Japanese Wedding, San Francisco, CA, 1987

Alice bows to family, sitting in pews of the Konko church in which she is married. On the left, is the back of one of four ministers who is marrying her; on the right is her maid of honor.

Katrina Thomas's notes: The elaborate and expensive wedding customs of historical Japan are rarely kept, even in the homeland. However I photograph one wedding for which traditions are retained because the bride, who is mixed Chinese and Japanese, wishes to honor the heritage of her husband, he, being the minister of the Konko Kyo church, in which they are married. In addition to their wearing kimonos, and she a wig and traditional headdress, they perform the essential ceremony of san san kudo, each drinking from three cups of sake three times, which is usually eliminated today by those married in America.