Approximately 48% of Those Who Had a Wedding Chose 'Shinto Style'! Top Factors for Venue Selection Are 'Cost,' 'Venue Atmosphere,' and 'Location'
According to a joint survey by NEXER Inc. and Hanamaki Onsen Wedding, approximately 48% of individuals who have had a wedding chose the 'Shinto style.' Key factors for selecting a venue were 'cost,' 'venue atmosphere,' and 'location.'
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 15:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 11, 2026 at 15:58 (26 min after Collected)
■How do people choose their wedding style?
Weddings mark a significant milestone in life. The choice of ceremony style and venue deeply reflects one's values and aspirations. Some dream of a chapel wedding, others opt for a traditional Japanese Shinto ceremony in kimono, while some prefer a civil ceremony unconstrained by formalities. With so many options, many might wonder, "What criteria do others use to choose?"
Therefore, in collaboration with Hanamaki Onsen Wedding, a wedding venue in Iwate, we conducted a survey on "How to Choose a Wedding Style" targeting 300 men and women nationwide who responded "have had a wedding" in a preliminary survey.
*When quoting the content of this press release, please ensure the following:
・State that the source is "A survey by NEXER Inc. and Hanamaki Onsen Wedding, a wedding venue in Iwate."
・Include a link to Hanamaki Onsen Wedding (https://wedding.hanamakionsen.co.jp/).
"Survey on How to Choose a Wedding Style" Overview
Survey Method: Internet questionnaire
Survey Period: April 22 - April 30, 2026
Survey Target: Men and women nationwide who responded "have had a wedding" in a preliminary survey
Valid Responses: 300 samples
Questions:
Question 1: What ceremony style did you choose?
Question 2: Please tell us why.
Question 3: How far did you invite guests for your wedding (what relationships)?
Question 4: Please tell us why.
Question 5: What points did you prioritize when choosing a venue?
Question 6: Please tell us why.
Question 7: What is your ideal image for a venue's "atmosphere/location"? (Multiple answers allowed)
*Percentages are generally rounded to the first decimal place, so totals may not always add up to 100%.
■47.7% responded that the chosen ceremony style was "Shinto style"
First, we asked about the chosen ceremony style.
The most common answer was "Shinto style" at 47.7%.
This was followed by "Chapel style" at 33.7%, and "Civil ceremony" at 8.3%.
Other results included "Shrine style" at 6.7% and "Other" at 3.7%.
We also asked for reasons for their choices, some of which are presented below.
Respondents who chose "Shinto style":
・Because I felt it embraced Japanese identity. (30s, female)
・Because I wanted to have a Japanese-style wedding. (40s, male)
・Because I wanted to wear a kimono rather than a dress. (50s, female)
Respondents who chose "Chapel style":
・Because I fell in love with the chapel at first sight. (30s, female)
・Because the calm atmosphere makes it memorable. (30s, male)
・Because having a wedding in a chapel was my long-time dream. (40s, female)
Respondents who chose "Civil ceremony":
・Because I wanted to be recognized by those around me. (30s, female)
・Because I liked the venue and it fit my budget. (50s, female)
・Because I felt it suited us best. (50s, female)
While some chose their ceremony style due to "aspiration" or "long-time dream," others emphasized traditional ambiance, such as wanting to "feel Japanese identity" or "wear traditional Japanese attire." The choice of ceremony style seems to reflect what kind of atmosphere and meaning one seeks in a wedding.
■36.0% responded that they invited only "relatives" to their wedding.
Next, we asked how far they invited guests for their wedding.
The most common answer was "relatives" at 36.0%.
This was followed by "colleagues" at 33.3%, and "friends" at 21.0%.
Other results included "former teachers" at 4.0%, "neighbors/local acquaintances" at 3.7%, and "other" at 2.0%.
We also asked for reasons for each answer, some of which are presented below.
Respondents who invited "relatives":
・Because I was shy and found it troublesome to be celebrated by many people. (30s, female)
・Because it was during the COVID-19 pandemic. (30s, female)
・Because I wanted to keep it within the family. (40s, female)
Respondents who invited "colleagues":
・Because I met my husband at work. (40s, female)
・Because it was a general ceremony, not just family, so I invited relatives, friends, and work acquaintances. (40s, female)
Respondents who invited "friends":
・Because I didn't want any company relations. (30s, male)
・Because friends are important. (40s, female)
・Because I had retired from work. (40s, female)
The range of invitations varies from small, family-centered ceremonies to those broadly inviting colleagues and friends. Some chose smaller groups, citing reasons like "wanted to keep it within the family" or "due to COVID-19," while others invited those with significant connections, such as "met at work" or "friends are important."
