"Less is More: The Most Common Regret in Traditional Japanese Pre-Wedding Photography is the 'Japanese-Style Bouquet'"

2021.07.07 published

Was a Japanese-style bouquet unnecessary...?

A common regret among brides who had a pre-wedding photo shoot in a kimono or a traditional wedding is related to the "Japanese-style bouquet."

While pairing a colorful uchikake or a white wedding kimono with a round bouquet or a dried flower bouquet is the norm, hearing the opinions of brides who actually prepared a Japanese-style bouquet reveals some insights.

It seems there are some dissatisfaction regarding the bouquet.

For example, what kind of complaints might there be...??

I've summarized some experiences I've heard.

Regret 1 about the Japanese-style bouquet

I paired a Japanese-style bouquet with pampas grass and dried flowers with my white wedding kimono, but my husband said, "What is that? Are you doing a purification ceremony??"

When I think about it, it really did look like a shrine maiden, and I couldn't help but laugh at myself 😂

I thought it was stylish, but all the photos taken made it look like a purification ceremony w.

Regret 2 about the Japanese-style bouquet

I did a pre-wedding photo shoot in a kimono in November.

I fell in love at first sight with a pink tsumami zaiku ball bouquet with a pearl handle I saw on Instagram, so I asked a handmade artist to make one for me!

It looked cute in photos, but the actual thing was quite childish.

I did the photo shoot at a shrine, and it was Shichi-Go-San season, so a girl next to me had a similar temari ball...

Regret 3 about the Japanese-style bouquet

I had a large bouquet that included cherry blossom branches prepared by a florist 🌸

I liked how beautifully it was arranged, but upon seeing the finished photos, I was disappointed that the colorful uchikake was mostly hidden by the bouquet.

I chose a pattern similar to the one my mother wore at her wedding, but you could hardly see the pattern because it was mostly covered by the bouquet, and there were only a few photos taken at the photo studio where I wasn't holding the bouquet.

While the bouquet itself was lovely, I think I could have chosen a design that wasn't so large that it would obscure the uchikake.

Regret 4 about the Japanese-style bouquet

I ordered a custom bouquet for 20,000 yen as part of my photo plan option.

After placing the order and creating instructions, I realized that the photos I liked were ones without a bouquet, such as "pictures showing the uchikake pattern," "shots of my feet," and "photos where we hold hands," so I thought maybe I didn't need to order it after all.

If I was going to pay 20,000 yen, I think it would have been better to add a location rather than adding a Japanese-style bouquet, as that would allow for various photos!

Regret 5 about the Japanese-style bouquet

I made a mizuhiki bouquet to match my kimono, but my mother said, "It looks like a New Year's decoration."

I initially liked it, but after she said that, it really did start to look like a New Year's decoration, and I stopped holding it midway.

Ultimately, having no bouquet made my white wedding kimono look much better 🙆

[Investigation] Does a bouquet match a kimono?

After hearing the experiences of senior brides, there were many regrets about the Japanese-style bouquet...

First of all, does a bouquet even match a kimono? This had been a question of mine for quite some time (I thought bouquets originated in Europe), so I did some research.

Bouquets and flower arrangements are cultural origins from Europe and have no history in Japan. They arrived in Japan alongside Western culture during the post-war period, including Christian-style weddings.

Therefore, pairing a kimono with a bouquet is not something that has existed historically, but rather a "trend" of the last few decades.

While it’s easy to think "just like how bouquets are paired with wedding dresses, a Japanese-style bouquet should also be used with a kimono", it was eye-opening to learn from a historical perspective that it is not traditional to have bouquets with kimonos...!

What should I hold instead?

If not holding a bouquet, I wonder if going hands-free is the right choice... However, holding a "suehiro (crescent-shaped fan)" is also formal.

The suehiro creates a barrier between you and your partner, symbolizing "a show of respect to the other person."

In the Emperor's enthronement ceremony, women held a white suehiro, right? Thus in Japan, traditionally holding a suehiro is customary at formal celebration events.

The correct way to hold a suehiro is to hold the base with your right hand and gently support it with your left hand from below. Be cautious not to open it as that would be a breach of etiquette.

A bouquet is not essential for kimono wear!

If you search for "#和装ブーケ" on Instagram, you'll find around 19,000 posts, so many might think it’s something that must be prepared, but actually, a bouquet isn’t necessary for a kimono.

Regarding the design of the Japanese-style bouquet, it seems to be a point of regret for past brides, so I thought it might be worth considering the option of going without one…??

(Having no bouquet can actually make the kimono look better, too!)

If you're a bride planning a traditional wedding or pre-wedding photo shoot, please keep in mind that "a Japanese-style bouquet is not necessary."