Lyla Dejesus
Traditional Japanese weddings are often held at a Shinto shrine, officiated by a priest in a ceremony called shinzenshiki, or marriage before the gods. Brides typically wear a wig (katsura) dressed in a traditional style, along with a set of auspiciously designed hair accessories. The bride may change into a red kimono for good luck during the wedding reception events after the ceremony. The kimono is the foundation of all three types of traditional wedding ensemble options. Brides may also wear one of two styles of headdress: the tsunokakushi or the wataboshi.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Traditional Japanese wedding dress name | Shiromuku, Iro-uchikake, Uchikake, Kakeshita, Furisode |
| Type of fabric | Silk |
| Colors | White, red, black, gold, silver |
| Motifs | Cranes, pine, bamboo, imperial carts |
| Accessories | Fan, bag, ornaments, wig (katsura), hair accessories, headpiece (tsunokakushi or wataboshi) |
| Type of footwear | Zori sandals |
| Type of socks | Tabi (white cotton socks) |
| Type of belt | Datemaki belt, obi |
| Rental | Brides rarely purchase their formal wedding attire. It is almost always rented. |
Explore related products
$36.99 $39.99
What You'll Learn
Shinto weddings
The Ceremony
Shinto wedding ceremonies are typically small, intimate affairs attended only by close family. The ceremony usually lasts 20 to 30 minutes and is followed by a reception with a larger group of friends and extended family. The ceremony is officiated by a Shinto priest and often takes place at a Shinto shrine, either outdoors or indoors. Some couples also choose to hold their weddings in the gardens of hotels or traditional Japanese restaurants called ryotei.
Purification and Prayer
Purification rituals are an integral part of the Shinto wedding. Before the ceremony, all attendees stand and bow to symbolically purify themselves. The couple may carry "sakaki" branches, symbolizing purification and fertility, as they walk towards the altar. The priest then announces the marriage to the shrine altar, and everyone bows again. The gods Izanagi and Izanami, who represent a harmonious balance in marriage, are often invoked during the wedding prayers.
Sake Ceremony
The san-san-ku-do, or "three-three-nine-times," ceremony is a significant ritual in Shinto weddings. The couple exchanges three cups of sake three times, taking three sips each. The first cup is offered by the groom to the bride, the second by the bride to the groom, and the final cup is shared, symbolizing their union. The sake ceremony is said to be the core of a Shinto wedding, representing the sharing of joys and sorrows in married life.
Wedding Attire
Shinto brides and grooms typically wear kimonos, with the groom sometimes opting for a Western-style business suit. The bride wears multiple layers of kimonos, with the outermost layer being the most formal. She may wear a colourful uchikake, an over-kimono with intricate designs and embroidery, or a pure white shiromuku, symbolizing innocence and purity. The bride's ensemble often includes a wig (katsura) and traditional hair accessories. It is common for brides to rent their wedding attire due to the high cost of formal kimonos.
Gifts and Hospitality
In Japanese wedding culture, cash gifts are given in crisp new bills placed in special wedding envelopes (shugi-bukuro). The couple also presents gifts, known as hikidemono, to their guests as a token of gratitude and hospitality. These gifts can be chosen from a catalog and may include experiences such as spa treatments or afternoon tea. It is also customary for the couple to give small gifts to guests as they leave the venue, such as sweets, bath salts, or candles.
Clean Your Wedding Dress: Removing Dirt and Stains
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Kimonos
The kimono chosen for a wedding is often a white shiromuku kimono, which is a formal, silk garment with long sleeves. The shiromuku is traditionally worn by brides from samurai families. It is also customary for the groom to wear a black montsuki kimono. The shiromuku is made up of four layers, while the groom's outfit has three. The wataboshi, or bridal kimono hood, is also worn with the shiromuku. This is a bridal veil equivalent, worn outdoors to hide the bride's face from everyone except the groom until the end of the ceremony. The bride may also wear a tsunokakushi, a traditional wig in the Shimada style, which symbolises that the bride will be kind and obedient to her husband.
Other styles of kimono worn by brides include the uchikake, kakeshita, and furisode. The uchikake is a formal, silk kimono, often passed down through generations, featuring traditional marriage motifs such as cranes, pine, bamboo, and imperial carts. The furisode is characterised by its long sleeves and is commonly worn by young women.
