雅思口语考官带读带练 (事件)第14期Western Wedding西式婚礼

These days there are no real rules for a western wedding; even religious ceremonies can be held at a couple's venue of choice, or outdoors. Many people like to stick to traditional ways though, so here are some aspects of a Western wedding. The ceremony This is often held in a religious building such as a church, chapel, synagogue or mosque. If the wedding is a civil ceremony, the Registry Office of the local government offices becomes the venue. In church, the friends and family of the bride sit on one side of the aisle, and those of the groom on the other. The bride arrives last, and the Groom and the best man wait for her at the end of the aisle, near the altar. The bride is 'given away' by her father, a custom with roots in the idea of women being men's property! During the ceremony, the couple exchange marriage vows and gold rings, guarded until this moment by the best man, and the broom is given permission by the person marrying them to kiss the bride. As they leave the church, their guests throw rice or paper confetti and may tie old shoes and lucky horseshoes to the back of their car, which is also decorated. They drive to the wedding reception in a hotel, pub or garden, or at home.

The white dress and trimmings

Bridal gowns of ancient times were brightly colored to signify joy, but many brides wear white,supposedly to represent purity or virginity. In fact, Queen Victoria is commonly credited withbeing the first bride to wear white as a sign of wealth. Long ago the bridegroom would cover hisbride's head, to conceal her identity if he had capture her, or as protection from evil spirits,resultin g in the bridal veil, usually made of net or lace. Brides may also wear a garte r,originally intended to keep her stockings up, and carry a bouquet of flower s. These last aregiven away after the ceremony; the garter is torn off and gi ven to a lucky bachelor, or evenauctioned, while the bouquet is thrown by th e bride to her single female friends: the personwho catches it will marry next. These traditions actually have roots in England when guestswould tear at the bride's clothing and flowers to share in her happiness. While fleeing from her attackers, the bride would toss her bouquet into the mob to placate them. The wedding cake

Traditionally in England, wheat cakes were broken over the bride's head to br ing good luck and fertility. During the reign of King Charles II of England, a b aker stacked these cakes andfrosted them, creating the wedding cake we kno w today. The bride and groom kiss over theirtall cake for luck and then cut th e first piece together. Feeding cake to each other is a symbol of how they will always trust and provide for each other, and feed and nourish their relationshi p.

The honeymoon Back

when a bride married by capture and not by choice, the groom would take h er away followingthe wedding, and keep her in hiding for a full cycle of the m