Comments on: Weddings on the brain… http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/01/29/weddings-on-the-brain/ An Aussie girl living in Tokyo with her Japanese boyfriend trying to make sense of her crazy yet funny Japanese life... Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:01:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Cléa http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/01/29/weddings-on-the-brain/#comment-1233 Cléa Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:19:46 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/01/29/weddings-on-the-brain/#comment-1233 A friend of mine has been living in Japan for a number of years and when he got married to a Japanese girl, they had 2 weddings: a small traditional ceremony in Japan, and the big white wedding with his family, and a lot of people helped with the catering, photography etc. All the best to you both, whatever you do, enjoy it :). A friend of mine has been living in Japan for a number of years and when he got married to a Japanese girl, they had 2 weddings: a small traditional ceremony in Japan, and the big white wedding with his family, and a lot of people helped with the catering, photography etc.

All the best to you both, whatever you do, enjoy it :).

]]> By: Sigsy http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/01/29/weddings-on-the-brain/#comment-1194 Sigsy Sat, 02 Feb 2008 15:38:25 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/01/29/weddings-on-the-brain/#comment-1194 Where do I start? I did both. Mums can be tricky. I collected a patchwork of ideas and sewed them together. I used my Blog contacts and network to do everything - Pinn made my dress, Martine did the photos, a friend recommended the restaurant, we designed and made the invites as did my mum for England. Be positive and optimistic! Start with little details then build from there. If you hear yourself going 'I don't want this and I don't want that' STOP! It can be a lot of fun and is unavoidably stressful. It doesn't have to cost a fortune. Use your network. Consider it a project. Consider it a big art project. An extension of your Blog. I have never been happier than with my wee J-boy in our international marriage. Nothing is certain ever. Here are a few pics and posts and when we meet up, I can talk a lot about it because my Japanese wedding was incredible. Beyond belief. You couldn't script it! And Aus - well what a place to get wed! What a lot of opportunity and the Catholic thing? We had an unofficial blessing as a nod to my catholic upbringing and to the catholic community that raised and nurtured me. That was in England. First and foremost, don't worry about things until you absolutely have to and don't expect perfect, you create perfect. Disasters are just stories to tell in the future. There will be stress just prior, but once the wheels are in motion, on the day and the week before, best just to strap in, enjoy the ride and let it all happen and be fabulous. Because it is the most wonderful thing. Meeting the person you want to spend the rest of your life with and making that public committment to them. It is wonderful really wonderful. I am so madly in love! http://www.flickr.com/photos/sigsyintokyo/sets/72057594091630378/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/sigsyintokyo/sets/72157594266589223/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinkurocks/57944924/ Pinku's wedding was amazing - just she, her husband and her friend in Thailand on the beach. But I can't find any pictures. There are so so many options. Enjoy it all! Where do I start?
I did both.
Mums can be tricky.
I collected a patchwork of ideas and sewed them together.
I used my Blog contacts and network to do everything - Pinn made my dress, Martine did the photos, a friend recommended the restaurant, we designed and made the invites as did my mum for England.
Be positive and optimistic!
Start with little details then build from there.
If you hear yourself going ‘I don’t want this and I don’t want that’ STOP!
It can be a lot of fun and is unavoidably stressful.
It doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Use your network.
Consider it a project.
Consider it a big art project.
An extension of your Blog.
I have never been happier than with my wee J-boy in our international marriage.
Nothing is certain ever.
Here are a few pics and posts and when we meet up, I can talk a lot about it because my Japanese wedding was incredible. Beyond belief. You couldn’t script it!
And Aus - well what a place to get wed! What a lot of opportunity and the Catholic thing?
We had an unofficial blessing as a nod to my catholic upbringing and to the catholic community that raised and nurtured me. That was in England.
First and foremost, don’t worry about things until you absolutely have to and don’t expect perfect, you create perfect. Disasters are just stories to tell in the future.
There will be stress just prior, but once the wheels are in motion, on the day and the week before, best just to strap in, enjoy the ride and let it all happen and be fabulous. Because it is the most wonderful thing.
Meeting the person you want to spend the rest of your life with and making that public committment to them.
It is wonderful really wonderful.
I am so madly in love!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sigsyintokyo/sets/72057594091630378/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sigsyintokyo/sets/72157594266589223/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinkurocks/57944924/
Pinku’s wedding was amazing - just she, her husband and her friend in Thailand on the beach.
But I can’t find any pictures.
There are so so many options. Enjoy it all!

