Wedding Kimonos

Japanese American brides, women who are planning a theme with an Asian-influence, or women marrying into a family with a Japanese heritage may all want to consider wearing wedding kimonos on their special day.

Kimonos can be a lovely wedding look.

Traditional Japanese dresses are called kimonos, which look like long robes and are tied with a sash around the waist called an obi.

Wedding dresses worn during the customary Japanese wedding ceremonies are called shiromuku. Shiro means "white" and muku means "pure." Women often wear white hoods with the robes, which symbolize their obedience to their husbands.

Today, women often don a mostly white kimono, but the kimonos might also include pink, red, or other colors in the design. Additionally, some women opt not to wear the traditional shiromuku at all.

After the ceremony, brides don kimonos called uchikake. Uchikake are elaborately patterned wedding kimonos that are a bright red or other color, such as green, yellow, or purple. Brocade patterns, gold or silver embroidery, or other embellishments make this a stunning kimono to behold. Brides might change their uchikake several times during the reception. Cranes, bamboo, ducks, flower blossoms, and birds often make up some of the designs on the uchikake. These symbols represent:

• Luck
• Purity
• Longevity and/or health
• Fertility
• Prosperity

Junihitoe, which means "twelve-layered robe," is an incredibly expensive and complex layered kimono costume reserved for extremely important events, such as a wedding. It is a very rare but beautiful wedding dress in Japanese tradition. The 12 layers of the robe have particular colors and names, and need to be layered in a certain order. The Kyoto Visitor's Guide reports that Crown Princess Masako wore one for her wedding ceremony in the early 1990s. Today it is usually seen only in movies or in museums, like The Morikami.

Most wedding shops and salons in the United States will not carry kimonos. It may be possible for you to find a vintage wedding dress in a kimono style, passed down through your family or your groom's family.

Additionally, it may be possible to rent the dress from specialty costume shops or a Japanese clothing store. However, make sure you understand how to put the kimono on and how to tie the obi if you are not familiar with kimono styles.

Purchasing a wedding kimono can be expensive, but worth it if you want to display the kimono in your home after the wedding or want to have an heirloom for future children. Try contacting one of these online retailers to find out more about purchasing kimonos and other traditional wedding attire:

• Asia Style
• Marla Mallett
• KimonoLily

Look on etsy and eBay to find gently used wedding-style kimonos, too. As always, double-check the seller's reputation and contact with any questions before bidding on the item.

Although traditional wedding kimonos remain popular in Japan and in Japanese-American wedding ceremonies, many modern brides are opting to have a more modern bridal look in their choice of dress.

Red is a lucky color.

Some brides may choose to wear a traditional shiromuku during the ceremony, and then choose a contemporary, Westernized wedding dress for the reception. On the other hand, some women may choose to wear the uchikake during the ceremony over the shiromuku and then change into a contemporary wedding gown. Alternatively, Japanese brides might also choose to wear a modern gown for a Christian ceremony and then done a more traditional kimono during the reception.

Finally, some brides with an Asian-influenced wedding may simply want a themed wedding dress. In this case, women may look for a modern, Westernized dress with the following elements:

• Embroidered birds or flower blossoms
• Red embroidery
• Sash tied like an obi in the back
• Colored wedding dresses with brocade
• Carry a traditional Japanese fan instead of a bouquet

Bridesmaid dresses are often brightly colored kimonos or a more modern style. It depends on the overall style of the wedding and preference of the bride.

Wedding kimonos can be a beautiful and culturally rich design for a bride with an Asian heritage to choose. Understanding different ceremonial kimono styles and design elements can help you find the perfect kimono for your very special day.

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