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[1] "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.
[2] 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.
[3] 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
[4] As the ceremony begins, the groom and his attendants stand with the minister, facing the audience. Music signals the entrance of the bride's 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!"
[5] 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 couple's 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.
[6] Almost every culture has rituals to signal a change in one's life. Marriage is one of the most basic life changes for people of all cultures. So it's no surprise to find many traditions about getting married... even in America. Yet each couple follows the traditions in a way that is uniquely their own.
[1]“我願意。”這zhe句ju話hua對dui美mei國guo人ren來lai說shuo包bao含han深shen遠yuan的de意yi義yi。它ta甚shen至zhi可ke以yi改gai變bian一yi個ge人ren的de生sheng活huo，特te別bie是shi如ru果guo你ni在zai自zi己ji的de婚hun禮li上shang說shuo出chu這zhe句ju話hua。發fa出chu結jie婚hun誓shi言yan就jiu如ru同tong簽qian訂ding契qi約yue一yi般ban。雖sui然ran今jin天tian美mei國guo人ren並bing不bu真zhen正zheng認ren為wei婚hun姻yin是shi一yi宗zong商shang業ye交jiao易yi，但dan婚hun姻yin確que實shi是shi件jian嚴yan肅su的de事shi。
[2]一(yi)切(qie)從(cong)訂(ding)婚(hun)開(kai)始(shi)。在(zai)傳(chuan)統(tong)上(shang)，年(nian)輕(qing)男(nan)子(zi)先(xian)要(yao)請(qing)求(qiu)女(nv)朋(peng)友(you)的(de)父(fu)親(qin)允(yun)許(xu)自(zi)己(ji)娶(qu)她(ta)。如(ru)果(guo)女(nv)方(fang)的(de)父(fu)親(qin)答(da)應(ying)，然(ran)後(hou)男(nan)方(fang)才(cai)能(neng)向(xiang)女(nv)方(fang)求(qiu)婚(hun)。男(nan)方(fang)時(shi)常(chang)嚐(chang)試(shi)以(yi)羅(luo)曼(man)蒂(di)克(ke)的(de)方(fang)式(shi)“蹦出這個問題”，xianggeinvfangyigejingxi。youshishuangfangzhishiyiqijueding，gaishijiehundeshihoule。nanfangtongchanghuisonggeiweihunqiyizhizuanshijiezhizuoweidinghundexiangzheng。dinghunqikeyichixujigexingqi、幾(ji)個(ge)月(yue)，甚(shen)至(zhi)幾(ji)年(nian)。當(dang)大(da)喜(xi)的(de)日(ri)子(zi)臨(lin)近(jin)時(shi)，雙(shuang)方(fang)各(ge)自(zi)的(de)好(hao)友(you)在(zai)婚(hun)前(qian)派(pai)對(dui)上(shang)會(hui)贈(zeng)送(song)許(xu)多(duo)實(shi)用(yong)的(de)禮(li)物(wu)。今(jin)天(tian)，許(xu)多(duo)未(wei)婚(hun)夫(fu)妻(qi)在(zai)訂(ding)婚(hun)期(qi)間(jian)還(hai)聽(ting)取(qu)谘(zi)詢(xun)意(yi)見(jian)，以(yi)此(ci)為(wei)應(ying)付(fu)婚(hun)姻(yin)生(sheng)活(huo)的(de)挑(tiao)戰(zhan)作(zuo)好(hao)準(zhun)備(bei)。
[3]最(zui)後(hou)就(jiu)該(gai)舉(ju)行(xing)婚(hun)禮(li)了(le)。雖(sui)然(ran)大(da)多(duo)數(shu)的(de)婚(hun)禮(li)沿(yan)襲(xi)長(chang)期(qi)以(yi)來(lai)的(de)傳(chuan)統(tong)，但(dan)是(shi)仍(reng)有(you)發(fa)揮(hui)美(mei)國(guo)人(ren)的(de)個(ge)性(xing)主(zhu)義(yi)的(de)餘(yu)地(di)。例(li)如(ru)，通(tong)常(chang)舉(ju)行(xing)婚(hun)禮(li)的(de)地(di)點(dian)是(shi)在(zai)教(jiao)堂(tang)，但(dan)是(shi)有(you)些(xie)人(ren)卻(que)在(zai)戶(hu)外(wai)的(de)風(feng)景(jing)點(dian)舉(ju)行(xing)婚(hun)禮(li)，少(shao)數(shu)人(ren)甚(shen)至(zhi)在(zai)跳(tiao)傘(san)或(huo)騎(qi)馬(ma)時(shi)舉(ju)辦(ban)儀(yi)式(shi)！新人可以邀請幾百個客人，也可以隻邀請幾個最要好的朋友。婚禮的色調風格、布(bu)置(zhi)和(he)音(yin)樂(le)都(dou)由(you)他(ta)們(men)自(zi)己(ji)決(jue)定(ding)。但(dan)有(you)些(xie)事(shi)情(qing)很(hen)少(shao)會(hui)變(bian)化(hua)。新(xin)娘(niang)通(tong)常(chang)都(dou)穿(chuan)一(yi)件(jian)漂(piao)亮(liang)的(de)長(chang)長(chang)的(de)白(bai)色(se)結(jie)婚(hun)禮(li)服(fu)。按(an)傳(chuan)統(tong)習(xi)慣(guan)，新(xin)娘(niang)的(de)穿(chuan)著(zhe)要(yao)包(bao)括(kuo)“一點舊的，一點新的，一點借來的和一點藍色的東西”。新郎則穿著一套正式的西裝或無尾晚禮服。幾位親密的朋友參與婚禮作為陪伴，包括伴郎和伴娘。
[4]hunlikaishishi，xinlanghetadepeibantongmushizhanzaiyiqi，mianduizhelaibin。dangyinlexiangqishi，xinniangdepeibanruchang，houmianjiugenzhemeilidexinniang。yiduixinrenjinzhangdigenzheshuochutamendeshiyan。anchuantongxiguan，shuangfangxunuoyaobicixiangai，“不論情況較好較壞，不論家境是富是窮，不論生病還是健康。”但有時兩人也可以編一套自己的誓言。他們互贈金戒指象征婚姻的承諾。最後，牧師宣布重大時刻的到來：“我現在宣布你們成為夫妻。你可以親吻你的新娘！”
[5]在結婚喜宴上，新娘和新郎向賓客表示歡迎。然後他們切開結婚蛋糕並互喂對方一口。來賓們一邊享受蛋糕、hunheyinliaoheqitashiwu，yibianxianghujiaotan。zhihou，xinniangjiangtadehuashutouxiangyiqundanshennvhai。xiangchuanzhuadaohuashudenvhaihuichengweixiayigejiehunderen。xiyanqijian，ainaodepengyouyongbozhi、錫罐和寫著“新婚”的標牌來“裝飾”新人的小汽車。宴會結束後，新婚的小倆口就跑向他們“被裝飾好的”小汽車，迅速地駛走。許多新人會去度蜜月，即一兩個星期的度假旅行，以慶祝他們的新婚。
[6]jihumeiyizhongwenhuadouyouyishilaibiaozhiyigerenshenghuodebianhua。hunyinduiyugezhongwenhuadereneryandoushizuijibendeshenghuobianhuazhiyi。yincifaxianguanyujiehunyouxuduochuantongxisu，jiubuzuweiqile……在美國也不例外。然而每對新人都會以自己獨持的方式來繼承傳統。