]]> By: tanabata http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/01/29/weddings-on-the-brain/#comment-1191 tanabata Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:49:59 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/01/29/weddings-on-the-brain/#comment-1191 Aren't international relationships fun? I didn't want a formal traditional Japanese wedding, and the fake chapel weddings are pretty awful. I knew I couldn't handle one of those. Anyway, we ended up having a Japanese style engagement party with H's family in Kansai which my family came over for, then filed the papers in Tokyo (which we consider our official anniversary so I was interested to read Sara's comments), had a reception type party in Tokyo with friends and co-workers there, then last a ceremony in Canada (which we call our 'second anniversary'. We celebrate both each year) that H's family flew over for. Since we were already officially married the ceremony in Canada was a 'reaffirmation of vows' ceremony but it looked and sounded like a normal ceremony, just what we signed was slightly different. Each event was fairly small which was nice and none of them were overly formal. Breaking it up into the various locations actually worked out ok. Aren’t international relationships fun? I didn’t want a formal traditional Japanese wedding, and the fake chapel weddings are pretty awful. I knew I couldn’t handle one of those. Anyway, we ended up having a Japanese style engagement party with H’s family in Kansai which my family came over for, then filed the papers in Tokyo (which we consider our official anniversary so I was interested to read Sara’s comments), had a reception type party in Tokyo with friends and co-workers there, then last a ceremony in Canada (which we call our ’second anniversary’. We celebrate both each year) that H’s family flew over for. Since we were already officially married the ceremony in Canada was a ‘reaffirmation of vows’ ceremony but it looked and sounded like a normal ceremony, just what we signed was slightly different. Each event was fairly small which was nice and none of them were overly formal. Breaking it up into the various locations actually worked out ok.

]]> By: Jessica http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/01/29/weddings-on-the-brain/#comment-1190 Jessica Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:52:35 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/01/29/weddings-on-the-brain/#comment-1190 Having just completed Wedding #1 to my Spanish husband in Barcelona, Wedding #2 taking place in the States in March...and both planned from afar, since we both live in Berlin...I understand your dilemmas... While planning, we got really uptight, and then finally realized that the importance was that we wanted to include the important people in our lives as much as possible. Hence, two weddings, one civil, and the second Catholic. That way, both of our mothers were happy (his, because she got the first wedding, and mine, because she got the Catholic one)... It is not the easiest, with two cultures, different languages, and watching your parents basically gesture at each other, but it is also great fun! Just remember the reasoning behind the whole thing, and have fun! And make sure you include traditions from each country...I never imagined sporting a Barcelona football shirt with my name emblazoned across the back at my wedding, but it was one of the best moments of the day! Having just completed Wedding #1 to my Spanish husband in Barcelona, Wedding #2 taking place in the States in March…and both planned from afar, since we both live in Berlin…I understand your dilemmas…

While planning, we got really uptight, and then finally realized that the importance was that we wanted to include the important people in our lives as much as possible. Hence, two weddings, one civil, and the second Catholic. That way, both of our mothers were happy (his, because she got the first wedding, and mine, because she got the Catholic one)…

It is not the easiest, with two cultures, different languages, and watching your parents basically gesture at each other, but it is also great fun! Just remember the reasoning behind the whole thing, and have fun! And make sure you include traditions from each country…I never imagined sporting a Barcelona football shirt with my name emblazoned across the back at my wedding, but it was one of the best moments of the day!

