Wedding Traditions

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Saying ‘I do’

From asking ‘Will you marry me?’ to saying ‘I do’, there are a number of traditions around British weddings.

Traditionally, it is the man’s job to propose.He should get down on one knee and offer a ring. However, today it’s becoming more common for women to also ask.

Weddings are famous for being stressful.One of the best parts of the preparation is having a ‘stag’ or ‘hen’ party to celebrate the end of your single life. These men-only or women-only parties often take a whole weekend and are lots of fun.

To give them help and support on their big day, the bride and groom usually choose some close friends as their ‘best man’ and ‘bridesmaids’. These people are also involved in the wedding ceremony. Churches are still a popular wedding location, but today many people prefer nonreligious ceremonies in town halls, hotels or even in unusual places such as railway stations. Traditionally, the bride wears a long, white dress, and the groom a dark suit. During the ceremony,the bride and groom make promises to each other and agree to be husband and wife by saying ‘I do’ and exchanging rings. They are then married and kiss each other while the guests clap and cheer!

Followingthe ceremony there is the party or ‘wedding reception’.Afterdinner the groom,best man and father of the bride usually give a speech.Thenthere is the couple’s first dance,followed byeveryone dancing until late at night. At some pointduringthe party, the bride should throw her flowers and all the single women try to catch them. The lady who catches the flowers will be the next one to get married!

At the end ofthe party, the bride and groom leave to go on their honeymoon to enjoy their first holiday as a married couple.

Activity 1Before you read, decide which word (1-6) goes with which meaning (a-f).

Activity 2.1Match the verbs on the right with the words/phrases on the left from the article.

Activity 2.2

Now look back at the article and put the events in Activity 2.1 in the correct order for a traditional wedding. The first and last ones have been done for you.

1. have a stag/hen party

2.

3.

4.

5. go on a honeymoon

Activity 3

Read the article again and choose the correct option, a, b or c, for 1-5 below.

1. When men propose they should

a.be standing up.

b.be on their knees.

c.be lying down.

2. Stag and hen parties happen

a.before the wedding.

b.during the wedding.

c.after the wedding.

3. British couples can get married

a.only in churches.

b.ony in town halls.

c.in many different places.

4. During the wedding ceremony the bride and groom

a.clap, dance and exchange rings.

b.sing a song, say ‘I do’ and cheer.

c.exchange rings, say ‘I do’ and kiss.

5. After the wedding, the couple

a.go home.

b.go on holiday.

c.go to a stag/hen party.

Activity 4Look back at the last two paragraphs in the text and notice the words in bold. These words help to put events in order.

Most of these words/phrases are followed by verb+ingor a noun. Which one is followed by a subject and a verb?

Now use these words/phrases to complete the description of a typical children’s birthday party.

1) …… arriving, children usually play together freely for a while. 2) …… this free play, there are some organised games or competitions. 3) …… there is usually a meal 4) …… the party, the parents can chat to each other and also make friends. 5) …… the birthday party, the children are usually given a ‘party bag’ with a slice of cake and a small toy they can take home.

Activity 5

What are some of the wedding traditions in your country? Are they similar to weddings in Britain?