Maybe the Most Special Kimono of All: The Wedding Kimono

Probably the most special kimono among all kimono: the wedding kimono. What’s so special about it? How many kinds of wedding kimono do exist? And what do all those little items symbolize? Read all about the fashion of Japanese brides.

There are two kinds of wedding kimono: shiromuku (白無垢) and uchikake (打掛). The difference: shiromuku is white and uchikake is dyed in a vivid color and is embellished with gold, silver and embroidery.

Uchikake

Uchikake is traditionally red, but now there are plenty more colors. This kimono was prepared by the groom’s family. The more gorgeous it was, the richer the family the bride married into. So this was a chance of the groom’s family to show they’re wealth and that their son was a good match.

The tradition of the uchikake as a wedding kimono was born in Edo-Period (1603-1868) and is inspired by the fashion of princesses who wore this as a daily dress. Today this style of kimono can only be seen in period dramas, kabuki plays, or at weddings.

Shiromuku

Shiromuku was the bridal fashion since Muromachi Period (1392-1491). During the Meiji-Period (1886-1912) when the Japanese people started to admire western culture and white Western wedding dresses, shiromuku boomed again.

In former times it was prepared by the bride’s family when she headed off to her new home. The color white also meant that she was ready to be “dyed” into “color” of her groom’s family. Simply said she’ll take over all traditions of her new family. In Japanese tradition it is believed that when a woman marries, she leaves her own family and becomes a part of the new one. Which means that a bride’s mother-in-law is more related to her than her own mother. Of course, in modern Japan this opinion has changed little by little, but it is still stuck in some heads.

The veil (綿帽子 wata-bōshi), which is worn with a shiromuku, was in in former times an item princesses or daughters of wealthy trader families wore to protect their skin from sunlight or mosquitos when they went outside. Nowadays the wata-bōshi is only worn by brides.

Other items

Instead of a wata-bōshi some brides put on a tsunokakushi (角隠し) which says: “I’ll hide my horns and obey my husband.” Maybe this meaning is one the reasons why it's less worn nowadays. (Haha!)

The hakoseko (箱迫) she puts into here kimono is a little purse for a small mirror and a comb. With this she wants to say: “I’ll always be pretty”. She also has a fan (扇子 sensu), which is an indispensable item for formal kimono. Folded fans like this are also called “suehiro (末広)” which means literally translated “spreading out the end (pushing the end away)”. This is the reason why folded fans stand for long life and good fortune.

The bride also brings a dagger (懐剣 kaiken) with her. The first priority of this item was to show that she can protect herself and the family. It's a symbol for strength.

But in the end…

The kimono that I have been showing in this post are just one style of wedding kimono. In fact, in history there existed many different wedding kimono. Because of this long history a bride nowadays can choose what type of wedding kimono she wants to wear. Unfortunately, more and more brides are choosing a dress over kimono. I personally chose uchikake and shiromuku, because this was for sure the first and last time I could really wear them.