]]> By: Sara http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/01/29/weddings-on-the-brain/#comment-1183 Sara Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:37:54 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/01/29/weddings-on-the-brain/#comment-1183 Hey.. its me again. As an answer to your post on my journal.. It may be more convenient to file in Japan.. Its a fairly simple process and can be done in an hour or less. If you miss having a long engagement period you can do what a couple of my friends have done and sign the paperwork (nyuuseki) but still people you are engaged until you have the actual wedding. I have a friend whose legally been married for almost a year but shes having her weddign this weekend. Also, on facebook etc shes still listed as engaged etc. Actually.. I don't plan to tell anyone besides my very close family and best friends that I'm techinically married as of the end of February. Ryohei never really formally proposed..He says kekkon shite!! All the time, like when I make yummy food or do something nice for him. Hes been doing that since probably around last years summer. I guess you could see we formally got engaged.. as in I changed my facebook status (haha) told people around Ocotber. Which was a year after we started going out.. but to be honest we started bringing up the topic of getting married almost a year ago when we had only been together 4 or 5 months. I get embarrased about the whole propose question.. I know some people like to talk about it alot.. but to me its more of a private thing. So yah.. if you and Shumpei decided to sign your paperwork early, it doesnt mean you have to say you are married.. you can say you are engaged until you have your wedding or feel comfortable saying it. Hope this helps!! Hey.. its me again.
As an answer to your post on my journal..
It may be more convenient to file in Japan.. Its a fairly simple process and can be done in an hour or less. If you miss having a long engagement period you can do what a couple of my friends have done and sign the paperwork (nyuuseki) but still people you are engaged until you have the actual wedding. I have a friend whose legally been married for almost a year but shes having her weddign this weekend. Also, on facebook etc shes still listed as engaged etc. Actually.. I don’t plan to tell anyone besides my very close family and best friends that I’m techinically married as of the end of February.

Ryohei never really formally proposed..He says kekkon shite!! All the time, like when I make yummy food or do something nice for him. Hes been doing that since probably around last years summer. I guess you could see we formally got engaged.. as in I changed my facebook status (haha) told people around Ocotber. Which was a year after we started going out.. but to be honest we started bringing up the topic of getting married almost a year ago when we had only been together 4 or 5 months.

I get embarrased about the whole propose question.. I know some people like to talk about it alot.. but to me its more of a private thing. So yah.. if you and Shumpei decided to sign your paperwork early, it doesnt mean you have to say you are married.. you can say you are engaged until you have your wedding or feel comfortable saying it.

Hope this helps!!

]]> By: Sara http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/01/29/weddings-on-the-brain/#comment-1182 Sara Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:45:51 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/01/29/weddings-on-the-brain/#comment-1182 Well.. you know my situation pretty well I think! I'm like you though on the whole not having crazy wedding fantasies though.. I think I'm just overwhelmed by the planning. Which is why I am perfectly happy to not have to worry about it for another 2 years hehe.. I can gleam ideas from you and Nay and my other friends who get married in that time! You must be getting excited to go home for a year! I'm a little sad that I pretty much didn't even know it was my last year living in America when it was. Anyways Ryohei and I are planning to have a small party/ceremony in America this years Christmas with my family/friends there and then our big Japanese ceremony in 2010.. probably my parents and maybe my brothers will come as well as my friends living in Japan. I think before I can really get excited about planning a wedding, Ryohei and I need to know where we will be ending up. I'm excited to hear more about you and Shunpei's plans as they develop!!! Well.. you know my situation pretty well I think! I’m like you though on the whole not having crazy wedding fantasies though.. I think I’m just overwhelmed by the planning. Which is why I am perfectly happy to not have to worry about it for another 2 years hehe.. I can gleam ideas from you and Nay and my other friends who get married in that time!

You must be getting excited to go home for a year! I’m a little sad that I pretty much didn’t even know it was my last year living in America when it was. Anyways Ryohei and I are planning to have a small party/ceremony in America this years Christmas with my family/friends there and then our big Japanese ceremony in 2010.. probably my parents and maybe my brothers will come as well as my friends living in Japan.

I think before I can really get excited about planning a wedding, Ryohei and I need to know where we will be ending up.

I’m excited to hear more about you and Shunpei’s plans as they develop!!!

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