Traditional Japanese Wedding ceremony and gift preparation

Japanese wedding envelope

Gift Money Preparation

Preparing for a Japanese wedding can be quite challenging. The notes have to be brand new by changing at a bank, the facing of the notes into the envelope has to be proper and the way to fold has to be according to occasion. It is so complex that you need to refer to the attached instructions of the envelope to make sure. Even the number of notes has to be an odd number, symbolically meaning that the couple cannot be divided.


The "market price" for women seems to be at least 30,000yen and guys at 40,000yen (10,000yen note x3 + 5,000yen note x2). This depends on the seniority of the attendee and the location of the ceremony. Women usually pay less because we have to buy a nice dress or pay for professional make-up and hairdo. But all these didn't deter my excitement in attending my friend's wedding reception last year on 13th Oct 2012!!!

Hair and Make-up

Unlike in Singapore where we just do our own hair and attend dinner, Japanese women go through great lengths in making sure that they appear their absolute best for the wedding ceremony! This includes paying for a professional makeup and hairdo session at a beauty parlour. The cost ranges from around 2000yen to 4000yen, depending on the hair length and complexity. Because we were attending the morning ceremony, we had to request for an early opening so the parlour charged us an additional cost.

Venue

Japanese wedding temple garden

My friend's husband was apparently quite wealthy so we had a reception at a gorgeous Japanese garden in Yokohama. The shrine can only accommodate two wedding ceremonies a day and only on weekends, so booking has to be made almost one year ahead in advance!

Ceremony


Japanese wedding sea bream omedetai

We were greeted with a huge sea bream, called "Tai" in Japanese and sounded like congratulations, so they used it as a decoration for good fortune.

Traditional Japanese wedding ceremony

The ceremony was separated between family & relatives on one side, and friends on the other. We sat on the left in this photo. It was a long ceremony and stomach growling can be heard occasionally :P

Traditional Japanese wedding ceremony sake wine

The priestess served us Japanese wine in these shallow plates as part of the ceremony, probably for us to bless the couple. It was excellent wine :)

Lunch Reception

Traditional Japanese wedding ceremony sake wine

The couple broke the seal of the wine barrel that was blessed earlier in the ceremony...

Traditional Japanese wedding ceremony sake wine

... and then it was served in these nice squarish lacquer bowls.

Traditional Japanese wedding ceremony food


Traditional Japanese wedding ceremony food

Traditional Japanese wedding ceremony food

Traditional Japanese wedding ceremony food

Traditional Japanese wedding ceremony food

They served us rice towards the end to make sure we were full ^^;;

Traditional Japanese wedding ceremony sweets
*Food needs no explanation* :P

Japanese wedding ceremony video

Apparently wedding videos are universal, showcasing the couples from when they were young till how they met and started dating.

Gifts
Japanese wedding ceremony flowers

Flowers that were used to decorate the meal tables were given to all single ladies to wish us luck in getting married! (Need to find a boyfriend first XD)

Japanese wedding gifts to guests

These are the wedding gifts to thank guests for our attendance.

Japanese wedding sweets gifts to guests

These Japanese sweets look gorgeous, but all taste the same... DAMN GOOD!!! :P~

Japanese wedding catalog to guests

We were also given a magazine catalogue to choose a gift from, and mail back the postcard or login to the website to claim the gift. I didn't know that the couple had already pre-paid the gift so I threw the catalogue away... (I hated myself for a few weeks...)

Japanese wedding catalog to guests

Luckily I got another copy from my classmate that was supposed to be for our professor, who was absent because he totally forgot about it ...


Japanese wedding catalog to guests

Since it was a more expensive catalog, I ordered something easy to share with other friends. It was very delicious!

Overall, it was an unforgettable experience and very different from other countries. Now I understand why they need to earn a lot before they can get married in Japan! I sincerely wish my dear friend a blissful marriage and forever happiness :)



Comments

  1. It's interesting to see what the differences are because I've only been to Western-style Japanese weddings.
    But one thing is the same: the super expensive "money gift" .... not something I like very much.

    I do love to attend weddings, but especially when I'm not so close to the people, I hate that I have to pay so much. And usually I live far away, so that I have to pay another 20.000-40.000yen just to GET THERE!!! ;___;

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed I just went to another one but it was western ^^
      I came to understand why the gift money is so expensive because everything they put up was so expensive!

      Do you live in some area far away from the city!? 2~40,000yen is a lot!

      Delete
  2. the "angpao" is very shocking. If converted to RM is around rm1000. hahaha! a far cry from the normal amount !

    But the food does look excellent, even the door gift.
    Also first time I hear choosing a gift (an extra gift?) from a catalogue. that's insane!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YES! I agree! So I will only go if it's a really good friend ^^
      The catalog was really an eye-opener for me!!!
      Next time, I will read carefully before throwing any gifts XDDD

      Delete
  3. oh!! 冬旭!! I miss her wedding!! Wish she be very happy~

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great pictures =)

    Shinto wedding are so exotic and nice...and food look great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks :)
      With help with a few friends who took better photos with their cameras~

      Food was nice and the whole ambience was terrific!

      Delete
  5. He-he!

    Kray 様, could You tell us when we will have a pleasure to see a pictures from Your wedding? I am sure, some small kiddies will appear in Your wonderful comicses after soon. :P

    Great report. Thanks for sharing :)
    ewww ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, I need to see when I can find a boyfriend first XD

      Delete
  6. This is one interesting wedding ceremony.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed, I don't mind attending another one again! XD

      Delete
  7. Bt its soo expensive!!! @_@
    Hahahah! Yah, its really an experience to have. Jia you finding a boyfriend yah!

    ReplyDelete
  8. A bit unrelated,where does the name evangeline neo come from? Sounds like evangelion?

    Neobanana -- search for neobanana1 in youtube :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well… I'm the original!
      Name given by my mum from birth and last name since…long long time ago...

      Delete

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