Nami/last of the wedding

Ka-chan made this photo special. But Nami is the star.
Reception bye-bye line with mothers holding bears.
I told Jack to get my photo kissing the groom...but he missed it so I did the bride.

wedding desserts

Ever see a chocolate fountain? You could chose a strawberry, banana or other snack and dip it in the fountain. Here Andy tries his hand.
Jack diving into yummies and my plate beside his is high calorie too!
Jack getting his strawberry chocolate covered.
So many sweets to choose from. Below the bride and groom serve the wedding cake. With so many others I didn't chose wedding cake as usually it is dry and yucky. However, Jack said it was delicious.

candle lighting, ST drink, Shigin

Here they are going from table to table lighting the candles. There was also a box when we entered to guess which color of dress she would come out in. I chose the right color, but my name wasn't drawn in the chance drawing.


Waka wanted to order a nonalcoholic drink. I went with her and we got Shirley Temple drinks. So so flavor. I've had better Shirley Temples. (Shirley Temple was a curly headed little child star who must be close to 100 now. Now it is probably the most famous name for non-alcoholic drinks.)
Ojiisan had a shigin number.

writing on the cake

The photo shots of the writing on the cake.
The cutting of the cake after they wrote their names on it.

vegetarian menu

There were 6 of us who requested a vegetarian menu for the wedding reception. They did a really nice job of meeting our request.
Almost every dish was similar to the other regular menu. But substituted veggies... really nice of them to cater to us.

reception continued

Unique center display.
Here in the back was another TV monitor for us too far from the real action or the large screen.

Here the bride and groom enter in Japanese attire. Groom is singing. He is famous in his friend/work group as a karoke singer.

Reception

Nephew entered singing.
Other nephew feeding baby.
Grooms parents, brother & his wife, our son and his wife and uncle. It is Japanese custom to put the family at the furtherest tables from the bride and groom.
Above photo was shot from the staircase, which is visible in the background of the below photo

Babies/Entrance

I love babies. Times have changed in Japan. 30 plus years ago when I came to Japan and smiled at a baby, they would start screaming in horror, like they had seen a scary monster. Now they just laugh and coo and even the mothers are happy to let me make a friend of their baby. Here were two precious ones at the wedding.

This lego display was in the entrance. It was designed by the groom. I thought I could make some changes....

In between time

After the balloons we were directed to go up and get drinks, sandwiches and sign in. Here the Iizuka men are getting drinks. Below are trays of tiny sandwiches.

I missed the bridal bouquet throw while making friends with these cute little twin girls who were I think daughters of the brides cousin.

pedals and balloons

Flower pedals are thrown as the couple walk down the path.
Then everyone is given a balloon and told to release it at the same time.

The released balloons sail up and away.

Wedding cont.

Signing the wedding certificate in front of the audience is a new thing. Back 30 some years ago when we got married it was not part of the ceremony. Then you had bridesmaids and groomsmen to do that and to stand up with you. Here it was just the two of them.
Walking down the isle after the signing. They waited in the hall as all the guests went outside to make a path for them to come down through. Each guest was given a handful of flower pedals to throw in the air as they past.