4 Months today we fly out to Japan for the Wedding!
It’s getting very close! Just about everything’s sorted, rings are ordered, reception venue is booked, I just need a suit but i’m hoping to lose a bit more weight so no point in getting measured up yet.
Kamigamo Shrine on google maps
And the gate from the main post pic on Google Streetview, can’t get anywhere near the shrine which is a good thing!
The ceremony is going to be amazing, i’ll certainly be worried of offending though as there’s quite alot to remember. To get an idea of what I mean see below where i’ve written the order of events in a traditional Shinto ceremony:
- After purifying hands and mouths with water, the Priest, the Miko(shrine maiden), the bride and groom, their parents, families and all the guests enter the wedding hall together. The bridal couple is seated immediately before the altar, and the supporting families separate and sit behind in rows
- The performance of the ceremony according to the prescribed rites is announced
- A purification ritual is performed by the Priest
- The sacred foods and Omiki(sake-wine), the fruits from the seas and mountains are given to the altar as offerings. (This procedure often takes place before the ceremony)
- The Chief Priest recites Norito, ritual prayers, in which the performance of the wedding ceremony for the bridal couple is announced with the names of their parents and theirs and the god’s blessings in favour of the couple are solemnly gratified before the altar; everyone stands up respectfully at their seat
- The Miko offers Omiki to the bridal couple before the altar; the couple sip Omiki in turn
- The exchange of rings between the bridal couple is performed with assistance of the chief Priest and the Miko
- The groom and bride make their vows before the altar. The groom reads the sentances and the bride stands beside the groom and declares her name as his wife. The groom folds the vows and inserts into his chest pocket
- The Priest and the Miko offer the Tamagushi, a green branch of sacred tree with attached zigzag strips of white paper, as an offering before the altar. This is then followed, first by the bridal couple. The other guests stand and join them in prayer.
- The two families drink Omiki offered to them by the Priest and Miko as a sign of the joining of the two households
- The Chief Priest give memento to the couple and delivers congratulatory messages to the bridal couple and both families
- The conclusion of the cermony is announced; the the Chief Priest and the Miko leave from the altar
Obiously there’s more detail than this, certain ways you bow, place your hands and give or recieve offerings, wish us luck!
Thanks for reading! Here are some of my other posts you might like
Comments
2 Responses to 4 Months till the Wedding!
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Congratulations on the wedding… You have no idea who I am, I found your site by typing “Kamigamo shrine british wedding” into Google on the off chance I’d find myself!
My wife and I got married at Kamigamo Shrine April 4th last year. It is far and away the second most beutiful place I’ve ever seen. The first being a small shrine on the shore of Lake Ashi in Hakone… which moved me to tears!
All the best, I hope you and your wife are as happy as me and mine!
regards and well wishes from a total stranger.
Phil
Hey Phil, thanks for the comment and congratulations 🙂 It’s so nice to hear from somebody else who got married at Kamigamo – it really is a beautiful place I can’t wait to be there again, not long now!
Would love to see some pics if you have some!