Young people find thrifty ways to tie the knot amid recession

By Tomoko Arima

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cleo at 09:58 AM JST - 24th October

They should forget the gifts for the guest

The gifts are an integral part of the wedding celebrations. A Japanese wedding without gifts would be like an English Bonfire Night without fireworks, an American Halloween without pumpkins, a Chinese New Year without firecrackers.
Psyops at 11:12 AM JST - 24th October

cityhall baby, best deal I got and without the hassel of a ceremony. I just wasn't fond of getting gifts and having to give a gift in return >_
notimpressed at 12:57 PM JST - 24th October

skip the big day and have a huge, happy, and wealthier future together.
Foxie at 04:01 PM JST - 24th October

I got married in Ueno station. Cost was zero. Fun was maximum.
Mark_McCracken at 06:43 PM JST - 24th October

Foxie, seriously? Can you fill us in?
Foxie at 12:05 AM JST - 25th October

Yes, Mark...we were in Ueno buying our wedding bands and wanted to take the train to Chiba but we missed it. I wanted to get married on the beach there but my hubby was too impatient. So, we had our vows in the station and made a ceremony like walking down the aisle in a church singing that march. Loads of people had gathered by that time and they were all cheering on us, throwing bits of papers on us and giving us the weirdest presents. It was far more relaxing and fun than having a stressful ceremony. We then had sushi. Downfall was that our parents were a bit upset.
kochikame at 06:53 AM JST - 25th October

I find Foxie's comment very interesting, but I wish I could know in details.
WhatMeWorry at 09:33 AM JST - 25th October

Foxie, you're my hero(ine)! What a great story! Good for you! I/we also got married at the Yakuba for free. Very uneventful and anticlimatic. I didn't even sign anything. Very weird. Had crab nabe back home where no one said congratulations or much. Probably still in shock 'bout the foreigner in their midst. Probably explains the pending divorce now 9 years later. God bless y'all!
goddifist at 10:58 AM JST - 25th October

so i take it the also got past the child problem in japan or is that still a problem along with the lack of marriage and the increasing rate of divorce in japan as well
Mark_McCracken at 11:35 AM JST - 25th October

Thanks Foxie. Great story.
sfjp330 at 08:39 AM JST - 26th October

The gifts are an integral part of the wedding celebrations. A Japanese wedding without gifts would be like an English Bonfire Night without fireworks, an American Halloween without pumpkins, a Chinese New Year without firecrackers.

This is exactly what is wrong with Japanese tradition when you have so much diparaty in individual finance situation creating additional stress. This has to change and not feel the traditional shame and obligation of what everybody else does. Heck with gifts but a sincere personal thoughts of good gesture.
dolphingirl at 04:55 PM JST - 26th October

I think if people want to start having cheaper weddings in Japan, then the tradition of the guests having to give the bride & groom 30,000 yen has got to go.

A lot of people seem to agree here that city hall or just a small, simple wedding is best way to go and I totally agree. Personally, if I had an extra 3 million yen laying around, there are a million other better ways I think of spending it.
kirakira25 at 06:35 PM JST - 26th October

U R right Dolphingirl. We got married at city hall and had a delicious meal, just the two of us. It was wonderful. Before that we had had a cruise and champagne on a friends boat. The only reason we then had a huge party was because my Mum had dreamed of being "mother of the bride" all her life! My Dad had died a few years before and I felt bad denying her that happiness. But my dress was sooo inexpensive, friends did the flowers, cake and photos, family friend was the minister (we had a blessing ceremony) and the guests pretty much covered the cost of their food by donating cash rather than gifts. In fact, the most expensive thing of all was Mum`s mother of the bride outfit!!!

Thats the only problem - sometimes as Foxie says the families feel "cheated" if you dont give them what they expect. I told my Mum she can have her dream wedding for me if she wants, but I am not paying for it. It was great! All I had to do was turn up!
bdiego at 03:15 AM JST - 28th October

Wrong, the best way to save money is not to get divorced. Being married is a mixed bag - some people become worse off but most become better off. Especially if we're talking dual income or a little Love M&A.
finbarr68 at 04:37 PM JST - 29th October

want to save money on a wedding then dont hire dodgy fake foreign priests!! but then again I do make a lot of money this way!! schmucks