美式婚姻

“I do.” To Americans those two words carry great meaning. They can even change your life. Especially if you say them at your own wedding. Making wedding vows is like signing a contract. Marriage is serious business.

It all begins with engagement. Traditionally， a young man asks the father of his sweetheart for permission to marry her. If the father agrees， the man later proposes to her. Often he tries to surprise her by “popping the question” in a romantic way.

Sometimes the couple just decides together that the time is right to get married. The man usually gives his fiancee a diamond ring as a symbol of their engagement. They may be engaged for weeks， months or even years.

At last its time for the wedding. The usual place for a wedding is in a church. But some people get married outdoors in a scenic spot. A few even have the ceremony while skydiving or riding on horseback！ They choose their own style of colors， decorations and music during the ceremony. But some things rarely change. The bride usually wears a beautiful， long white wedding dress. The groom wears a formal suit or tuxedo.

At the ceremony， nervously， the young couple repeats their vows. They promise to love each other “for better， for worse， for richer， for poorer， in sickness and in health.” But sometimes the couple has composed their own vows. They give each other a gold ring to symbolize their marriage commitment. Finally the minister announces the big moment： “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride！”

At the wedding reception， the bride and groom greet their guests. Then they cut the wedding cake and feed each other a bite. Guests mingle while enjoying cake， punch and other treats. Later the bride throws her bouquet of flowers to a group of single girls. Tradition says that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry. When the reception is over， the newlyweds run to their “decorated” car and speed off. Many couples take a honeymoon to celebrate their new marriage.

“我愿意。”这句话对美国人而言具有重要的意义，它甚至可以改变他们的生活，特別是他们在自己的婚礼上说出这句话。在婚礼中所发的誓言就如同签订契约一样，婚姻是件严肃的事情。

结婚是从订婚开始。按照传统，男方会请求女友的父亲允许他娶她，如果女方的父亲答应，之后方可向女方求婚。通常男方会试着以一种浪漫的方式向女方求婚以带给女方惊喜。

有时候男女双方会觉得现在结婚正是时候，于是男方通常会送未婚妻钻戒作为互定终身的象征。他们可能会在订婚几个星期、几个月，甚至几年后结婚。

最后就是婚礼了。通常婚礼的地点是在教堂，但是有些人却是到户外的风景区结婚，有些人甚至是跳伞或骑马结婚。婚礼的颜色风格，布置和音乐都由他们自己决定，但有些事是不会变的：新娘通常都穿着美丽的白色婚纱，新郎则穿着正式的西装或燕尾服。

典礼上，年轻的男女双方紧张地跟着说出他们的誓言，他们会承诺要彼此相爱，“不论顺利或失意，贫穷或富裕，疾病或健康”。不过有时候，他们会亲自为自己写誓言，他们互赠金戒指以此表示对婚姻的承诺。最后牧师宣布这重大的时刻：“我现在宣布你们成为夫妻，你可以亲吻你的新娘！”

在婚礼宴会上，新娘新郎向来宾们表示欢迎，然后切婚礼蛋糕并互相喂对方一口。宾客们一边享受蛋糕、饮料及其他的食物一边交谈。之后新娘将捧花投向一群单身女孩，据说接到捧花的女孩会成为下一位新娘。宴会结束后，新婚的小两口就跑向他们的婚车，驾车离开。许多夫妻会去度蜜月，以庆祝他们的新婚。

Word Study

vow /va?/ n. 誓词；誓言

propose /pr?'p??z/ v. 求婚；建议

He was afraid that if he proposed she might refuse.

commitment /k?'m?tm?nt/ n. 承诺；诺言

She doesnt want to make a big emotional commitment to Steve at the moment.

reception /r?'sep?n/ n. 歡迎会；招待会

honeymoon /'h?n?mu?n/ n. 蜜月；新婚之月endprint