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　　摘要：結婚對于所有文化的人而言是一生中最重要的大事之一，所以會有這么多婚禮的習俗就不足為奇了，美國也不例外。然而每對新人都以自己認為獨特的方式來跟隨傳統。

　　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.

　　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 fiancee 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.

　　「我愿意」這句話對美國人而言具有重大意義，它甚至可以改變你的生命，特別是當你在自己的婚禮上說出這句話時，在婚禮中所發的誓言就如同簽訂契約一樣，美國人并不是真把婚姻當作商業交易，但是，結婚確實是件嚴肅的事情。

　　結婚是從訂婚開始，在傳統上，年輕人會請求他的女朋友的父親允許他娶她，如果女方的父親答應，之后方可向女方求婚。通常男方會試著以羅曼蒂克的方式「提出這個問題」以帶給女方驚喜。

　　有時候雙方會覺得現在結婚正是時候，于是男方通常會送女方鉆戒做為互訂終身的象征。他們可能訂婚幾個星期、幾個月，甚至幾年，當大喜的日子接近時，賀禮贈送會和單身漢俱樂部都會贈送許多實用的禮物。今天有許多訂婚的男女在訂婚期間接受咨詢服務，這是為了讓他們有準備接受婚姻生活的挑戰。

　　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 skydiving 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.

　　最后就是婚禮了，雖然大多的婚禮仍沿襲長久以來的傳統，但是美國人的個人主義仍有其空間，例如，通常婚禮的地點是在教堂，但是有些人卻是到戶外的風景區結婚，有些人甚至是跳傘或騎馬結婚!雙方可能邀請上百人或者只是一些熟朋友，婚禮的顏色風格，布置和音樂都由他們自己決定，但有些事是不太會變的;新娘通常都穿著美麗的白色結婚禮服，按照傳統她必須穿的衣服上包括了：一些舊的，一些新的，一些借來的，及一些藍色的東西。新郎則穿著正式的西裝或燕尾晚禮服，幾位熟朋友參加婚禮并協助幫忙，包括了伴郎和伴娘。

　　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!"

　　當典禮開始時，新郎和伴郎和牧師站在一起，面對觀眾，音樂一起，表示伴娘入場，后面就跟著美麗的新娘。年輕的男女雙方緊張地跟著說出他們的誓言，傳統上而言，他們會承諾要彼此相愛，「不論好、壞、貧、富、生病時或健康時」，但是有時候，他們也可能自己編一套自己的誓言，他們互贈金戒指以此表示結婚的承諾，最后牧師宣布這重大的時刻：「我現在宣布你們成為夫妻，你可以親吻你的新娘!」

　　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 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.

　　在結婚宴會上，新娘新郎向賓客問候.然后切結婚蛋糕并互相喂對方一口。賓客們在享受蛋糕、飲料及其他的食物時就混在一起交談。之后新娘將捧花投向一群單身女孩，傳統說接到捧花的女孩會成為下一位新娘。在婚宴上，愛鬧的朋友用面紙、鋁罐和「新婚」標志「裝飾」禮車，宴會結束后，新婚的小倆口就跑向他們「裝飾完成」的禮車，迅速地離開，許多夫妻會去渡蜜月，就是一至二星期的假期以慶祝他們的新婚。

　　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.

　　幾乎每一種文化都有儀式來表示一個人生命中的改變。結婚對于所有文化的人而言是一生中最重要的大事之一，所以會有這么多婚禮的習俗就不足為奇了，美國也不例外。然而每對新人都以自己認為獨特的方式來跟隨傳統。

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