A Guide To Japanese Wedding Lengths: Traditions And Time

Japanese weddings are traditionally 3 hours long, with a 15-20 minute ceremony and a reception dinner and after-party at a restaurant or hotel banquet hall. However, most weddings are now held either according to Shinto traditions or in chapels according to Christian marriage traditions.

Traditional Shinto ceremonies

Japanese brides wear a kimono, which is either a shiromuku (pure white dress), iro uchikake (colorful outer robe), or kurobiki furisode (black and patterned kimono), the black and patterned kimono once worn at weddings of the nobility during the Edo period (1603–1868).

The ceremony itself is 15-20 minutes long, and is usually followed by a reception dinner and after-party at a restaurant or hotel banquet hall.

Length of the wedding

Japanese weddings are a mix of modern practices and ancient rituals. Most traditions are associated with the wedding itself, although some, like the choosing of the wedding date, happen long before the ceremony.

Traditional Shinto ceremonies, which account for around one in six of Japanese weddings, are held in the main building of a shrine. A priest performs a ritual purification for the couple, then announces their marriage to the kami (gods or spirits) of the shrine and asks for their blessing. The bride and groom take three sips each from three cups of sake, a ritual called sansankudo.

Japanese brides wear a kimono, which is either a shiromuku (pure white dress), iro uchikake (colorful outer robe), or kurobiki furisode (black and patterned kimono once worn at weddings of the nobility during the Edo period), with either an open white watabōshi (綿帽子) or a tsunokakushi (角隠し).

Most weddings are held either according to Shinto traditions or in chapels according to Christian marriage traditions. Traditionally, marriages in Japan were categorized into two types according to the method of finding a partner—omiai, meaning arranged or resulting from an arranged introduction, and ren'ai, in which the husband and wife met and decided to marry on their own.

In practice, however, elements of all three major traditions tend to be practiced side by side. Japanese weddings usually begin with a Shinto or Western Christian-style ceremony for family members and very close friends before a reception dinner and after-party at a restaurant or hotel banquet hall.

Most JP weddings are exactly the same so once you’ve been to one you’ve been to all. 3 hours exactly in length. Ceremony 15-20 minutes with a “rent a white guy fake priest” ended with a frozen robot no movement kiss reception - bosses of bride / groom give speeches saying how good of employees they are (at first I thought all my friends were actually the best employees until I got 4 or 5 weddings in) reception - cake cut bride is served a bite by groom with a small spoon.

Choosing the wedding date

Choosing a wedding date is a significant aspect of Japanese wedding traditions, often planned well in advance. Here are some key considerations for selecting the wedding date:

Cultural and Religious Significance: Japanese weddings often blend modern practices with ancient rituals. Traditional Shinto ceremonies, which account for around one in six Japanese weddings, are held in the main building of a shrine. The bride and groom take three sips each from three cups of sake, a ritual called sansankudo. Most weddings are held either according to Shinto traditions or in capitals according to Christian marriage traditions.

Family and Guest Availability: Consider the availability of family members and close friends, as they may play a significant role in the wedding ceremony. Japanese weddings usually begin with a Shinto or Western Christian-style ceremony for family members and very close friends before a reception dinner and after-party at a restaurant or hotel banquet hall.

Venue and Logistics: The chosen wedding date should also consider the availability of the desired venue and the logistics of the event. Most JP weddings are exactly 3 hours in length, with a 15-20-minute ceremony and a reception that includes speeches and cake-cutting.

Seasonal and Weather Preferences: Couples may have preferences for a particular season or weather conditions that influence their wedding date choice. Japan experiences four distinct seasons, each with its own natural beauty and cultural significance.

Legal and Administrative Requirements: Marriage in Japan is a legal and social institution at the center of the household. Couples are legally married once they have made the change in status on their family registration sheets, without the need for a ceremony. However, most weddings are held according to Shinto traditions or in capitals according to Christian marriage traditions.

Western Christian-style ceremonies

Most Japanese weddings are held either according to Shinto traditions or in chapels according to Christian marriage traditions. Traditionally, marriages in Japan were categorized into two types according to the method of finding a partner—omiai, meaning arranged or resulting from an arranged introduction, and ren'ai, in which the husband and wife met and decided to marry on their own—although the distinction has grown less meaningful over postwar decades as Western ideas of love have altered Japanese perceptions of marriage.

In practice, however, elements of all three major traditions tend to be practiced side by side. Most Japanese weddings are exactly the same so once you’ve been to one you’ve been to all. The ceremony is 3 hours exactly in length.

Legal and social institution

Japanese weddings are a legal and social institution that mixes modern practices and ancient rituals. Most weddings are held either according to Shinto traditions or in chapels according to Christian marriage traditions. Traditional Shinto ceremonies, which account for around one in six of Japanese weddings, are held in the main building of a shrine. A priest performs a ritual purification for the couple, then announces their marriage to the kami (gods or spirits) of the shrine and asks for their blessing. The bride and groom take three sips each from three cups of sake, a ritual called sansankudo (three cups thrice).

Japanese brides wear a kimono, which is either a shiromuku (pure white dress), iro uchikake (colorful outer robe), or kurobiki furisode (black and patterned kimono once worn at weddings of the nobility during the Edo period (1603–1868)), with either an open white watabōshi (cotton hat) or a tsunokakushi (角隠し). The ceremony itself is 15-20 minutes long and is usually followed by a reception dinner and after-party at a restaurant or hotel banquet hall.

In practice, however, elements of all three major traditions tend to be practiced side by side. Japanese weddings usually begin with a Shinto or Western Christian-style ceremony for family members and very close friends before a reception dinner and after-party at a restaurant or hotel banquet hall. Couples are legally married once they have made the change in status on their family registration sheets, without the need for a ceremony.

Most JP weddings are exactly the same so once you’ve been to one you’ve been to all. The ceremony is 15-20 minutes long and is usually followed by a reception dinner and after-party at a restaurant or hotel banquet hall. The reception is where the bosses of the bride and groom give speeches saying how good of employees they are. The reception is also where the cake is cut and the bride is served a bite by the groom with a small spoon.

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