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

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

2021.07.07 published
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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.

"Less is More: The Most Common Regret in Traditional Japanese Pre-Wedding Photography is the 'Japanese-Style Bouquet'"にて紹介している画像

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...!

"Less is More: The Most Common Regret in Traditional Japanese Pre-Wedding Photography is the 'Japanese-Style Bouquet'"にて紹介している画像

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."

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