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. Most weddings are held either according to Shinto traditions or in chapels according to Christian marriage traditions.

Traditionally, marriages 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 alter Japanese perceptions of marriage.
In spite of the many western influences on Japan, the Japanese wedding has maintained most of the Japanese traditions. There are a few aspects borrowed from western custom, but they have not replaced original Japanese traditions.

Spring and fall are the most popular times to get married in Japan. Lucky days according to the almanac are specifically popular.

Shrine Weddings

A Japanese wedding is an all-day event. It usually begins with the traditional ceremony held at a shrine. A Shinto priest will perform the wedding ceremony. Sometimes, Japanese couples are married in a Christian church by a minister or priest. Several couples opt for two wedding ceremonies - one Shinto and one Christian.

This is not because the bride and/or groom necessarily believe in the Christian faith, but because it is fashionable. At one such Christian ceremony, the minister addressed this issue by saying he hoped some in attendance believed, or would begin to believe, in the Christian faith.

At a traditional Japanese wedding, the bride and groom usually wear Japanese wedding kimono. The bride wears a white wedding kimono called "uchikake" with a white headdress. The headdress is big and bulky and is said to hide the bride's "horns" as a symbol of submission. The groom's kimono is usually black and has his family's symbol embroidered on it in white.
Japanese Wedding Ceremonies
Only close family members and the matchmakers (nakodo) attend the wedding ceremony. The mothers of the bride and groom are often dressed in "tomesode," which are formal, black kimono embroidered with colorful designs. The men wear black suits with white ties.

A Shinto wedding ceremony starts with the priest offering prayers to the gods. The couple is purified, and the groom gives his oath to the bride. The couple partakes of "san-san-kudo." This is literally, 3 x 3 = 9. The bride and groom share three nuptial cups of sake.

Each takes three sips from the small, medium, and large cups. The ceremony ends with symbolic offerings to the gods. Many couples now exchange wedding rings, which is one of the traditions borrowed from the West.

After the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom change their clothes, and meet their families and matchmakers for a celebratory meal. The groom wears a suit and tie, and the bride changes her hair, make-up, and kimono. This second kimono is brightly colored. The place and small meal are usually traditional Japanese. Tables are arranged in a tatami room with the head table seating only the bride and groom looking over the party.
Wedding Receptions
The wedding reception includes family and friends and can be quite large. There is usually a set entrance fee for the party. These fees can range anywhere from $50 to over $100. It all depends on where it is held, how many people are attending, what is being served, and other various things.

Receptions are held in hotel convention rooms or wedding halls that are decorated with white pillars and draping fabrics with mood lighting. These party sites are equipped with background music to enhance mood as well. This party is organized in the same way as the family party.

The head table seats only the bride and groom and is the center of attention. A microphone is located only a few feet away from the head table and in front of all of the guest tables. Soft music plays in the background as family members and friends make speeches about the bride and/or groom. Guests sit at assigned tables and listen to the speeches as they eat and drink to their hearts' content.
This party begins with the entrance of the bride and groom. They are now in traditional western-style wedding clothes. The groom wears a tuxedo, and the bride is in a white wedding gown. The bride's hair and make-up have changed again to go with the new dress. A wedding day is often an all-day beauty make-over for many Japanese women.

Selected family members and friends approach the microphone to talk about the bride and groom. This is an organized event with a speaker schedule. Many times other entertainment is included in the schedule. Weddings can include comedians, martial artists, professional dancers, singers, and magicians. Quiz games and bingo are also popular wedding party activities. Famous Japanese TV