Wedding reception in Tokyo

[alphanumeric]

Having the wedding at Meiji, but was not at all impressed with their reception offerings. we want a western style reception - that means dancing. we want a string quartet, piano and tango. outdoor is good, but the 35th floor of the Conrad is also good - but it's booked. any recommendations?

[Mulboyne]

How many people?

[IkemenTommy]

When are you planning on having it and what's your budget?
You can't just choose any weekend and expect to get married. This isn't Vegas.
And the way you are describing, it could cost you a couple million (yen).

[alphanumeric]

we're looking at around 45.right now i'm talking to the roppongi hills club "sky wedding" people, but i'm getting estimates of 3mil yen. that's not really how much i'm looking for, especially considering it's just reception - the ceremony is being held at the meiji. the ideal would be something with an open air court yard the guests could hang out in. it's gonna be may, and i wanna enjoy the summer breeze. i'm looking at 2mil yen tops.

[cstaylor]

Are your guests primarily foreigners or Japanese? Japanese don't dance, so unless all your friends have taken dance classes you'll be looking at a very empty dance floor.

[IkemenTommy]

Are your guests primarily foreigners or Japanese? Japanese don't dance, so unless all your friends have taken dance classes you'll be looking at a very empty dance floor.

You mean the Japanese CAN'T dance...

[FG Lurker]

Are your guests primarily foreigners or Japanese? Japanese don't dance, so unless all your friends have taken dance classes you'll be looking at a very empty dance floor.

You mean the Japanese CAN'T dance...

White men can't jump either, right?

[cstaylor]

The schools here have no dance classes or even formal dances.

So, unless his Japanese guests have taken classes on their own, he'll be looking at an empty dance floor.

In fact, if he *does* have a dance floor, and snaps some shots of at least 5 Japanese couples dancing on it at the same time, I will post a response here saying that I'm wrong and that I've learned another important lesson about shooting off my mouth.

[cstaylor]

You mean the Japanese CAN'T dance...

No, that's not what I mean at all. Most people can dance with proper training. The school culture here doesn't organize formal dances to Junior High and High School students, so without training or experience, I doubt Japanese couples will risk looking foolish on the floor.

[cstaylor]

we're looking at around 45.right now i'm talking to the roppongi hills club "sky wedding" people, but i'm getting estimates of 3mil yen.

Having the wedding in one location and the reception in another is also not a great idea. Have you cleared this with your wife-to-be, or are you just feeling us out for ideas online?

[IkemenTommy]

You mean the Japanese CAN'T dance...

No, that's not what I mean at all. Most people can dance with proper training. The school culture here doesn't organize formal dances to Junior High and High School students, so without training or experience, I doubt Japanese couples will risk looking foolish on the floor.

Of course, when in doubt, bust out some trance and Im sure youll have people doing the para para.

[cstaylor]

Of course, when in doubt, bust out some trance and Im sure youll have people doing the para para.

The original poster mentioned Tango, so his expectations are a bit higher.

[Mulboyne]

Having the wedding in one location and the reception in another is also not a great idea. Have you cleared this with your wife-to-be, or are you just feeling us out for ideas online?

The wedding is at Meiji. If that is Meiji Jingu then it is fairly common to skip to somewhere else for the reception. The last one I went to there moved to House of 1999in Aoyama.
Speak with Take and Give Needs. Their all-in wedding service is pricey so you won't want to use it but they might have some ideas for reception venues.

T&G's house wedding concept was driven by the recent demand for weddings that allow couples to express their individuality and create parties that their guests can truly enjoy. Our theme was to produce weddings that could have come straight out of a glamorous European or American movie

It's difficult to get a dance space and a courtyard at a hotel venue within striking distance of Meiji. The Fours Seasons in Meijiro is too far. You'll most likely find it a private clubs and restaurants or, if you are the right nationality, embassies.

[alphanumeric]

this looks good:
http://www.ystable.co.jp/wedding/daikanyama/

[Mulboyne]

this looks good:
http://www.ystable.co.jp/wedding/daikanyama/

The outdoor bar area, XEX, is good but I think you'll have to book the whole restaurant if you want them to clear space for a dancefloor. There are two sides to the place so perhaps they could let you have the side next to XEX. It's usually just used for eating and drinking, though.

[IkemenTommy]

this looks good:
http://www.ystable.co.jp/wedding/daikanyama/

The outdoor bar area, XEX, is good but I think you'll have to book the whole restaurant if you want them to clear space for a dancefloor. There are two sides to the place so perhaps they could let you have the side next to XEX. It's usually just used for eating and drinking, though.

Hanezawa Garden in Hiroo-Ebisu area is a good place to throw a reception too. It has both the indoor dining and a huge outdoor patio. You would have to book it months in advance though.

[maraboutslim]

Having the wedding in one location and the reception in another is also not a great idea.

It's actually quite common. Especially for shrine weddings since the couple will likely have many more people invited to the reception than they can invite to the wedding ceremony itself (I don't know about Meiji but Hie Jinja limits the number of attendees for the ceremony).

How about having the reception on a cruise ship? Full banquet facilities, good views, and I suppose dancing could be arranged. That's what we did and then all the celebrity types started hopping on the band wagon and having theirs on the same ship. I have no idea how much it costs since my wife's uncle was the captain at the time (since retired) so we got a deal I'm sure.


Japanese info:http://www.symphony-cruise.co.jp/cgi-bin/top/top.cgi

English info:[url]http://www.symphony-cruise.co.jp/english/[url][/url]

[cstaylor]

It's actually quite common. Especially for shrine weddings since the couple will likely have many more people invited to the reception than they can invite to the wedding ceremony itself (I don't know about Meiji but Hie Jinja limits the number of attendees for the ceremony).

With a limited number of attendees for the shinto wedding transportation wouldn't be a problem. Ours was in the basement of Landmark Tower in Yokohama, and the reception was upstairs, so it was easy for guests from out of town since they could stay at the same hotel.