Dreaming of a wedding that's intimate, personal, and surrounded by nature? Forget the grand banquet halls and crowded guest lists. More and more couples are choosing to elope, and Tokyo's beautiful parks offer a surprisingly romantic and versatile setting for this intimate celebration.
Imagine exchanging vows beneath cherry blossoms in spring, amidst the vibrant foliage of autumn, or in a serene, green oasis any time of year. A park elopement in Tokyo offers a unique blend of urban convenience and natural beauty, creating a truly unforgettable experience.
Elopement Ideas in Tokyo
You are charmed with Japan, and want to have a small ceremony while visiting Tokyo. Then what can you do?
Here are some ideas that my clients from the past gave us.
1. Garden Ceremony
Exchange vows surrounded by the tranquility of nature in one of Tokyo's beautiful gardens. The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and Koishikawa Botanical Garden are just a couple of options offering picturesque settings for a romantic ceremony.
2. Traditional shrine ceremony
You want to experience Japanese tradition while visiting Japan? Some shrines in Tokyo, such as Meiji shrine or Nogi Shrine have English speaking stuffs available.
3. Chic Restaurant Wedding
Rent a private dining space at a stylish restaurant with stunning city views. Enjoy a gourmet meal and celebrate your union in an intimate and sophisticated setting.
Elopement wedding in the middle of Tokyo
Here is a couple who came all the way from New Zealand.
When they first reached me, saying that they wanted to have a small wedding in Tokyo, but had no idea how.
When I asked them what kind of venue they were hoping for, they said,
"We'd like a place right in the heart of the city, where you can also enjoy nature, like Central Park in New York."
At first, I wondered, "Does such a place even exist in Tokyo?" Tokyo has this image of being a concrete jungle.
But actually, Tokyo has many parks, both large and small.
After suggesting a few parks, from the city center to the suburbs, the one they liked the most was Hibiya Park.
It's very close to Tokyo Station, right in front of Japan's most famous luxury hotel, the Imperial Hotel.
Surrounded by the Marunouchi skyscrapers, once you step inside, it's a somewhat quiet natural environment. They liked it because it was exactly like Japan's Central Park.
Hiring a celebrant for you wedding
If you're having your wedding at a restaurant or a shrine, I recommend hiring a bilingual wedding planner. This is because they can help you not only with finding a venue but also with bridging the gap in expectations between Japanese and Western-style weddings.
However, if you're looking for a more casual wedding, I think hiring a celebrant would be a good option.
Try searching online for "wedding celebrant Tokyo" or "English-speaking celebrant Tokyo." You might find individual celebrants or companies offering celebrant services.
That's how they found one guy, experienced with over 10 years at wedding venues in Tokyo.
exchanging vows that express your feelings towards marriage
A key feature of an elopement wedding, and what is considered very important, is that the bride and groom exchange vows in their own words.
By putting the feelings you want to convey to your partner into a letter and reading it aloud as your "vows," you share your commitment to each other. Things you couldn't usually say, and things you can only say at a wedding. You put those words into voice and read them aloud.
It's not just about taking photos; you might realize something new about your partner that you didn't know, even after dating for three years. The couple from New Zealand also talked about this after their wedding.
Having friends as your witnesses
Elopement weddings are all about celebrating your love in an intimate and personal way, so there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to having witnesses. Here are some things to consider to help you decide:
When you have an elopement wedding with just the two of you, It allows for a truly private and special moment between just the two of you, without any external pressures or expectations.
Meanwhile, Including witnesses in your elopement allows you to share the special moment with a few of your most important people while still maintaining a sense of intimacy. Furthermore, sharing this unique experience with witnesses can create lasting memories for everyone involved.
In their case, their best friends joined the trip as a bridal party.
Photo Session at Hibiya Park with Nemophila flowers
Their elopement wedding took place at Hibiya park, located only ten minutes from Tokyo Station or Imperial Palace. While surrounded by high rise buildings, the park features a variety of flowers, threes, and well-maintained gardens that cage with the seasons.
It was end of April that park was filled with Nemophila flowers there, and created a beautiful scenery for their wedding day.
OK, enough for the explanations.
From here, please enjoy rest of photos that we captured for our couple, Oliver and Felicity, during their elopement wedding ceremony and after session.
We are Tokyo based wedding & family photography studio
bozphoto & Styles is a Tokyo-based photography studio specializing in wedding, engagement, and elopement photography. With a focus on documentary-style photography, we aim to preserve the emotions and stories behind each image, allowing you to relive those memories for years to come.
Whether an intimate elopement in the heart of Tokyo, or a stunning pre-wedding shoot amidst Japan’s breathtaking landscapes, we strive to deliver photographs that are both meaningful and unforgettable.
we believe that every picture tells a story. Let us help you tell yours.
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