Witnessing a wedding procession through a Shinto shrine is a grand and colorful affair, a parade of beautiful traditional costumes and relatives in fine suits and kimono. Seeing such an event taking place in an ancient shrine would make you believe you are witnessing a custom dating back centuries, even a millennium. But you’d be wrong. The Shinto wedding was a rarity until the early 20th century, when the Shinto wedding ceremony of Prince Yoshihito made it hugely popular for a time. Today, the popularity of Shinto weddings continues to decline with most couples choosing a Western style ceremony and dress.