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Bridal Kimono Dress &
Japanese Wedding
About Japanese wedding kimono, brides kimono, japanese
wedding accessories and bridal clothing.
Japanese Bride Wedding Kimono
The traditional white wedding kimono is called shiro-maku. Shiro
meaning white and maku meaning pure. The Japanese wedding
kimono actually consists of several different kimono. The white wedding kimono
is worn for the wedding ceremony and an elaborate rich patterned silk brocade
kimono called uchikake is worn over the white kimono at the wedding
reception. The
bride will normally change her dress several times, a tradition dating
from the 14th century that signifies that she is prepared to return to
everyday life.
The
uchikake kimono originated in the Edo era and was mainly worn only by
court nobles. The kimono is made of silk and beautiful silk brocade. The kimono is
rich in fine embroidered patterns and scenes of flowers, cranes, pines,
flower carts and nature motifs embellish the kimono in rich color. The
wedding day will be the last time the bride will wear a rich highly
patterned kimono, for in Japan they are reserved only to be worn by young
unmarried women. Red is
the most popular uchikake kimono color, however they are available in many
different colors from imperial purple to sea green.
The brides hair is styled in the traditional hair style called
bunkin-takashimada and adorned with beautiful kanzashi ornaments, combs and accessories.
A
white wedding hood called a tsuno-kakushi literally meaning "to hide
horns" is worn during the ceremony indicating that she will carry out
her role as a wife with patience and serenity.
Like American weddings, there are traditional wedding accessories that
are worn for tradition and are said to bring good luck. The bride carries
a small purse style sack called hakoseko and a small encased sword called
kaiken.
Lastly, a fan is worn in the obi belt for tradition holds that the
gradual widening of the open fan implies happiness and thus brings a happy
future.