The Pros And Cons of Japanese Speciality Wedding Venues and Hotels
Maybe you're considering a destination wedding or elopement in Japan. This beautiful country offers a tapestry of traditions, stunning landscapes, and a unique blend of modernity and ancient culture, making it an ideal backdrop for your special day. But it’s important to understand Japan’s wedding industry and be able to navigate through the maze of venue options and expectations to choose a venue that’s right for you and your special day.
Japanese Wedding Venue Types:
In Japan, your venue choices typically fall into two categories: the "all-inclusive" specialty wedding venue or hotel, or the more hands-on, do-it-yourself approach with private venues such as homes, gardens, shrines, or restaurants.
Roughly 90% of wedding venues in Japan fall under the specialty wedding venue or hotel category, which typically offer a comprehensive all-inclusive package deal. This means you're not just securing a venue; you're also booking their wedding planners, food menue, dress salon, florists, photographers, and more.
Pros of Specialty Wedding Venues:
Facilities: Japan offers a large number of venues catering to diverse tastes and needs. From lavish banquet halls to serene garden settings, these venues typically offer a range of facilities, including beauty salons, dressing rooms, multiple ceremony locations and often access to traditional shrines for those seeking a shrine or temple ceremony.
Convenience: For the busy couple, these venues provide a streamlined planning process with pre-packaged options that simplify decision-making. Moreover, in the case of hotels the option of overnight stays add to the convenience for you and your guests.
Ideal for Larger Weddings: These venues can typically accommodate well to larger celebrations as they offer the lighting/sound systems and a variety of spacious facility spaces needed for a full-scale wedding.
Organization and Team: All-inclusive venues in Japan generally include an experience team of highly trained and professional staff that ensure a smooth wedding day. These teams run the wedding day timeline like a well oiled machine.
Cons of Japanese All-Inclusive Wedding Venues:
Limited Customization: While convenience and timeline precision is great, it comes at the cost of flexibility. Most specialty venues adhere to their fixed, all-inclusive plans, leaving little room for personalization beyond the predetermined offerings. Requests for customizations or bringing in outside vendors will often be met with resistance and additional “bring-in” fees of 100,000 yen or more per customization.
Time Constraints: The meticulously timed schedules of specialty venues often leave little breathing room, with weddings typically lasting around 3-3.5 hours in length from start to finish. This often creates a sense of rushed proceedings, detracting from the natural flow and enjoyment of the day.
Multiple Weddings: Specialty venues, especially on weekends can resemble a wedding assembly line or factory, with multiple ceremonies unfolding simultaneously. It’s not uncommon for 3-12 weddings to take place at a venue space all on the same day. It’s easy to lose some of the wedding day magic as you and your guests are herded past other wedding parties.
Hidden Costs: Beyond the initial quote, be prepared for additional upsells charges or “bring-in” fees for custom requests such as bringing in your own dress or videographer.
In Conclusion:
Choosing the perfect venue for your destination wedding in Japan is a balancing act between convenience and customization. While specialty venues typically offer a more hassle-free experience with top-notch amenities, they may lack the personalized touch and flexibility that some couples desire.
Ultimately, the key lies in understanding your priorities and communicating them effectively with your chosen venue. Whether you opt for the convenience of an all-inclusive venue or the freedom of a DIY or private planner approach, your wedding day in Japan is sure to be a memorable affair amidst the rich culture and beauty.