European Wedding

Saturday August 4, it was a wedding of Joy and Thomas who are good friends of my husband. For me, it was a first experience of attending european wedding ceremony. I was curious how it is like since there was already a big differences from that of Japan. In Japan, you don't bring your husband (wife) with you to the ceremony. Not to mention girlfriends and boyfriends. For example at my wedding, the guests from my husband side were all couple but on the other hand, my side of the guests were all by themselves. In this point, I really like European style. It is nice that I can join a wedding even though I don't know the wedding couple well. I also wished Japanese guests who attended my wedding could bring their parters. But it doesn't work even I allowed them to do so. Sadly, it is Japanese custom to hesitate showing their partners.

Anyway, here's the report of European wedding in Japanese point of view!





It was such a blessing day from morning. Sun was shining and hot, dry summer day. The ceremony taken place in Grossmünster which is a symbolic church of Zürich. People simply waited outside, chatting and greeting each others until the ceremony starts. I always impressed how sociable the people are. Just one question remains, if the weather was not good, is the waiting room will be provided? Maybe all had to wait under umbrella. How big luck we all had!



Fist came best men for groom and best women for bride. I found this custom very cute, having best men and women. They wear same dresses on and supporting bride and groom. Normally brothers and sisters are on the top choice for "bests" but of course friends can be also chosen. But if I had to chose best women, it was very very difficult. I can't chose only four among my friends! (I have not sisters)



After groom came in, here is bride escorted by her father.

Ceremony was also interesting. Singing a song is same in Japan but long speech of priest was something different. I couldn't understand fully but I wondered what he was talking for such a long time. I thought he just proceed with bible but it seems that he was giving so many advise regarding the marriage. After the ceremony, I have been explained that he was talking according to bible and regarding the god, but for me, he looked like a professor in university. The way he actively talk reminded me of my school days and a class. Music was good. Celo was played by the best man. Trio of trumpets were professional. Both were indeed beautiful. Live instrument music in church is common in Europe which is again different from Japan.



What I found also cute is that not all the arrangement is perfect. Not in a negative way. It doesn't really matter when the tiara of bride almost slip off from her head. If that happens in Japan, the wedding manager will dash toward her and quickly fix it again:) Also the couple having a seat while priest speaking was interesting. In Japan we have to stand from the beginning to the end. It is also a part of performance to guests, showing beautiful dress. That's why a wedding manager is always there and take care of her dress to be seen in a best way. Every single movement of bride followed by quick fix by manager. That is funny. Another big difference is the atmosphere. I think here in Europe is more casual even though it's taken place in such a traditional and classical münster. In Japan, people are hardly allowed to whisper during the ceremony.



Here are the wedding couples. Great smile! It's the moment when we all share the happiness.



Upon we got out from the church, there was a super cool car waiting in front of it. It is a hire car for bride and groom to move on to the net party.

Inside, drinks are arranged for wedding couple to toast. What surprising was the seat for groom. On the table, there was a "playboy" and condom with a hole! European joke! Quick apello (standing cocktail) was taken place after the ceremony at backyard and then guests move on to the next party by their own.



Bride, groom and best men women.

The dinner was held at beautiful countryside in Germany which is only 40 minutes ride from Zürich. It is the place where bride owns horse and enjoy horseback riding. The name of the estate is "Albführen". I thought she might show up on the horse with her dress on but she showed up on the carriage pulled by horses, together with groom. The guests welcomed them with a whip arch in stead of flower shower:) It's nice to see some small jokes time to time during the event.




I must say that waiting time is long in many situation but like this the guests can get to know each others. Many people were coming from far, many are from abroad. It really depends but in Japan, the one living abroad hardly fly just to attend the wedding ceremony. Only when he is very close to marrying couple. Yesterday, 170 people joined from ceremony to party which is indeed a lot!



Cocktails before the dinner.



Table plan. Base color was blue. The dress of best women were also blue. Blue might has a meaning of luck or happiness. (my colored dress at the wedding was also light blue!)



Actually, they are beautiful table coordination just like in real banquet room but it is in the big tent!





Biiiiiig wedding cake! It was really cut and served by wedding couple! In Japan, cake is prepared only for a performance. Which means, wedding couple show guests first activity to do something together. This is somehow highlight during the wedding dinner in Japan. But actually, the couple just have a first "cut in". Additionally, this cake will be thrown away and won't be served to guests! I know this is strange, but since the cake is made artistic and many decoration, they are prepared from one day before. For sanitary reason, what really served to the guests is other cake which is made for "EATING" and not for "DISPLAY"



But this one was truly cut and served by a wedding couple!

It was such a long night. Eat, speech, eat performance,, these procedure were almost same like in Japan. The different point is that the dinner continued to dancing party at the same place which is great. In Japan, after dinner, people move on to so-called "second party" The concept of this second party is "now let's have fun and be crazy with friends" therefore, families and bosses are not invited. But yesterday, all the people, men and women, young and old, EVERYBODY enjoyed. Some people were only watching but at least they didn't leave early. DJ was there, playing variety of music which is familiar to many people. Even the rimbo dance was arranged! Many people tried it!

What made me even more surprised was the toughness of bride, groom and elderly guests. The dance party started around 1 am but she was still dancing full power until past 3 am. There were many elderly people as well remaining until very late. As I've written, family and bosses don't attend second party so those who continue until late are only young ones. Plus, among these friends who want to enjoy further personally move on to third or fourth party but bride and groom normally don't go further. They finish at second party for one reason, "being too tired" and another reason that "want to enjoy private time"! But yesterday, couples were still there as far as we left at 3:30 and they were already there again at 10 am at breakfast. Showing guests beautiful fresh smile! Are you not tired?? My wedding was also a one full day project but the day after, I was completely knocked out and lost my voice.



Breakfast on the next day.

Overall, it was very heart warming event. By the time I left the place, I already know many people even the parents of bride and groom. I have to say that organization is far better in Japan. Everything is well planed in advance into small details, such as "16:35 is speech by Mr. Yamada, 16:40 is speech by Ms. Suzuki, from 16:45 dessert are served... etc." But one normal friend won't have chance to chat with a parents of bride (groom)!

Dinner yesterday was seating buffet, which has a benefit of having seat but also can enjoy flexible meal by your own. Like this, people can socialize more during the waiting time of unknown schedule.

After the party, I've been told that the whole event was organized by bride's father. That was very surprising. I believe that it was a big gift from father to a daughter who is getting married and leaving a family. I don't know there is such a understanding in Europe but once you get married, you are leaving your original family in order to create a new one with partner. Father is normally especially sad to let his daughter go. I thought of the live music played during the dinner yesterday. Bride father has arranged it and played the song which all relates to the relationship of the couple. What a lovely arrangement!

European wedding is not too formal but very warm. It touched my heart a lot. I'm already looking forward to meet the people I met from the wedding again in future, and also attending another wedding party!