美国文化习俗精粹第8期:Marriage of American Style美式婚姻_英美文化

美国文化习俗精粹第8期:Marriage of American Style美式婚姻

　　As the ceremony begins, the groom and his attendants stand with the minister, facing the audience. Music signals the entrance of the brides attendants, followed by the beautiful bride. Nervously, the young couple repeats their vows. Traditionally, 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!

　　当典礼开始时，新郎和伴郎和牧师站在一起，面对观众，音乐一起，表示伴娘入场，后面就跟着美丽的新娘。年轻的男女双方紧张地跟着说出他们的誓言，传统上而言，他们会承诺要彼此相爱，「不论好、坏、贫、富、生病时或健康时」，但是有时候，他们也可能自己编一套自己的誓言，他们互赠金戒指以此表示结婚的承诺，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！」

　　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. During the reception, playful friends decorate the couples car with tissue paper, tin cans and a Just Married sign. When the reception is over, the newlyweds run to their decorated car and speed off. Many couples take a honeymoon, a one- to two-week vacation trip, to celebrate their new marriage.