American Wedding 美国婚礼

Americanweddingsarenotarrangedmatchesforthebenefitofeitherfamily.Acouplegetsengagedandmarriedoutofloveforeachotherandbecausetheywanttospendtherestoftheirlivestogether.Theirmarriageisacommitmenttooneanother.Whenacouplegetsengaged,theguywillgivehisfiancéeadiamondringUsuallygetsdownononekneeTheperiodbetweentheproposal（求婚）andweddingiscalledengagement（订婚）BridalShower（新娘送礼会）:Backinthedayswhenweddingswerearrangedbyfamilymembers,apoorDutchmanfellinlovewithagirlwhosefatherrefusedheradowry（嫁妆）.TheirfriendsshoweredherwithenoughgiftstohelpthemstartahouseholdBachelor/StagParties:Themaleequivalent（同等意义的）oftheBridalShower.Romanempiresoldierswouldfeast（款待）withtheGroomthenightbeforehisweddingtosaygoodbyetohisirresponsibledaysofbachelorhood,andtorenewtheirvowsofallegiance（忠诚）totheirfriendships.Traditionallythebride’sfamily–goesbacktotheideaofdowrywherethehusband’sfamilywilltakecareofher,sothedowrywouldgowiththebrideandhelptooffset（抵消补偿）someoftheexpensesshewillbring.Whopays?AverageCostsWhilemanygreatlyexceedit,theaveragecostofaweddingisbetween$20,000and$25,000.Industrysourcesestimatecostsat:Engagementring:$3,000to$8,000Weddingrings:$1,100to$5,000Announcementsandinvitations:$400Rehearsaldinner:$800Bride'sgownandaccessories:$1000to$5000Bridesmaids'attire:$900Groom'sattire:$200Groomsmen'sattire:$600Flowers:$850Photography&Video:$2,500Limousines:$450Clergy/Chapel:$250Reception:$8,000Music:$750-2,500Mostbrideswearalongwhitegown（礼服）andveil（面纱）Groomshouldnotseethebride’sdressbeforetheweddingTraditionally,thebrideandgroomshouldnotseeeachotheruntiltheweddingceremonyUsually,friendsandfamilyofthegroomsitononesideoftheroom,andfriendsandfamilyofthebridesitontheotherside.EntrancesGrandparents,family,andguests（亲友）Groom,bestman,andpreacher（男方和神父）Flowergirlandringbearer（花童）Brideandbride’sfather（新娘和父亲）Where?Traditionallyinachurch,buttodaycantakeplacejustaboutanywhere–home,hotel,weddingchapel（小教堂）,etc.Thetraditionofthefathergivingawayhisdaughterhasitsrootsinthedaysofarrangedmarriages.Daughtersinthosetimeswereconsideredtheirfather‘sproperty.Itwasthefather’srighttogivehischildtothegroom.Todayafathergivingawayhisdaughterisasymbolofhisblessingofthemarriage.Believingnewlywedsbroughtgoodluck,guestsusedtoshowerthemwithnutsandgrainstoinsureabountifulharvest（丰收）andmanychildrentoworktheland..Thevacationafterthewedding