Stunning Japanese Wedding

This beautiful traditional Japanese wedding with a cross-cultural couple is absolutely breathtaking. The couple, Jane and Daisuke, were originally married in Melbourne, but when they moved back to Tokyo, Daisuke's family suggested a traditional Japanese wedding so that family members who were not present for the wedding in Melbourne could attend.

In traditional Japanese weddings, the bride wears a shiro-maku, a colorful silk kimono, during the ceremony, which is usually held at a Shinto shrine. The bride's hairstyle, bunkin-takashimada, is elaborate and decorated with kanzashi ornaments. After the wedding ceremony, the bride changes into irouchiakake, a silk kimono with red, gold, silver, and white colors. Near the end of the reception, she changes again into furisode, a kimono with long, wide sleeves traditionally worn by unmarried women. This symbolizes the last time she will wear one. The groom only wears one outfit, a men's kimono called haoiri-hakama.

I can only imagine how long it took for Jane to get ready - I loved seeing all the images of the process!


all images via Martine Cotton.