, not every newlywed will decide on such images. Yes, this is not at all necessary!
It will be enough for the bride to wear a wedding dress with a wide belt, do her hair like a classic Japanese geisha, and add several Japanese accessories to her look, for example, a fan or an umbrella.
The groom can try on an ordinary European suit.
Special attention should be paid to Japanese hairstyle. It should be very tall, and artificial hair is used to create an elongated shape.
Feast
You can choose a Japanese restaurant for your wedding - this will make preparing Japanese dishes much easier. Find out in advance if your guests can eat with hashi. After all, cutlery can be limited to chopsticks only. If eating is difficult, you can leave the usual “equipment” for everyone.
Next on the list is the kitchen. Here, accordingly, everything is clear. The Japanese have preserved their traditions here too, which has long since won the hearts of Europeans. This does not mean that there should be only sushi and rolls at a wedding - under no circumstances.
Japanese cuisine is actually very extensive - many different sweets, hot dishes and snacks. They are all quite light, but filling.
Nevertheless, the menu should include more Japanese dishes: marbled meat, sushi, sashimi and others. For those who do not like exotic foods, you should add ordinary European dishes.
As for alcohol, sake and plum wine are preferable, but it is also better to have traditional drinks in reserve. You can surprise your guests with an interesting tea ceremony.
Christian wedding
According to statistics, about 3 percent of Japanese consider themselves Christians, but in recent years almost half of marriages take place according to Christian rites. It's just that the religious aspect is not taken into account too much. The ceremony itself is based on the Protestant rite, but is not performed by a priest, but simply by a representative of the company that organized the celebration. The Japanese are primarily attracted by the attributes of Christian ritual, and not by its religious significance.
Hall decoration
In fact, there are a lot of options here. It would be best to decorate the hall with traditional Japanese lanterns, bamboo, bonsai, and sakura. You can also use elements such as various fans and decorations (like garlands) in the form of Japanese dragons.
Some Japanese inscriptions will also highlight the theme well. Bamboo blinds on the windows will complement the picture of the restaurant.
The color scheme should be soft, pink or white. Tables can be decorated with candles, fortune cookies, and sakura branches. The walls are usually decorated with origami, Japanese masks, fans and images of Japan.
Orchids, paper umbrellas and bonsai trees will look very good in the banquet hall.
Toastmaster and wedding program
The next important thing that should be provided, and best of all, to start with is the search for a toastmaster. It is advisable if it is a presenter with an Asian appearance. Plus, you should remember that at the holiday “in the Eastern style” you need to take into account several traditions.
To begin with, the program should include a performance by geishas. This is a beautiful and mesmerizing performance that will immerse your holiday in the atmosphere of mysterious Japan. You can invite sumo wrestlers and samurai.
The program itself should be based on the principle of Japanese traditional parables. As for gifts for guests and prizes, things will be simpler here - you should stock up on fans, scented candles and other “Japanese” trinkets.
It's easy to find something worthwhile in specialized stores. The main thing to remember is that everything should take place in an atmosphere of oriental romance.
There is one more tradition that the bride and groom will need to observe. Europeans have newlyweds break glasses, and Japanese drink sake. According to tradition, the couple must take 9 sips together. The newlyweds are considered officially married after the first sip.
Wedding tourism in Japan
Thousands of tourists visit Japan every year, and many of them come specifically for wedding tours. To cope with such demand, the Japanese have organized special wedding centers that arrange ceremonies for visiting couples in Tokyo, at the Shinagawa Jinja Temple, or in any other part of the country. For example, the latest trend in Japan is a sunflower wedding, which is held in July at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains, in Yamanashi Prefecture.
The services of wedding centers are not cheap - from 4,000 to 20,000 dollars. The price depends on the complexity of the bride’s outfit, the number of guests and the package of wedding services. The price does not include wedding rings, so you can bring them with you or buy them in Japan. It is better to order a wedding organization on the spot upon arrival in the country in order to rent authentic Japanese outfits and choose the best place for the ceremony. And then your wedding will definitely be the most beautiful in the world.
Entertainment
The scenario and entertainment for guests should be carefully thought out. Even in the traditional Slavic bride price, you can add Japanese notes, for example, by reenacting the abduction of the bride by terrible dragons.
Here the bridesmaids will come to the rescue, who will have to come up with competitions and sweepstakes, because competitions are an important detail at a Japanese wedding.
They need to be themed, and for prizes you can use various oriental souvenirs, for example, pictures of sakura, origami or beautiful fans. You can invite animators dressed as geishas to look after the guests. This will add even more Japan to the atmosphere of the celebration.
If you are invited to a Japanese wedding as a guest, it would be a good idea to take care of an appropriate gift. Well, or about some small part of it. For example, attach to the main gift some trinket that hints at the Land of the Rising Sun (the same popular fan).
