Holy Matrimony (Part 1) / 友達の結婚式 （パート１）

This is our friend Ken with his new bride Yuki-chan (and yes, I have his permission to post pictures of their wedding that I took.) I've known Ken for a few years but little did I know that he was also one of Mikako's childhood friends. They've known each other since the fourth grade. Ken is also good friends with Jun who is married to Mikako's sister which makes Jun my brother-in-law. Jun came to Tokyo from Aomori for Ken's wedding and stayed at our apartment for two nights.

紹介します。彼は私たちの友達の健ちゃんと嫁のゆきちゃん（健の許可を得て、僕が撮った写真をポストしてます）。僕は健ちゃんと六、七年位の付き合いですが、彼は美香子の幼馴染です。二人は小学４年生から知っている。美香子の妹の旦那潤も古い付き合いで、潤が健ちゃんの結婚式の為青森から東京に来て、家に二泊しました。

The wedding was held at a place called Happo-En in Meguro. I learned that this place is quite popular for weddings and also saw that along with Ken and Yuki, there was about 25 other couples tying the knot on this particular Sunday. The service was to start at 11:00am in the Garden Chapel. We were meeting some friends at 9:30 and was at the wedding hall an hour early. Just before 11:00am, we were led to the Garden Chapel. Ken and Yuki's wedding was not the traditional Japanese wedding you may imagine as Yuki was dressed in a beautiful white wedding gown (and not a kimono). Unfortunately, pictures were not allowed inside the chapel. However, this being Japan, there is a time and place for everything, including taking pictures of the bride and groom.

結婚式の会場は白金台にある八芳園。人気の高い場所で、健とゆきちゃん以外に２５組位のカップルが今日ここで式をあげてる。健とゆきちゃんのが八芳園のガーデンチャペルで１１：００amに始まる予定。朝の九時半に友達と合流して、式場に一時間早く着きました。時間が近づくと、チャペルに行き、新郎、新婦の登場を待ってました。西洋風の式でした。ゆきちゃんの白いウェディングガウンの姿はとっても美しかった。残念ながら、チャペルの中の写真撮影は禁じられてました。でもここは日本。ちゃんと写真が撮れる時間と場所はありました。

The ceremony started off with a Prelud, followed by the Wedding Processional. Next, Hymn 312 was sung (in Japanese of course) "What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilige to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer." The priest then said a prayer from Numbers 6:24-26 "The LORD bless you and keep youy; the LORD make his face shine upon you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

This was followed by a Message, then the Exchange of Vows, the Declaration of Marriage, the Benediction, and the Recessional.

式の順番は奏楽、入場、賛美歌　（３１２番一同）「いつくしみ深き。。。」から始まるやつ。、聖書朗読、祈り （旧約聖書 民数記 ６章 ２４節‐２６節）、式辞、誓約、宣言、祝祷、退場。

The following pictures are of the Recessional and a photo opportunity for everybody.

下記の写真はチャペルを出た後と写真撮影の時間。

And a picture of our little gang with Ken and Yukino.

最後の写真は私たちと一緒

The reception will continue on the next post.

次のポストは披露宴。