A traditional Japanese wedding
Miwa & Kiichiro
Tokyo, Japan
When people learn that I’m a destination wedding photographer, the question I always get asked is “what was your favorite destination?”
Easy: Japan.
This entry is a nostalgic throwback, as it features a traditional Japanese wedding I shot almost 5 years ago! It was such an honor to be flown in to document Miwa and Kiichiro’s special day. Shooting a wedding in Japan had been a life long dream, and I wanted to do everything in my power to take care of them. However, they ended up taking care of ME!
Japanese culture treats their guests as royalty, and I had the privilege to be treated as a guest instead of a vendor. They literally wanted me to just “relax” the whole day. They explained that the venue did not allow outside photographers, and that having a photographer during intimate family moments was not custom. So I spent most of the day documenting them getting ready and sneaking in a few portraits and candid reception shots, and that was it! It was kinda disorienting to be hired to do a job I didn’t actually have to do, but I’m glad I was still able to capture some special moments for them including Miwa’s Furisode (equivalent of a bridal session).
Furisode
A Furisode is a formal kimono worn by unmarried Japanese women. What sets them apart from other kimonos is the length of their sleeves (which are super long!).
Miwa had so much fun dressing up for this occasion. She got ready in a hotel room with the company of her favorite ladies, which gave me a chance to get to know some of her guests before the wedding day. It was my first time experiencing the long process of putting on a kimono, which involves layers upon layers of exquisite and meaningful parts. Once she was ready, we stepped out to a park nearby to capture some portraits as it’s not the easiest outfit to walk around in. But it was worth it, Miwa looked magnificent!
Wedding
The wedding took place the next day at the famous restaurant Tofuya Ukai in the Shiba district, right under the iconic Tokyo Tower.
The venue portrayed Japan in all its glory - a mix of traditional and modern, elegant spaces, peaceful zen gardens, incredible food, and hospitality at its best.
Miwa and Kiichiro got ready together on site, in a traditional private room. I thought her preparation would be a repeat of the Furisode, but this process was actually quite different. While Miwa was all smiles and laughter the day before, on her wedding day she was in a calm and melancholic state. Becoming a wife is a major transition in Japanese culture, so she was going through a metamorphosis. Although she shed some tears, Kiichiro was there by her side to comfort her. It was incredibly moving to see this dynamic, like the start of a marriage taking place before a wedding ceremony.
Wearing a Kimono is not as simple as getting into a wedding gown. Once again, there were layers upon layers of fabrics and accessories! Luckily, Kiichiro’s outfit was a lot simpler to put together. The whole process was fascinating to witness and document.
Once they were done getting ready, I learned that this was actually their FIRST outfits of the day! They were dressed to have a formal lunch with their families, and then needed to change one more time for the reception with the rest of their guests. Since getting dressed was such a significant portion of their day, I made sure to get beautiful shots of them with details that would complement the red of her Kimono.
Then it was time for their family lunch and for me to “relax”. Instead, I kept myself busy by capturing some images of guests and the beautiful gardens surrounding the restaurant.
After lunch, they quickly excused themselves to get changed and told me to continue my break (yet all I wanted to do was photograph them). So as soon as they came back out, I snuck in a few more portraits which ended up being my favorite images of the day. Look how STUNNING and joyful they were!
I’m glad we captured these images before I was instructed to be a guest at the reception. Never in my career was I requested to have so much time off! Yet I continued snapping away from my seat and eventually walked around with my camera. The staff was either too confused to react or too polite to tell me otherwise.
The reception was a formal dinner with quite possibly the best food I’ve ever had. Miwa and Kiichiro bowed to greet their guests upon arrival, and together broke a barrel of sake to symbolize their union. The sake was served to all the guests, and similarly to champagne in Western weddings it was used for toasts. The whole evening consisted of speeches from their entourage while delicious courses were being served. The night was filled with love, respect, and honor for these newlyweds.
Miwa and Kiichiro, おめでとうございますand ありがとう. To this day I am beyond grateful for this incredible opportunity and for the trust you put in me. I hope this story does justice to the beauty of your culture, and inspires readers who have never experienced a traditional Japanese wedding such as yours.
Getting to travel and immerse myself in the way love is celebrated around the world is such a blessing. If you are having a traditional cultural wedding, in the United States or abroad, I would be honored to create some magic with you...