Wedding Rush - Japanese Wedding Customs

Well, you're getting married… Your mind is racing and you're filled with emotions. Let us give you inspiration and incentive to actually plan a wedding! But, with such an overwhelming task you often don't know where to begin. Look no further. Here are some basic initial steps you need to get you started on the road to your perfect wedding.

Japanese Wedding Customs

Japanese Wedding Clothes

traditional_wedding_clothes

The traditional bride wedding kimono is called shiro-maku. In translation shiro means white and maku means pure. The white wedding kimono is worn for the wedding ceremony. Over the white kimono during the ceremony, Japanese brides worn an elaborate rich patterned silk brocade kimono called uchikake. The wedding day will be the last day that girl can wear a rich highly patterned kimono. Because only unmarried girls can wear it. A white veil covers her head, and her face is painted creamy white. Traditionally the bride changes her kimono several times during the wedding. Once to an ornate gold, silver and red robe embroidered with auspicious symbols such as cranes and flowers. Irises are a beautiful choice for the Japanese American bride; the color purple is the color of love in Japan.

The brides hair is styled in the traditional hair style called bunkin-takashimada and adorned with beautiful kanzashi ornaments, combs and accessories.

For men the tradition wedding clothe it is barong tagalong. It is almost transparent, embroidered shirt made from silky pina or jusi, two native ecru fabrics. It is worn over black pants with a white t-shirt underneath. Or the striped, pleated skirt or hakama wears under the kimono. The men wear white sandals. Many Japanese families are passed the traditional kimono over the generations. Also nowadays the groom might wear the customary black tux.

The Food

Each dish in the Japanese wedding banquet is a symbolic wish--for happiness, prosperity, long life or many children. For example, the symbol of eternity it is the fish which are served with the tail and head forced up from the plate forming a circle. The clams are served with both shells together, because two halves symbolize the couple. The red color – it is color of luck. That is why, on the wedding lobster is often served in the red plates. For the dessert, they choose to serve komochi manjyu, which is made of gummy, sweetened rice with filling inside.

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