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美國(guó)婚禮風(fēng)俗（上）

"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. Now Americans don't really think marriage is a business deal. But marriage is serious business.

“我愿意。”這句話對(duì)美國(guó)人來(lái)說(shuō)包含深遠(yuǎn)的意義。它甚至可以改變一個(gè)人的生活，特別是如果你在自己的婚禮上說(shuō)出這句話。發(fā)出結(jié)婚誓言就如同簽訂契約一般。如今美國(guó)人并不真正認(rèn)為婚姻是一宗商業(yè)交易，但婚姻確實(shí)是件嚴(yán)肅的事。

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 fiancée a diamond ring as a symbol of their engagement. They may be engaged for weeks, months or even years. As the big day approaches, bridal showers and bachelor's parties provide many useful gifts. Today many couples also receive counseling during engagement. This prepares them for the challenges of married life.

一切從訂婚開(kāi)始。在傳統(tǒng)上，年輕男子先要請(qǐng)求女朋友的父親允許自己娶她。如果女方的父親答應(yīng)，然后男方才能向女方求婚。男方時(shí)常嘗試以羅曼蒂克的方式“蹦出這個(gè)問(wèn)題”，想給女方一個(gè)驚喜。有時(shí)雙方只是一起決定，該是結(jié)婚的時(shí)候了。男方通常會(huì)送給未婚妻一只鉆石戒指作為訂婚的象征。訂婚期可以持續(xù)幾個(gè)星期、幾個(gè)月，甚至幾年。當(dāng)大喜的日子臨近時(shí)，雙方各自的好友在婚前派對(duì)上會(huì)贈(zèng)送許多實(shí)用的禮物。今天，許多未婚夫妻在訂婚期間還聽(tīng)取咨詢意見(jiàn)，以此為應(yīng)付婚姻生活的挑戰(zhàn)作好準(zhǔn)備。

At last it's time for the wedding. Although most weddings follow long-held traditions, there's still room for American individualism. For example, 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 sky-diving or riding on horseback! The couple may invite hundreds of people or just a few close friends. 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. She traditionally wears "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue". The groom wears a formal suit or tuxedo. Several close friends participate in the ceremony as attendants, including the best man and the maid of honor.

最后就該舉行婚禮了。雖然大多數(shù)的婚禮沿襲長(zhǎng)期以來(lái)的傳統(tǒng)，但是仍有發(fā)揮美國(guó)人的個(gè)性主義的余地。例如，通常舉行婚禮的地點(diǎn)是在教堂，但是有些人卻在戶外的風(fēng)景點(diǎn)舉行婚禮，少數(shù)人甚至在跳傘或騎馬時(shí)舉辦儀式！新人可以邀請(qǐng)幾百個(gè)客人，也可以只邀請(qǐng)幾個(gè)最要好的朋友?；槎Y的色調(diào)風(fēng)格、布置和音樂(lè)都由他們自己決定。但有些事情很少會(huì)變化。新娘通常都穿一件漂亮的長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的白色結(jié)婚禮服。按傳統(tǒng)習(xí)慣，新娘的穿著要包括“一點(diǎn)舊的，一點(diǎn)新的，一點(diǎn)借來(lái)的和一點(diǎn)藍(lán)色的東西”。新郎則穿著一套正式的西裝或無(wú)尾晚禮服。幾位親密的朋友參與婚禮作為陪伴，包括伴郎和伴娘。