Japanese Wedding Ceremony!

So, I just wanted to tell you all about my AMAZING weekend before things get too crazy this week. As many of you know, I have been to more weddings than I can count but over the weekend I was able to attend my very first Japanese wedding ceremony! I took the shinkansen (bullet train) down to Tokyo on Friday night (after a very emotional day of goodbyes at one of my schools). I stayed with my friend, Yoko, that night. On Saturday morning, I went with Yoko to a beauty salon....which just so happens to be where she works! This salon is also just down the street from the Tokyo Tower! She fixed my hair for the wedding ceremony and then I was off to the Tokyo Dome Hotel! It was a beautiful ceremony, followed by a wonderful party at the hotel. I also attended 2 other parties that day (after the one at the hotel)...yahoo! It was SO much fun and so cool to meet Akiko's friends. Akiko wore 4 different outfits during the day too. Today, I then met up with 2 other friends for coffee at Starbucks and then lunch at a fun little restaurant. I then made my way back to the Tokyo Station to catch the Shinkansen back to Hachinohe, followed by another 2 hour train ride to my city. As exhausting as this weekend was, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am so thankful that I was able to attend this beautiful celebration and experience my first Japanese wedding!