Stock Photo - Japanese Shinto Wedding - The Japanese couple must first be legally married by filing for marriage at their local government office, and the official documentation must be produced in order for the ceremony to be held. Traditionally, marriages were categorized into two types according to the method of finding a partner‚??miai, meaning arranged or resulting from an arranged introduction, and ren'ai, in which the principals met and decided to marry on their own. The Japanese bride-to-be may be painted pure white from head to toe, visibly declaring her maiden status to the gods. Traditional Japanese wedding customs ""shinzen shiki"" involve an elaborate ceremony held at a Shinto shrine. Traditional Shinto Wedding Procession at Meiji Jingu Shrine. In addition to the shinto ceremony, there are often faux-western wedding ceremonies held in ""wedding halls"".