Why are "Christian-style" weddings so popular in Japan?

 nowadays, lots of young couples choose non-religious wedding ceremony in Japan arranged by wedding-specialized companies. What's wrong with that?

Absolutely nothing kenny. Its all good. We had 2 weddings- one in Aleppo, Syria Middle Eastern style and one in Tokyo. While it was not Shinto, it was still more or less Japanese style. I agree that people should be free to do what they want.

Aly RustomNov. 9  08:34 am JST

a chance to be foreign without being foreign

What does it mean to be foreign by "Christian-style" weddings?

Had a friend who conducted Christian style weddings. He was not an ordained minister, and let all the couples know beforehand. He had a friend who was in fact an ordained minister, but the friend was always rejected by the couples because he was Japanese. Most of the couples requested a white minister and someone whose first language was English and NOT Japanese.

That's what it means.

They are a little more relaxed and enjoyable for a start.

Indeed, at least in the Christian wedding they can smile. I've attended both types, and when I attended a traditional Japanese wedding I felt I was attending a funeral...

Aly RustomNov. 9  08:34 am JST

a chance to be foreign without being foreign

What does it mean to be foreign by "Christian-style" weddings?

Because of this kind of voice, none of your business, nowadays, lots of young couples choose non-religious wedding ceremony in Japan arranged by wedding-specialized companies. What's wrong with that?

Why are "Christian-style" weddings so popular in Japan?

Because they care style not religion. Because those churches let wedding couples who are not even Christians have that-style ceremony in the church and hear Ave-Maria sung by choir.

It is the style of ceremony

A marriage becomes official in front of an agent of the state, not in front of a priest. 

I don't think this is true in Japan. in our case, we drove away from our reception, went to town hall, and put a document in the postbox. We didn't do anything in front of any official or anyone operating as an agent of the state. A couple of friends may have signed the document, I don't remember. We put it in the postbox on the same day specifically to get a single anniversary.

Influence from media and pop culture probably. They do seem to dig the whole "prince and princess" shtick.

Laguna, I don't know, we did it Shinto style and we were quite the center of attention. During the walk through the shrine we were at the top of the procession and the families and friends followed us, then during the ceremony itself we were seated in the center of the room, and the families on two rows on the sides.

But my wife's parents insisted for whatever reasons (mostly Hollywood-related I assume) that she also wears a wedding dress, so we changed during the party.

Used to conduct weddings. From my experience, the couple enjoy being the center of attention as opposed to Shinto weddings, which stress more the uniting of two families.

Why are "Christian -style" weddings popular? Because they envy and admire white culture.

Born Shinto, Marry Christian, Die Buddhist.

And celebrate the start of adulthood with two famous cute mice.

The only gripe I have with this wedding style is that in Japan you are encouraged to bring 3 man en to a wedding.

I would have thought marrying one man would be enough.

Now, if we're talking about money, the weddings I've been too, I haven't had to pay a single dime. You want to get married and you want people to celebrate your wedding, then you pay for the party yourself.

Why are "Christian-style" weddings so popular in Japan?

But is it true? Any data? Is it also unique only to Japan?

In my first-hand observation, Japanese marrying couples vary in their wedding styles, often the hybrid of traditional Japanese and western/Christian-looking ones.

@Nadrew

In my case, I was born Wild, Marry Shinto, Divorced and Re:married civil.. and like to Die Hard (hohoho)

Born Shinto, Marry Christian, Die Buddhist.

One word... Movies

More than one word, the influence of Unated States type of western culture of the past (up until mid 1990 maybe?), specially based in the idea of Princess type dress celebrated by every one in a "Happy ending" style.

More fun and the outfits are cuter. Japanese traditional style is novel and all but they are boring as all hell and almost somber. No one is smiling through 80% of the event.

Christian style may be hollow here but at least your allowed to enjoy it

I don’t think a Groom would insist on the type or style of wedding but neither would he refuse or deny the Bride the style she wants. I requested a very low cost wedding like no wedding but her parents insisted so I fork out $25 at the courthouse.

The only legal marriage is when the couple registers at their government office or government-appointed agent. Everything else is whatever you want to make it.

Today  08:37 am JST

“ same thing about some "doitsumura" somewhere in inaka.you want feel like in Germany without leaving Japan. “

(not the best example, wrong comparison) I look at Doitsu mura as a celebration of German culture, a symbol of friendship between Germany and Japan and a great place where you can have a good time with your kids and buy German snacks, beer and sausages. No, this is about how huge of an influence this whole Disney princess thing is for thousands of Japanese women which is an example of the interest that people have for Western culture; ( after WWII, people in Japan started developing this fascination/admiration for American and European cultures; in the minds of Japanese people, everything American or European is “interesting, good and/or of good quality”. )

English teachers gotta make some extra cash somehow!

Cosplay.

Mostly yes. A bit of it will be the less formal atmosphere than you'd get at a shrine.

No wedding ceremony in Japan is official and its all for show. You can do whatever you want because it has no meaning. Legally getting married means filing a document at the town hall. This is not referred to as "kekkon", but as "seki wo ireru". Some people file the document on a different day, so if you want to split hairs, their wedding anniversary is not the day they were married.

Same with other western practices and culture that's being adopted in Japan - halloween, christmas, valentine's day. The Japanese cherry pick these things and make them their own.

Usually the women are the ones who want to hold a wedding ceremony and they are the ones who choose what type of wedding they want. Growing up watching Disney princess movies, they likely want to one day dress like a princess hence why they would prefer to wear a wedding dress over a kimono. The only gripe I have with this wedding style is that in Japan you are encouraged to bring 3 man en to a wedding. I refused this nonsense, so I told my guests to not bring anything.

Cosplay.

a chance to be foreign without being foreign