CONTRIBUTED BY STACI HAWLEY
I am always excited to get an invite to a wedding. However, I have yet to be included in a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony. A local reader e-mailed us needing help on the proper etiquette that is appropriate to attend this big event. Needless to say, you won’t be printing out the wedding registry at the local Jusco to find the gift. Read below for some blissfully good informative information. Thanks Kandy and Kaho!
Cambria asked:
“My husband just found out that we are invited to an Okinawan wedding THIS Saturday, and I am very nervous. My neighbor told me there are very many American mistakes made at an Okinawan wedding, and I don’t want to make them. I have tried searching on the internet for the details, but am having problems finding the answers…like what to wear (is revealing shoulders a no-no?), what kind of gift or how much money to give (many internet places say up to 30,000 yen, which is a lot for an acquaintance) Please help me! I don’t want to be one of those Americans”!
Our lovely editor Kandy recommends:
I would wear something very conservative.
.think funeral. Also, by experience, wear shoes that aren’t too difficult to get on and off and ALWAYS wear stockings (no bare feet) because you’ll be taking your shoes off at some point. Also, as far as money, you need to put it into a “wedding envelope” Ask someone at a store (Jusco etc) for a Noshi-bukuro (special envelope) for a Yuinou (Yoo-ee-no-oo) It will look like the one in THIS picture. More importantly, the envelope itself varies depending on your relationship to the bride/groom which also determines the amount of money in the envelope. Since you’re just an acquaintance, Y10,000 would be okay (around $100 of Yen)
I just asked my mother and she confirmed it sounds right.
And charming Kaho also adds:
She has to find the correct envelope. You don’t want to bring an envelope saying “happy newborn”, “happy 60 years old” or “condolences” to a wedding, you know! Here are pictures of envelopes for many different events here. The wedding one is on the top.
I would recommend her printing this out and bring it to a stationary store and point to the picture of the wedding envelope.
So hopefully this is some good information for all you lucky invitees out there.
Have any of you been to a local Okinawan wedding?
Do share!