-Wedding ceremony in Japan-

Hello.

Today, I’m going to write about the wedding ceremony in Japan. I've never been wedding ceremony yet, so even I researched it, it is kind of my image.

First of all, there are 2 types of wedding ceremonies in Japan. One is called Shinto style wedding ceremony and another one is called Christian style wedding ceremony. The Shinto style wedding ceremony is held at Shrine and the bride and groom wear Japanese kimono. In this style, usually a Shinto priest leads the bride and groom and walk in the Shrine.  The Christian style wedding ceremony is held in a hotel or chapel and the bride wears wedding dress and groom wears a tuxedo. Bride has a bouquet and she through it.

If the bride and groom want to wear both of kimono and wedding dress, they can wear, because usually at the wedding ceremony in Japan, they can change their clothes whatever they want. But it is at “Hirouen” that is a party after the wedding ceremony.

After the wedding ceremony, Japanese have a party that called “Hirouen”. It is set with wedding ceremony and if it is not finished, the wedding ceremony can’t complete.

At this party there is a master of ceremony and he or she sometimes they progress the party. One person sometimes it is the master of ceremony, does the greeting and starts to talk about the beginning of the bride and groom’s romance. Then, all of the people cheer the champagne, and starts to drink it. After cheers, the bride and groom start to cut the wedding cake. Usually the people who have camera take the pictures at this time. Then, the meal will start. During the meal, everyone enjoy talking. The bride changes her dress once or twice from wedding dress to color dress or Japanese kimono at this time. The groom also changes hiss clothes but usually the main is the bride. After the bride and groom change their clothes usually 1 or 2 people who are friends of bride and groom say a message of congratulations and talk in front of all the people about the bride or groom or both. After that, bride or groom’s friends do some performance, such as dancing or magic or shows bride and groom’s pictures that making in video to make the party more interesting.

 At the ending the bride and groom give flowers to their parents and read letters. The Hirouen will finish with the greeting by the master of ceremony and after that, all the people who attended at the Hirouen will receive a present from bride and groom.

I want to get married someday, and do wedding ceremony with Christian style, because I’m Christian. But before that, I need to find a groom…:P

-Diana-