Wedding Etiquette + After Party Info

If interested, this website for more detailed information.

Shinto Wedding Ceremony Etiquette

Please try to follow the guidelines below:

1. No wear any leather or animal prints

2. Don't show too much skin as it is a sacred Shinto shrine. For instance, shoulders should be covered up.

3. It'll be a bit cold outside in early April so please prepare accordingly. The temperature is estimated to have a high of 18°C/ 64°F and a low of 8°C/46°F. We will also be a bit up in the mountains.

4. Don't wear all black. Men typically wear black suits with white ties. Women should wear knee length skirts, but again not all black like black stockings.

5. Do not take any photos before the sake is being consumed by Matt and Aya.

6. Towards the end of the ceremony there will be a time when everyone stands up and does a series of bows. Here is a simple example video.

Wedding Gifts

A bit different than Western style weddings, Japanese weddings typically have a culture of guests giving cash and the guests will receive gifts from the bride and groom called Hikidemono (引き出物) and sometimes cash in instances where the guests travel from far away.

Nijikai and Sanjikai Information

For our wedding we will have a ceremony, then a reception (hiroen), followed by a 'second party' (nijikai) and finally a 'third party' (sanjikai). For the Nijikai and Sanjikai, unlike Western weddings, there is an entry fee. There is more detail below. These parties are more relaxed in atmosphere and dress code. When entering the Nijiaki after the reception you will be asked to pay for the entrance fees. We request that all guests inform us whether they are planning on attending these events with a RSVP deadline of March 10th.

Nijikai Information

Location Name: Biwako Hotel (Ruri Room)

Time: 7:30 PM-9:30 PM

Cost: 4,500 JPY (About $42 and includes all you can eat and drink for two hours!!)

Sanjikai Information

Location Name: Klipper's Kolsch

Address: 1-10 Shimanoseki Otsu, Shiga, Japan

Tablelog Link: https://tabelog.com/en/shiga/A2501/A250101/25000316/

Time: 10:30 PM-12:30 AM

Cost: 2,500 JPY (About $20 and includes all you can eat and drink for two hours!!)

Directions: After the Nijikai event we will all leave the hotel around 10:20 PM together to head there as a group. It is only a 5 minute or less walk from the hotel so it is easy to find. Please pay for the entrance fee ahead of time during the registration for the Nijikai.