International weddings

A Shinto wedding followed by a certificate from Kyoto city – the promotion scheme has been much in the news over the past few days as the first of the international marriage certificates was handed over to the lucky couple.  The delightful setting of Kamigamo Jinja has been in the forefront of the trend, with the shrine welcoming couples from around the world who wish for something different to celebrate their nuptial vows.  The report below comes from today’s Japan Times.

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Kyoto issues souvenir marriage certificates to foreign newlyweds
Kyodo, Apr 10, 2015

The city of Kyoto on Friday began issuing marriage certificates to foreigners who wed in the ancient capital and delivered the first one to a British couple. The certificate bears the signature of Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa and contains a congratulatory message from him. The city said it aims to boost tourism with the measure, although the certificate is not a legal document.

When newlyweds Stuart Loakes, 34, and Emma Mulcahy, 29, held their wedding ceremony earlier in the day at Kyoto’s Kamigamo Shrine, Kadokawa read out his message. “I am proud that you have selected Kyoto, a city with more than 1,200 years of kaleidoscopic and brilliant history as the starting point for such an important stage of your life,” he said.

Loakes said he is proud to be the first to receive the certificate. The groom added that he came to like Kyoto so much during a previous visit that he wanted to return one day with his wife.