Weddings mark a significant milestone in life. The choice of ceremony style and venue deeply reflects one's values and aspirations. Some dream of a chapel wedding, others opt for a traditional Japanese Shinto ceremony in kimono, while some prefer a civil ceremony unconstrained by formalities. With so many options, many might wonder, "What criteria do others use to choose?"
Therefore, in collaboration with Hanamaki Onsen Wedding, a wedding venue in Iwate, we conducted a survey on "How to Choose a Wedding Style" targeting 300 men and women nationwide who responded "have had a wedding" in a preliminary survey.
*When quoting the content of this press release, please ensure the following:
・State that the source is "A survey by NEXER Inc. and Hanamaki Onsen Wedding, a wedding venue in Iwate."
・Include a link to Hanamaki Onsen Wedding (https://wedding.hanamakionsen.co.jp/).
"Survey on How to Choose a Wedding Style" Overview
Survey Method: Internet questionnaire
Survey Period: April 22 - April 30, 2026
Survey Target: Men and women nationwide who responded "have had a wedding" in a preliminary survey
Valid Responses: 300 samples
Questions:
Question 1: What ceremony style did you choose?
Question 2: Please tell us why.
Question 3: How far did you invite guests for your wedding (what relationships)?
Question 4: Please tell us why.
Question 5: What points did you prioritize when choosing a venue?
Question 6: Please tell us why.
Question 7: What is your ideal image for a venue's "atmosphere/location"? (Multiple answers allowed)
*Percentages are generally rounded to the first decimal place, so totals may not always add up to 100%.
■47.7% responded that the chosen ceremony style was "Shinto style"
First, we asked about the chosen ceremony style.
The most common answer was "Shinto style" at 47.7%.
This was followed by "Chapel style" at 33.7%, and "Civil ceremony" at 8.3%.
Other results included "Shrine style" at 6.7% and "Other" at 3.7%.
We also asked for reasons for their choices, some of which are presented below.
Respondents who chose "Shinto style":
・Because I felt it embraced Japanese identity. (30s, female)
・Because I wanted to have a Japanese-style wedding. (40s, male)
・Because I wanted to wear a kimono rather than a dress. (50s, female)
Respondents who chose "Chapel style":
・Because I fell in love with the chapel at first sight. (30s, female)
・Because the calm atmosphere makes it memorable. (30s, male)
・Because having a wedding in a chapel was my long-time dream. (40s, female)
Respondents who chose "Civil ceremony":
・Because I wanted to be recognized by those around me. (30s, female)
・Because I liked the venue and it fit my budget. (50s, female)
・Because I felt it suited us best. (50s, female)
While some chose their ceremony style due to "aspiration" or "long-time dream," others emphasized traditional ambiance, such as wanting to "feel Japanese identity" or "wear traditional Japanese attire." The choice of ceremony style seems to reflect what kind of atmosphere and meaning one seeks in a wedding.
■36.0% responded that they invited only "relatives" to their wedding.
Next, we asked how far they invited guests for their wedding.
The most common answer was "relatives" at 36.0%.
This was followed by "colleagues" at 33.3%, and "friends" at 21.0%.
Other results included "former teachers" at 4.0%, "neighbors/local acquaintances" at 3.7%, and "other" at 2.0%.
We also asked for reasons for each answer, some of which are presented below.
Respondents who invited "relatives":
・Because I was shy and found it troublesome to be celebrated by many people. (30s, female)
・Because it was during the COVID-19 pandemic. (30s, female)
・Because I wanted to keep it within the family. (40s, female)
Respondents who invited "colleagues":
・Because I met my husband at work. (40s, female)
・Because it was a general ceremony, not just family, so I invited relatives, friends, and work acquaintances. (40s, female)
Respondents who invited "friends":
・Because I didn't want any company relations. (30s, male)
・Because friends are important. (40s, female)
・Because I had retired from work. (40s, female)
The range of invitations varies from small, family-centered ceremonies to those broadly inviting colleagues and friends. Some chose smaller groups, citing reasons like "wanted to keep it within the family" or "due to COVID-19," while others invited those with significant connections, such as "met at work" or "friends are important."