Planning a Samurai Wedding
Themed wedding were all the rage in the 1990s, and still hold a certain appeal today. If you’re considering planning a themed wedding, take a look into ancient Japan and the life of the Samurai. Themed weddings in general are fun because you can throw in a few of your own preferences while still paying homage to the style you are mimicking.
An authentic Japanese style Samurai wedding may be quite costly if not approached carefully. With a bit of thoughtful planning, though, your Samurai wedding can be calm, serene, and totally fab. Begin with the clothing associated with traditional Japanese weddings. Following tradition, the bride will wear a white silk kimono. Purchasing or even renting this type of an item may be more challenging and costly than simply finding an image and having a kimono crafted by a local tailor. Going about your wedding dress in this way also means that your dress is customized with any special features you’d like to add; perhaps a special ribbon sewn in, or some bling here and there. The traditional Japanese bride has been known to wear a wig during the ceremony and reception. A modern alternative could be to pin hair into a loose bun at the crown and add several flowers, pearls and a gold comb.
For the groom, traditional Japanese garb would be a haori and hakama, the male version of the kimono. To add that special Samurai feel, the groom could wear a samurai katana in a belt. During the time of the Samurai, the samurai katana was a revered sword. A samurai warrior would never be seen without his samurai katana; and would even fight to the death to protect his sacred sword. Carrying this piece, then, during a Samurai themed wedding, seems very fitting. Samurai katana may be found online for a very affordable price as long as you do not opt for an authentic, handcrafted blade. The wedding party will also dress in kimonos chosen by the bride and groom.
Décor is important in order to tie in the authenticity of the Samurai. Bridesmaids could carry white fans; the flower girl may carry a decorative parasol and toss cherry blossoms down the aisle. At the reception, consider using bonsai trees as centerpieces for tables.
Tradition is key to following any themed wedding where culture is involved. In a Japanese wedding, the bride and groom typically enter the ceremony from different sides of the alter, instead of walking down an aisle. The music for a ceremony would include flutes and drums rather than your favorite modern tune. Part of the tradition of a Japanese wedding is the sacred tree fabricated from paper streamers, which is waved over the couple to ward off evil spirits and elicit purification. Once the bride and groom exchange vows, they then exchange a cup – literally. Tradition calls for a drink of wine – or sake – with a nine-times exchange of cups. This process symbolizes bonding.
Cultural themed weddings are a sight to behold. While extra planning may be involved, a Samurai wedding will certainly create lifelong memories.