Christian chapel ceremonies

A Christian wedding in Kyoto.

 

Ceremonies modeled on the Christian chapel weddings of Europe and North America have replaced more traditional Shinto rites in recent years. An estimated 75-85% of marriage ceremonies are conducted at professional wedding halls or at hotels providing similar services.^[81] Non-Japanese from Europe and North America often play the part of minister during the ceremony, although they are often not Christian themselves and are discouraged from proselytizing during the ceremony.^[82][83]

The brief ceremony includes a rehearsal, a procession, and a service. During the rehearsal, the mother of the bride lowers the veil for her daughter, to signify a last act of kindness "giving her away". The father walks the bride down the aisle to her waiting groom. After the rehearsal, the wedding celebrant leads the procession and often wears a wedding cross (the kana, a cross with two interlocking wedding rings attached) which symbolizes a couple's commitment to sharing a life together. The wedding celebrant gives a brief welcome and an introductory speech before announcing the bride's entrance. The procession ends with the groom bowing to the bride's father. The father bows in return. The service which ensues is given either in Japanese or English, though quite often in a mix of both. It follows Protestant ceremony, relaxed and not overtly religious. Typically part of 1 Corinthians 13 is read from the Bible. After the reading, there is a prayer and a short message, explaining the sanctity of the wedding vows (seiyaku). The bride and groom share their vows and exchange rings. The chapel register is signed and the new couple is announced. This is often followed by the traditional wedding kiss. The service can conclude with another hymn and a benediction.

The adoption of Christian-style weddings dates back to two events in the 1980s. The first was the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles, and the second—among the Japanese—was the televised wedding of the Japanese idol Momoe Yamaguchi. Between 1 and 2.1% of Japan's population is Christian, but "white wedding" ceremonies account for 75% of all Japanese weddings, in what some take as a sign of the country's increasing agnosticism.^[83]