Shinto style wedding

Shinto style wedding (Shinzen shiki)

It is the traditional wedding style for most of Japanese people. Shinto style wedding is an intimate wedding based on an idea that wedding is to unite two families, and basically only the family can attend the ceremony. So it is very important that the family members and relatives attend the ceremony.

The bride wears a white kimono (shiro-muku). It means white and pure and also symbolises that the bride will give up her family and become the colour of her husband's family. Also, the bride wears a big round white hat (wata-boushi) so that no one else except the groom will see her face before the ceremony.

The process of the Shinzen shiki

Purification rite 1

You purify yourself by watering hands and month before attending the ceremony (video).

Procession (Sanshin)

 

The bride and groom, their families and relatives get together at the shrine office. They walk to the shrine led by the Shinto priest and the shrine maiden (Miko). When you go through the trii gate, you make a bow, step across the threshold and walk along the roadside (avoid walking the centre on which Gods walk).

Entrance

The bride and groom, families and relatives get off their shoes and enter into the shrine. You avoid stepping on the edges of tatami mats as you walk. When you enter the main room, you make a bow to the altar. The groom side sits on the right side while the bride side sits on the left side in order of stronger blood ties.

Purification Rite 2 (Shubatsu)

Everyone stands up with the sign by Miko and make a bow to the altar. The priest reads purification words. Everyone holds the head lowered while the priest purifies them with sakaki plant. Everyone takes a seat with the sign by Miko.

Greeting rite (Saishu-ichirei)

The priest makes a bow to God. Everyone stands up and make a bow with the sign by Miko.

Reading sacred words (Norito-sojo)

The priest reports the marriage of the bride and groom to God and prays for their long happy life. Everyone holds the head lowered and listens to it.

Exchanging of nuptial cups (Sankon-no-gi)

The bride and groom drink sake with three cups (small, middle and large size) to build a strong bond between them and to promise to love each other forever. The small size cup means to swear to God, the middle size cup means cup of both families, the large cup means cup of all the people involved in their life. The first cup is taken by the groom first, given to the bride and comes back to the groom. The second cup starts with the bride then comes back to the bride. The third one starts with the groom again. Miko pours sake three times (actually pours at the third time). The bride and groom also drink sake three times (actually drink at the third time). The cup is hold by every finger.

Reciting pledge (Seishi-sojo)

The bride and groom step forward to the altar, make a bow and recite their pledge to live together in front of God. Everyone stands up with the sign by Miko, holds the head lowered and listens to it. The groom prepares the script before the ceremony and takes it out from kimono at this point. After the pledge, the groom folds the script and puts it on a sacred table (Tamagushi-an). The bride and groom make two bows, clap their hands twice, and make a bow. They turn around not showing their backs each other and go back to the seat.

Ring exchange (Yubiwakoukan-no-gi)

The bride and groom exchange rings. First the groom puts the ring on the bride’s finger, and then the bride puts the ring on the groom’s finger.

Tamagushi rite (Tamagushi-hairei)

The bride and groom and representatives from both families pray for their long happy life and offer Tamagushi (sacred plant) to God. They receive Tamagushi from Miko. They step forward to Tamagushi-an, and make a bow. They hold Tamagushi with leaves upwards and pray for God. They rotate Tamagushi clockwise and put it on Tamagushi-an. They step back, make two bows, clap their hands twice, and make a bow. They turn around not showing their backs each other and go back to the seat.

    

Bond-tying rite (Omiki-haitai)

The two families of the bride and groom drink sake together in front of God to celebrate the new family bond. Miko pours sake to every family member. Everyone drinks it three times (actually drinks at the third time) as the bride and groom did.

Last Greeting (Saishu-ippai)

The priest makes a bow to God to finish the ceremony. Everyone follows and makes a bow.

Exit

Everyone leaves the shrine. You make a bow to the altar when you leave the main room.