英语阅读理解关于纯洁和婚礼
2018年孝者英语四级阅读理解试题及答案2
幽默烂慎数与魅力饥首
Leaders Who Use Humour and Charm to Reach the Top
Humour and charm are a surprisingly powerful combination as a means of ascent in life.
I have met a number of entrepreneurs who have built fortunes on the back of their wit and general popularity -and not much else. They disarm us with self-deprecation, we enjoy their company-so why wouldn't we want to do business with them? Of course, it all has to be done well; sycophancy and flat jokes do not weave the same spell.
The British feel that some light relief amid the drudgery is essential for existence to be tolerable. It seems to be a cornerstone of our psychology and culture. In London, to say someone has no sense of humour is to condemn them utterly. Many important meetings I attend start with a little friendly banter to break the ice, a ritual to remind us that we are all human-rather than simply robots of commerce.
I am sure foreigners must think our levity is baffling. My defence is that Brits subscribe to Horace's view: "A jest often decides matters of importance more effectively and happily than seriousness."
Some years ago, a partner of mine practised what I called "management by laughter". He motivated and inspired by making the atmosphere at work fun, rather than the bullying and intimidation common in many workplaces.
But the 21st-century office can be a minefield for the amateur who enjoys a giggle. I was recently warned about a trap being sprung by a professional gang from eastern Europe. They plant an attractive female staff member in an organisation. At roughly the same time, a male co-conspirator also gets a job; the connection between them is unknown to the employer. After a little while, he sends a series of highly suggestive internet jokes to the pretty female. She complains of harassment and threatens to bring an embarrassing employment tribunal involving sexual discrimination-and, once she reveals that she has hired expert legal advisers and PR agents, the victim business settles quickly.
In these litigious, politically correct times, the perils of making cheap gags can be considerable. Recently, I attended a dinner at a trade conference. The speaker was a well-known executive who told a number of jokes in poor taste, some at the expense of influential figures in the room. Just as a vulgar best man's speech at a wedding can strike the wrong note, so I sensed as we chatted after the speech that the jibes would not be swiftly forgotten.
Some one once said: "Brains, integrity and force may be all very well, but what you need today is charm." This is the age of celebrity, even in the boardroom, and none of us is impervious to the presence of those legendary characters when they switch on the full blast of their glittering personality. Perhaps it is their reputation, perhaps their smile, perhaps their brilliance with words-or possibly their rapt attention.
I am often struck how often young children utter the phrase "Look at me!" They want appreciation, and fundamentally not much changes, even when we are 50. Genuine approval from the boss can taste better than anything-even a pay rise.
Are charm and a sense of humour acquired traits? They certainly improve with effort and practice. Ronald Reagan used his years in showbiz to hone his performance skills before succeeding in politics.
I have sat with stand-up comics before they go on stage. The most brilliant appear almost nonchalant, rather than rehearsed or anxious, and their acts are mostly learnt word-perfect yet appear spontaneous.
So it is with outstanding business leaders who persuade their teams to laugh and try harder: they apply themselves assiously to the task. Most world-class chief executives possess charisma-really a captivating blend of charm and wit. And, believe me, they graft at it far more than they admit.
领导靠幽默与魅力发迹
作为人生发迹的手段之一，幽默和魅力是一对效力惊人的组合。
我遇见过许多凭借风趣机智和好人缘白手起家的企业家。他们谦和自敛，让我们生不起气来。我们与他们相处愉快一一所以我们为什么不与他们做生意呢?当然，这里面必须讲求技巧。一味溜颈拍马，开一些干巴巴的玩笑，不会产生同样的魔力。
英国人认为，人生在世，就得苦中作乐。这似乎是我们心理学和文化的一条基本原则。在伦敦，说一个人缺乏幽默感，等于是说他一无是处。我出席的许多重要会议，都以一些善意的玩笑开场，以此打破沉默。这种惯例提醒我们，我们都是凡人，而不完全是商业机器。
外国人肯定认为我们的轻浮举止不可理喻。要让我说，我们英国人是赞同贺拉斯的观点：“遇到大事，比起一本正经的态度，开开玩笑固能够更有效、也更开心地解决问题。”
几年前，我的一位合伙人实行我所说的“欢笑管理”。他鼓舞和激励士气的方法，是营造充满乐趣的工作氛围，不同于许多工作场所常见的威逼和胁迫的氛围。
然而，对于喜欢逗笑取乐的人来说，21世纪的职场可能会是个雷区。我最近听到警告，说一个来自东欧的专业犯罪团伙会设下这样的圈套：在一家机构安插一名漂亮迷人的女员工，再让一名男同伙也混进去。两人前后脚进入这家公司，他们的关系不为人所知。不久后，他就向那位美女发送了一堆黄色网络笑话。于是她投诉遭到骚扰，并威胁要以性别歧视为由，告到让人头大的就业法庭。而一旦她透露出已聘请了专业法律顾问和公关代理，受害企业就会赶紧花钱了事。
在这种动辄法庭上见、政治上正确的时代，讲低级笑话可能会相当危险。我最近出席了一个贸易会议举办的晚宴，席间一位颇有名气的高管发表了演讲。他讲了许多低级趣味的笑话，有些还是取笑在座的显要人物。演讲后我们在闲聊时，我感觉到，他的那些话不会被很快忘记，这与婚礼上伴郎讲话粗俗不合时宜一样。
曾有人说：“拥有才智、诚实和力量固然不错，但当今你需要的是魅力。” 这是一个名人的时代，即使在董事会也是如此。那些鼎鼎大名的人物一旦全力展现他们迷人的个性或者是名声、或者是微笑、或者是口才，又或者是专注的神情，投入能够抵御。
小孩子常常会说“看我的!”，对此我常常感到惊讶。他们想要得到赞赏。这一点在长大后基本上也不会改变，即使到了50岁。老板真心的称赞比什么——甚至加薪，都更让人觉得受用。
魅力和幽默感能够后天培养吗?努力练习肯定会有作用。罗纳德·里根早年在演艺界干过，练得一身表演才能，后来才进入政界，成就了一番事业。
我曾经在一些笑星登台前与他们坐在一起。最出色的笑星出场前几乎都显得若无其事，既没有背台词，也没有焦虑不安。他们表演的内容基本上都是事先背下来的，但却显得像是即兴发挥。
杰出的企业领导能够让他的团队既开心又卖力工作：他们自己会勤于工作。世界级的首席执行官大多魅力非凡——这实际上是吸引力和风趣机智的迷人组合。另外，请相信我，他们花费在这上面的心力，远远超过他们所承认的。
句型讲解：
1. She complains of harassment and threatens to bring an embarrassing employment tribunal involving sexual discrimination-and, once she reveals that she has hired expert legal advisers and PR agents, the victim business settles quickly.
