Japanese Wedding Reception
So the reception for our friends’ wedding was a bit different from American style receptions that I have been to. The event was mostly a sit down 5-course meal, but with speeches, slideshows, presentations, candle lighting, toasts, and dress changing.
When the reception started one of the staff members of the wedding company introduced the groom’s manager of his day job. Likewise they introduced the bride’s principal (since she is a schoolteacher). The tables closest to the groom and bride’s table were those of co-workers, then special guests, friends, and farthest away were the family. This is their way of showing the greatest amount of respect to others over their family (Japanese society tends to desire lowering ones position and that of their family to others in form of respect).
The 2 work superiors gave speeches, then the groom and bride’s middle-school teacher approached the microphone to give a congratulatory speech and toast. Afterwards, a couple friends on both sides gave short speeches as well (Ayako filling one of those). During this time the parents of the bride and groom came to each table and poured the drink of choice for each guest.
After this round of speeches (and a round of food), the bride and groom left the reception only temporarily. When they returned they were dressed differently (well the bride changed dresses) and returned to do a walk through of the reception room with music and lights bouncing to and fro.
After seating again, two groups of friends gave presentations, one was a slideshow and one was a live comedy type gag. After a little more music the reception then witnessed the cutting of the cake, followed by a candlelight ceremony. Shortly after the candlelight ceremony the bride and groom led us outside to take photos in the sun (beautiful day) and get a plate of dessert being served there. The finale came after we returned inside. It was primarily the reading of letters by the bride and groom addressed to their parents, after which they then made a final walk with their family out of the main reception room to stand in line to say thank you to all the attendees on their departure. After they left the room, while we were waiting for our que to also depart, the staff played a slideshow of photos on the projector giving thanks to each attendee.
I know I missed some detail here, but there was definitely a lot 
