How does a Shinto wedding work?

Question

I'm trying to understand how a Shinto wedding is done. I'm talking about common, everyday Japanese weddings. I'm looking for as much info as possible: including the things needed for one, the process of the wedding, and if someone can a link to some commonly used vows. Can anyone help me?

Answer 1

hmm, i dunno try google? they have everything on google. or wedding websites such as theknot.com and see if they have anything japanese on there. Hope that helps?  

Answer 2

You need a shrine and a priest. And then you need a ton of money to "donate" to the shrine for performing it to you. Oh, and they dont just do a wedding for anyone; speaking Japanese and understanding Shintoism will be to your advantage.

You need to rent formal kimonos, and the rental will be thousands of dollars just for the day. You also need to be able to wear and walk in the kimono in the "correct" way. Even for most Japanese, wearing the traditional wedding kimono is really difficult and tiresome, not to mention for first-time foreigners. The last thing you want to do is make a fool of yourself by acting the "wrong" way when wearing traditonal kimono.

Common, everyday Japanese weddings these days are quite different. Many couples go to the registry office and get married there, then do a "Western style" re-enactment with reception following in a hotel. A Shinto wedding is not an easy process, not to mention costly. Western style weddings are becoming more popular.

Im not trying to dissuade you. But this is the reality. If you are really serious about this, I suggest contacting a shrine and communicating your intentions to a priest, then go from there.