Weddingbee Blog

While I’m still trying to sort out the whole lack-of-cheongsam issue, I thought I’d take a moment to address another reception dress I’ve been dreaming about - the kimono.

Honestly, I had long given up hope of wearing a wedding kimono, due to the staggering expense. Mr. Sew’s parents were kind enough to send us some beautiful yukata instead, which we wore for our engagement photos.

(And again on our 6th dating anniversary at the Fanime Convention this year!)

However, it didn’t seem formal enough for a wedding, so I had resigned myself to being a 2-dress bride. Of course, that didn’t stop me from whining about my lack of dream kimono every chance I got. I’m such an embarrassment.

But as destiny would have it, I actually received an e-mail from a church friend/wedding guest of ours. A friend-guest that wanted to loan me her furisode. A fancy, red kimono. I about died.

Friend in her kimono at a wedding in ’74

My dream! So beautiful!

She brought it all over in a suitcase, and I must say - there’s a lot of parts to it.

The kimono slip? I think it’s called a juban.

Belts. Lots and lots of belts. And no clue as to what each one is for.

A beautiful golden obi!

And the brocade beauty herself, which Mr. Sew is trying desperately to hold up off the floor. It’s long!

No wonder one of her conditions was that I must have someone to dress me in it. We’ll need someone with fast hands, or else I might miss our entire reception trying to get dressed!

She also warned me that the furisode is technically meant for unmarried ladies, since the sleeves are long. I’m hoping none of Mr. Sew’s family notices, though I wouldn’t be surprised if they did. Some of them are quite traditional. Oh well. I’ll only have been married a few hours, surely it can’t be that bad?

Oh, and I can’t forget the shoes (geta)! Are these not the cutest?!

I’m really excited about this dress change. I’ve dabbled around in Japanese culture even before meeting Mr. Sew, so having the opportunity to wear a kimono at our wedding feels kind of like a cultural rite-of-passage to me, if that makes any sense. And of course, I’m super grateful of our friend and her dress-generosity. I can’t wait to wear it, and I hope Mr. Sew will love it too!

Now, should I ship it (insured, of course) to Hawaii, or should I leave room to take it with me on the flight? What’s safer? And how do you say thank you for something like this?