Credit to Yoko-chan

Shinto Wedding Ceremony

0. Entering the shrine (Nyujyo)

• The bridal couple and relatives proceed to the main shrine with the shrine maidens.
  
• The bride’s family sits on the left-hand side facing the front.
  
• The groom’s family on the right-hand.
  
• After everyone enters, the priest comes in.

1. Purification Rite (Shubatsu)

• Everyone stand and bow to be symbolically purified.
  
• The priest will say a prayer to purify everyone.
  
• When it is finished, everyone sits down.

2. Bow (Saisyu Ippai)

• Everyone stands up.
  
• The priest will bow once to the altar.
  
• Everyone will follow the bow after the priest.
  
• This bow is done to show respect to god. 

3. Prayer (Norito sojyo)

• Everyone stands up.
  
• Shinto priest announces to the shrine altar the marriage of the bridal couple.
  
• Once the priest finishes the prayer, everyone sits down.

4. Exchange of Sake (San San Kudo)

• The maiden will bring 3 sizes of sake cups (small, medium, and large) and sake.
  
• The maiden will pour the sake in the cups.
  
• The bride and the groom raise the cup 3 times.
  
• The first two times, the cup is raised to one’s lips without drinking.
  
• Only on the third time is the sake drunk
  
• 1. Small cup: Groom→Bride
  
• 2. Medium cup: Bride→Groom
  
• 3. Large cup: Groom→Bride

5. Wedding Vow (Seishi Sojyo)

• The bridal couple goes in front of the altar, then bows once.
  
• The groom reads the oath out loud.
  
• At the end of the oath, the groom says his name then the bride says her name.
  
• Once finished reading the oath, the groom rolls back the scroll, then places in front of the altar.
  
• The bridal couple bows twice, claps hands twice, and then bows once.

6. Presenting the Sakaki Branch (Tamagushi Hoten)

• This ritual represents the safe end of the ceremony.
  
• The maiden brings the Sakaki branch.
  
• The bridal couple goes in front of the altar to receive the branch.
  
• They bow twice, clap hands twice, and then bow once.
  
• The couple place the branch at the altar.
  
• After the bridal couple, the matchmaker and the relative representative do the same procedure.  

7. Sake Drinking (Shinzoku hai)

• Everyone drinks sake in celebration.
  
• The maiden comes up to pour sake.
  
• When the sake is poured to everyone, everyone stands up then has a drink.
  
• When drinking, do the same as “Exchange of Sake (San San Kudo)”
  
• ※Raise the cup 3 times.
  
• The first two times, the cup is raised to one’s lips without drinking.
  
• Only on the third time is the sake drunk.

8. Bow (Saisyu Ippai)

• Everyone stands up.
  
• The priest will bow once to the altar.
  
• Everyone will follow the bow after the priest.
  
• This bow is done to show respect to god. 

9. Exit (Taijyo)

• The priest exit the shrine first.
  
• Others follow the priest out of the shrine.