Since many relatives would be attending from far away, we narrowed our search down to a hotel wedding where travel wouldn't be a burden.
We wanted them to enjoy the view of our beloved Minatomirai, which is full of memories, and the hotel was also extremely accessible, with a direct connection to the station and a limousine bus from the airport.
The biggest deciding factor was meeting a wonderful planner I could trust.
Due to work commitments, the couple had decided to travel to the United States one month after their wedding, so they both agreed that they wanted to experience Japan's finest old traditions for their wedding ceremony, and so they chose a Shinto wedding ceremony.
The Shinto wedding ceremony, set in a colorful shrine and with beautiful live gagaku music playing, was solemn and moving, and I was once again glad that I had made that choice.
As a surprise, we invited both parents to join us and performed a kagami-biraki ceremony together, with the three couples taking part.
The ceremony was a perfect fit for the traditional Japanese attire and helped to deepen the bond between the two families.
I was so happy that the guests were so pleased with the place cards, which were made in the shape of a wooden box with their names on them!
The reception wasn't too packed with content, and there was plenty of time for conversation and photos.
We were able to enjoy the event up close with our guests, which was a truly wonderful experience.
Although I wasn't able to attend the tasting, I had heard good reviews and had used the restaurant before.
I was sure that the cuisine at The Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu would be a delight.
One of our guests even commented, "It was the most delicious wedding food I've ever been to!"
The basic course was French cuisine, but they were able to accommodate changes such as changing the cuisine for my grandparents and rearranging the menu, which I was very grateful for.
The cute kids' menu was also a big hit!
Our wedding preparations began in a hurry about three months ago, and we had a lot of worries as we were in the midst of the unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic.
I am grateful that the day came safely and that we were able to hold our wedding.
All the staff were lovely and helpful and we had a wonderful day.
It has become a precious place for us and we hope to visit it again and again in the future as Second House.
The memories of our wedding, including the preparation period leading up to the day, have become a lifelong treasure.
I think it's because they were there for me wholeheartedly and supported me in making my dreams come true.
Time will fly by on the day, so please enjoy it to the fullest!!
Wishing you all a wonderful day ahead of your wedding.
