The Wedding- The Japanese Shrine Ceremony

Well, well, well... after months of planning the first of our two wedding events is over and done with.

Takumi and I were in Japan last week for our Japanese wedding ceremony. We had decided to have it in Hokkaido as his grandmother found it difficult to travel. Thank goodness the booking of the kimono, wedding venue, lunch venue and hotel was done for us by the wedding agency we hired.

I was very excited. We arrived a few days before the actual day and had sometime to take a one day tour of Otaru. But that's a story for another time.

The day before the ceremony we were asked to go to the bridal house - located conveniently in the same hotel we were staying in - to try on our kimonos and make a few final decisions like what time or hairstyle I wanted and if I wanted to shave my face and back or not. Yes, you read that right. In Japan, in order for the wedding make up to stay on the bride's face, the skin needs to be devoid of hair no matter how fine.

The kimono we chose was in a word, beautiful. Made of silk and soft to the touch, the colours was so rich that the storks that had been hand embroidered onto the kimono looked ready to fly away. I underestimated though, the weight of that beautiful garment, and will never forget wearing it together with the wig. Heavy, heavy, heavy.

Once our garment outfitting was completed, the kimono sensei suggested I follow her back to her salon where she would *gulp* shave my face, neck and upper back. I did, and in the process got talked into getting a manicure as well. I'd actually broken a couple of nails just before the trip and they looked horrid so I was thankful for that.

Once we were done, my husband came to get me and we spent a quiet night walking about and had an early night in.

The next morning it was rise and shine at 6.30am! 7am saw me at the bridal house and getting all dolled up for my 30 minute wedding ceremony at 11.30am. It was a long process, the make up was done in no time at all, but putting on the layers for the kimono had me perspiring although there was air-conditioning in the room.

Takumi getting his obi done

Now breathe in!

Okay, now for layer three hundred and four...

The finished make up

The beautiful red kimono with hand embroidered storks

When we were finally done, we were escorted downstairs to meet everyone and we were all then taken to the shrine in a specially chartered bus.

At the hotel lobby

Okay now, easy does it

At the shrine

Upon arrival, my husband and I were whisked away by the photographer to take some pictures. I have to say that I had chosen to get married in Japan in May because I had wanted to have Cherry Blossoms in my pictures... unfortunately for us, there was a warm spell a few days before we came and the short lived Cherry Blossoms had all but fallen off the trees. I was lucky though as there was one tree left with the blossoms still holding on. I like to think it was waiting for us... so we took all our 'sakura' shots in front of that one tree.

My one last sakura tree waiting for us

Once done with the pictures, we were taken into a waiting room where the shrine priestess or 'Maiko-san' explained what we would be expected to do once we were in the ceremonial hall. I can't quite remember all we were supposed to do but it involved a quite a bit of bowing and standing and sitting. All I had to do was follow my husband's lead =)

Listening to instructions... I had no idea what she was saying

After about another ten minutes of so, we were lead out across the courtyard into the shrine. I have already mentioned that my kimono was heavy, but I said nothing before about how difficult it was to maneuver steps in them. So, when the time came for me to climb up the steps into the shrine, I did what I always do... I stumbled. Luckily for me it was almost unnoticeable expect to my husband... who stumbled as well. Heehee.

Oi oi clumsy bride. I'm so lucky I didn't fall flat on my face

I cannot remember much about the ceremony as I was very nervous but I remember it being very solemn and quiet.

Bow

The Daddies also had their own little solemn role to play

Yes Sake!

After the ceremony we were taken to the front of the shrine for a family photograph. I was really happy to see the pictures later as it showed my husband's family and my family together celebrating that special day with us. I was touched as his only aunt on his Mum's side, her husband and his cousins had flown in from Shikoku to attend the wedding in Hokkaido. I am sure my mother-in-law was very happy as well.

Hubby's Grandma

All right everyone, positions please

The Malaysian contingent

Posed shot

That's me under instructions to look pensive... burst out laughing three seconds later

That's all folks thanks for reading!

You can also watch a music accompanied video of what went down that day here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znXzreKEk_g&feature=g-upl