"This is the wedding I longed for" - producers of dream weddings

Until the early 90s in Japan, wedding ceremonies used to be held at deluxe hotels and specialized wedding ceremony halls, but recently the number of simple weddings, or the so-called "Jimikon" in which couples only invite their close friends and relatives, has been rapidly increasing. On the other hand, there are also more and more couples who prefer to hold their own unique weddings without spending large amounts of money. As a result, new businesses that provide unique wedding ceremony plans have begun appearing.

Julia's rose (Shibuya, Tokyo), a company that produces "order-made" wedding ceremonies, can enable couples to make their dreams come true by changing ordinary spaces into dream worlds. For instance, a gymnasium can be changed into a forest, a field of flowers, and other beautifully created artificial settings. Instead of selecting one of the many existing ceremony halls, Julias Rose has created a whole new concept in wedding spaces.

Wedding planner Ms. TANAKA Natsumi explains the reaction about one such setting. "Upon entering the hall, guests are surprised at all the flowers they can see, and ceremonies where they can enjoy a delicious meal in a field full of flowers. These ceremonies seem to be creating a deep and positive impression, and we are receiving lots of orders from friends, brothers, guests and others who have attended these ceremonies."

Wedding costs differ depending on the halls, meal styles and the number of attendants, but the total cost is estimated by multiplying the number of guests by 30,000 yen, which is approximately equivalent to the wedding gift money that is received from most wedding guests in Japan. The company also provides a more affordable, casual party-style ceremony plan and can produce weddings for international couples who want to place added importance on expressing their own cultural tastes. The company has recently received requests from Italian-Japanese and Indian-Japanese international couples.

"This work is worth doing to be able to have a bond with the couples even after the wedding, associating with them as friends, visiting to see their babies, and so on," Natsumi explains with a smile. "We feel happy experiencing the sense of unity among the staff when we are all involved working in the tense atmosphere realizing the wedding plan by doing our best to work as a team."

The person who performs the main role in the wedding ceremony is the MC, and depending on their skill, guests' impression of the wedding may differ drastically. Ms. MIYAMOTO Kirina, who is actively working as an MC, shares a secret, "Since a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, couples have special emotions tied to it. To meet their needs, I do a lot of preparation and discuss it in great detail in advance."

Natasha FARROW, a wedding singer from Australia, has been singing for about a year, and in the busy time, may sing at up to 8 weddings a day. "I am told what to sing," Natasha says. "Generally, the most popular songs are 'Ave Maria,' and 'What a Friend we have in Jesus.' Some people are in tears and say it is beautiful," she says, satisfied with the positive feedback.

Julia's rosea
http://www.juliasrose.com

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