In Japan, most weddings are performed as a Shinto ceremony,

although approximately 30% are performed in a Christian church.

But even in the latter ceremonies, the bride and groom usually

change into traditional Japanese garb for the reception, and then

often into Western suits and dresses to leave for the honeymoon.

In this ceremony, the bride

and groom begin in formal

Japanese attire for the Shinto ceremony.

(For some reason, Japanese often

do not look happy in photographs.

This is not an indication of their

emotional state, rather a custom of

treating photographs as serious

business.)

Later, the bride changed into the

traditional Japanese kimono. The

predominantly red color is

also traditional . . .

and then later she changed

yet into another, this one

designed by her aunt. This change

was prompted by the discomfort

caused by the heaviness of the

traditioal kimono. The groom

now sports a typical Western

styled tuxedo.

Here we can see the mixed styles, with some in traditional Japanese garb

and others in Western style clothing.

A text explanation of a Japanese wedding and related items