April 24, 2007

• I have had a lot of requests to see some of my Japanese wedding pictures, so here are a few peaks.  Japanese weddings are getting more and more like weddings in the United States, but they are still different!  The actual ceremony is very short and usually not performed in a church, but the reception (“wedding party” in Japanese) is much more of an elaborate affair.  Since people generally don’t dance at receptions in Japan, there is much more of a push to have every second of the three hours totally accounted for.  They do introduce the bride and groom (sorry, no bridal party at Japanese weddings), cut the cake and have dinner; while they don’t have a prayer, have a garter toss or have a bouquet toss.  They fill the space with several costume changes, singing, speeches, elaborate candle lightings just to name a few things.  I don’t think any one in America would be shocked by the festivities, they would be would be always on alert for what is coming up next.
  
  Here are some pictures from the first wedding I shot in Japan.  I am not going to include the picture of the twenty guys in their tighty-whities running around serenading the bride and groom.
  
  

  
  

  
  Here are four young guests right before the reception.  If you notice there is a mix of kimono and dresses.  Everyone generally dresses very well.
  
  

  
  

  
  Yes, I take lots of detail shots in Japan too!  This is the obi knot from the back of one of the guests kimono.  I think this material is gorgeous.
  
  

  
  

  
  Here is the bride with her assistant finishing up all of the details after one of her costume changes.
  
  

  
  

  
  And finally the bride out on the run way among the guests.  The groom is following right behind.  I guess I could say wife and husband at this point, but it just doesn’t seem as romantic for this young couple.
  
  

  
  

  
  Another detail shot.  This time looking up at one of the light fixtures (chandeliers?) in the reception hall.
  
  

  
  

  
  In case you were wondering, Japanese still love cameras; although they have gotten significantly smaller than in days past.  But I think almost as many Americans now carry cameras as Japanese do with the advent of the new, pocket-size digital cameras.  This is obviously a December wedding.  The fog was actually a nice touch, and not as nearly cheesy as it could have been fortunately.
  
  

  
  

  
  Here are two more young guests enjoying dinner.  This was a very typical, nice Japanese meal.  Fortunately they saved a big plate for the photographer!
  
  

  
  

  
  Finally, here is the groom with his two best friends.  If this was an American wedding, you would be looking at the best man and one the groomsmen.  This was a young couple (19 and 20), so there were a lot of young guests as well.
  
  This was a great experience and I am really looking forward to shooting more international weddings in the future!
  

  • 2:12 pm
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