While white is a popular colour for bridal kimonos, red and black are also worn. Traditionally, wedding kimonos had three layers in white, red, and black, but this custom faded during the Meiji period due to its high cost.
Strapless Wedding Dresses: Timeless or Trendy?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$39.99
White wedding kimono
The shiromuku is a white wedding kimono worn by brides in Japan. It is made up of an over-robe, under-robe, obi sashi, and other components, all in pure white. The shiromuku is often worn with a wataboshi, a white bridal kimono hood that acts as a veil, hiding the bride's face from everyone except the groom until the end of the ceremony.
The shiromuku is said to symbolise the bride's purity and willingness to take on the groom's family colours. However, some believe that the colour white symbolises death, deriving from the white burial clothes, shiroshozoku, worn by the deceased.
The white kimono is just one of many wedding kimono options for brides in Japan. The uchikake, for example, is a long outer robe that comes in white or red-orange, worn over a kakeshita kimono. The hikifurisode, a popular choice since the Edo period, is another type of kimono worn by brides right after the wedding ceremony.
In modern-day Japan, the choice of wedding attire often depends on the style of the wedding. For instance, a Christian-style wedding may feature a white dress and tuxedo, while a Shinto-style wedding may involve resplendent kimonos. It is common for couples to change outfits multiple times during a formal wedding, moving from kimonos to wedding gowns and suits, and then to more colourful clothing.
Sophia Tolli Wedding Gowns: How Much Do They Cost?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Western-style weddings
The first documented Western-style weddings occurred in ancient Rome and Greece. During this time, marriage was viewed as a legal contract between two families rather than a romantic endeavour. Women had little choice in their spouse and often met their husbands for the first time on their wedding day. Ancient wedding ceremonies often included a pre-wedding feast, gift exchanges, an animal sacrifice, and the bride being carried over the threshold of the groom's home.
In the Victorian era, brides began to wear white to weddings. The societal book "Manners, Culture, and Dress of the Best American Society" from 1893 outlined the necessary elements of a proper wedding, including bridesmaids and groomsmen, flowers, a veil for the bride, a church ceremony, a small post-ceremony dinner, and thank-you cards.
In modern times, Western or Christian-style weddings constitute about 50% of wedding ceremonies in Japan, while secular and Shinto ceremonies account for around 30% and 20% respectively. Shinto weddings are officiated by a priest in a Shinto shrine and are often witnessed only by close family and friends, followed by a reception with a wider circle of guests.
The Length of Meghan Markle's Wedding Dress Train
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Renting wedding dresses
In Japan, it is common for wedding dresses to be rented instead of bought. This is also an option for those not getting married in Japan. Renting a wedding dress is a more affordable option, allowing you to save money for other parts of your wedding, such as a statement-making floral installation, an elaborate food bar, or an exotic honeymoon. Renting a dress typically costs between $50 and $600, but the price varies depending on the rental company and the gown. On the more expensive end, designer dresses can cost from $500 to $2,000 to rent, but this is still a fraction of the retail price.
Renting a dress is also a more sustainable option, and you won't have to worry about preserving the gown after your wedding. Rental companies include dry cleaning with their services, and you won't have to figure out where to store the dress after your wedding. You can find a variety of lengths, designs, and styles of wedding dresses for rent online, and some companies allow you to tailor the dresses.
A bride might choose to wear both a white wedding dress and a bridal kimono for different parts of a Japanese wedding ceremony. Traditionally, wedding kimonos had three layers in white, red, and black, with the outer layer in black, followed by red. However, this custom declined during the Meiji period due to the cost. Today, white is a popular colour for wedding kimonos, although it was traditionally worn for funerals.
Guide to Dressing for an Afternoon Wedding
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The kimono is the foundation of all traditional Japanese wedding dresses. Brides typically wear a wig (katsura) with a headdress and hair accessories. The bride may change into a red kimono for good luck during the wedding reception.
The bride can either wear a colourful uchikake (打ち掛け) over-kimono or a pure-white shiromuku (白無垢) over-kimono. The shiromuku is an all-white ensemble worn for shrine weddings, but it can also be used for temple weddings.
The shiromuku kimono is derived in part from the dress of the samurai classes. It is solid white in colour, featuring only woven designs, also in white.
Japanese weddings are often influenced by both Japanese and Western traditions. For example, a bride might wear a bridal kimono for the ceremony and a white wedding dress for other parts of the ceremony. It is also common for couples to rent their wedding attire instead of buying it.
