The Shinto wedding is performed before a Shinto sanctuary, set up for the occasion unless; the wedding takes place in a Shinto shrine. It is presided by a Shinto priest who first holds the purification service of all present. Members of both families and close relatives usually attend such a wedding in addition, to the couple to be united in marriage and the go-betweens. Go-betweens are selected more often for ceremonial purposes, from the elderly couples known to be close to ether or both of the families, to be united in marriage. After a ritual by the priest, reporting to the Gods or spirits on the marriage and requesting their lasting favors on the newly-weds it is now customary for the bridegroom to read an oath to keep faithful and obedient to each other in the married life. The go-between in behalf of the new couple may give the oath.

The traditional Japanese, and Okinawn ceremony is a Shinto ceremony, though many Japanese in America celebrate weddings with a Buddhist ceremony. Regardless of religious rituals, most also include a cultural sake-sharing tradition at the wedding, popularly called "San-San-Ku-Do," "San" means three, "Ku" means nine "Do" means to deliver.

This ritual dates back to a time when sharing sake created a formal bond as strongly as a handshake did during the Victorian times. Using three flat sake cups stacked atop of one another the bride and groom will take three sips, one from each of the cups. Then their parents also take the same number of sips, one from each cup (for a total of nine sips), cementing the bond between the families.

The bridegroom and bride proceed to the sanctuary to offer twigs of "Sakaki" sacred tree in worship to gods to end the main part of the wedding ceremony. Drinks of "Sake" will then be exchanged between members and close relatives of both families to signify their union through the wedding. At the end of the wedding, traditional music, will be played while, maidens "Milo" in red and white dresses serve "Sake" to the guests.