Remember that a Japanese-style wedding is a fascinating and unusual event. The holiday will be special and romantic, immersing everyone in the mysterious world of Japan. The mysterious culture of the Land of the Rising Sun attracts those who want to know and feel all the romance of the traditions of this people.
Japanese wedding: recommendations for newlyweds
Japanese style wedding: invitations
The production of invitations must be approached with all responsibility, because this is where the holiday begins. There are many variations of Japanese style invitations. You can use decor from sakura flowers, hieroglyphs, Japanese drawings. Or think outside the box and make them in the shape of a fan or origami.
Japanese wedding: bride's dress and groom's suit
The second stage in preparing the celebration is identifying the images of the couple. The newlyweds are the two key figures of the holiday, so you need to make sure that their appearance is fully consistent with the concept of the wedding. For inspiration, look through photos or videos from real Japanese weddings.
In every culture, certain colors symbolize different meanings. In Japan, white is a symbol of transition, a borderline state. Therefore, Japanese women choose white kimono wedding dresses, trying to show that they are in a state of transition from one family to another. You can complement your wedding outfit with pearl jewelry or flowers. At the wedding ceremony, Japanese women appear in white, and during further celebrations they wear a red cape over the kimono. Many try on several dresses at once during the evening, appearing at the end of the day in a bright and spectacular outfit.
There are a huge number of hairstyle options. Choose what suits your taste the most. Loose hair curled into small curls looks charming. This hairstyle can be successfully complemented by weaving flowers into it. Smooth hair tied into a bun using Japanese chopsticks looks stylish. This styling option can be complemented with interesting hairpins and flowers.
A traditional accessory at a Japanese wedding is the bride's umbrella. You can choose a very delicate lace piece with painting. As for makeup, the emphasis should be on bright scarlet lips. In general, makeup should be as natural as possible.
If the bride is not enthusiastic about the idea of dressing in a real kimono, then it is permissible to choose any dress and complement it with Japanese motifs. For example, a white outfit can be belted with a wide red belt with Japanese painting, and also complemented with accessories.
In modern Japan, the groom's suit for a wedding is chosen to be classic. As a rule, the outfit consists of loose-fitting trousers and a jacket. The color of the suit is black. There are also those who love bold decisions and choose a bright jacket with skinny trousers. This costume cannot be called national, however, it reflects the tastes of modern Japanese.
Japanese wedding: hall decoration
A large, bright room decorated in Japanese style is suitable for celebrating your occasion. A good option is to rent a sushi bar, then you definitely won’t have to think about the decorations yourself. It's great if you can afford to rent a real Japanese restaurant. You should not decorate the room in flashy colors; it is better to give preference to pastel soothing shades.
Place items reminiscent of Japan on white or pink tablecloths. For example, sakura branches or fortune cookies. To create a more romantic atmosphere, you can use lit candles. Invite guests to use not only standard cutlery, but also chopsticks. Decorate the walls of the banquet hall by placing fans, sakura and orchid flowers, as well as origami on them.
Decorating the hall gives you complete scope for creativity, but remember that the basis of Japanese style is harmony. Don't go overboard with the decorations. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that in Japan it is not customary to use balloons and fabrics as decorations.
Japanese wedding scenario
According to tradition, at the beginning of the celebration there is a ransom of the bride. You can act out a small scene of a girl being kidnapped by a dragon. To save the bride, her lover will have to complete certain tasks prepared by the bride's friends. In general, competitions are an integral part of a Japanese wedding. Therefore, prepare a large number of games and quizzes in advance.
Use the services of animators, let real geishas be present at your holiday. Invite dancers to your wedding who will entertain guests with national dances. Choose the right music. Melodic and calm compositions should alternate with fiery tracks.
Japanese style wedding: banquet menu
There must be a place for traditional Japanese dishes in the holiday menu. Sushi and rolls are incredibly popular now, the production of which is offered by a large number of companies. Japan is a country surrounded by water, so various seafood snacks would be appropriate on the table. One of the signature Japanese dishes is marbled meat, so don’t deprive your guests of the pleasure of trying it. You can also offer them sashimi and tempura. And as an alcoholic drink - sake.
Take care of guests who do not like oriental cuisine. Prepare some European dishes so you don't leave anyone disappointed.
Japanese wedding: entertainment
The Japanese are very fond of competitions. So invite your guests to compete in something. And as a reward, give fans, Buddha figurines and other pleasant little things. Here are some interesting ideas for holding competitions:
- Origami. Gather a small number of people and, within the allotted time, ask them to create a fancy figure from a piece of paper.
- Noodle eating competition. Invite guests to compete in their ability to use chopsticks and the speed of eating noodles or rice. The fastest and most skillful person gets a prize.
- Samurai fights. This is a competition for the stronger sex. Give your guests toy swords and enjoy the fun action. Let friendship win at your wedding, and let everyone involved receive gifts.
Our tips and photos of Japanese weddings will help you create a fun, relaxed atmosphere at your own celebration.