本句是一个复合句，主句是由and连接的两个并列的句子。第一个句子中， and连接两个并列的谓语， involving sexual discrimination现在分词短语作后置定语，修饰employment tribunal.第二个句子中，once引导时间状语从句，其中that引导宾语从句，作reveal的宾语。
语法重点：并列结构，分词短语作定语，时间状语从句，宾语从句
2. Just as a vulgar best man's speech at a wedding can strike the wrong note, so I sensed as we chatted after the speech that the jibes would not be swiftly forgotten.
本句是一个复合句。第一个as引导方式状语从句，意为"正如"。第二个as引导时间状语从句。that引导宾语从句，作sense的宾语。
语法重点：方式状语从句，时间状语从句，宾语从句
3. This is the age of celebrity, even in the boardroom. and none of us is impervious to the presence of those legendary characters when they switch on the full blast of their glittering personality.
本句是一个复合句。主句是由and连接的两个并列的句子This is...and... legendary characters. When引导时间状语从句。
语法重点：时间状语从句
四六级英语推荐>>>
『贰』 阅读理解-英语
1.D( We did everything together: piano lessons, movies, swimming, horseback riding.
When I was 13, my family moved away. ) 2.B(Soon we were busy with children and moving to new homes, and we wrote less often. ) 3.A( when my brother and then mother died. There was an empty place in my heart that only a friend like Linda could fill. ) 4.B(Minutes later I heard a voice that I knew very much, even after 40 years, laughed and cried and caught up on each other’s lives. Now the empty place in my heart is filled. ) 5.D(When I was 13, my family moved away. Linda and I kept in touch through letters, 申明一下，我自己写的也不一定对，错了别怪我哦！！！！
『叁』 初中英语阅读【高效率、高手进、高分奖励、】
1 walked w et angry dry when
2 1C 2 D 3 A 4 B 5 D
3 attend on brust enter cry
准确率 看我的回答记录就内知道容了
『肆』 【十万火急】英语 阅读理解
嗯 答案是C A C B C 第三题应该是 spill salt 吧？
『伍』 关于婚礼的英语对话阅读
婚礼上，新亩慎娘和新郎表示要互敬互爱，白头偕老。我精心收集了关于婚礼的英语对话，供大家欣赏学习!
关于婚礼的英语对话1
Wendi: Talk about the best wedding you've ever been to and if you can kind of think about what it was and and what the atmosphere was like when you walked in.
James: OK, the actual wedding ceremony?
Wendi: Yeah, sure.
James: OK.
Wendi: Tell me about it.
James: Now?
Wendi: Yeah.
James: My sister's wedding. It was in a *** all village church near her house. I was giving heraway, so it was wonderful. We walked into the church, and I led her down the aisle and they were listening to, they didn't have traditional music. They had Beattles music playing.
Wendi: Really.
James: And it was really beautiful and yeah, it was an amazing wedding.
搏耐掘Wendi: Yeah.
James: She looked absolutely stunning and my family were there, just close friends of my sister and then after the wedding they had the reception at my sister'基核s back garden.
Wendi: Right.
James: And it was just wonderful.
Wendi: That sounds really beautiful.
James: No fuss, just really easy. Just a big family gathering and it was really, really a lovely day. It rained all day as well.
Wendi: Did it really?
James: And it made no difference whatsoever.
Wendi: Wow, that sounds pretty special.
James: Yeah, the next-door neighbors did all the food and they were caterers so the food was magnificent.
Wendi: Wow.
James: It was special because of the atmosphere rather than anything else. It didn't cost much money, but it was just perfect.
Wendi: That sounds beautiful. So what was it like to give away your sister, like do you feel that as being a big responsibility.
James: Yeah, I was really chuffed when she asked me. It really, really meant a lot so, cause she had a difficult decision to choose who to give her away, so yeah it was a really big, yeah, it was a real big honor to do. And, it's an easy thing to do. You walk down the aisle and you sit down and that's it.
Wendi: What's your best kind of memory from that whole wedding — that whole experience?
James: Ah, seeing my sister in her wedding dress, that morning. She just looked so beautiful.
Wendi: Yeah.
James: And also seeing how nervous my brother-in-law was before the wedding in the pub. He was so nervous and it was really sweet and also because it's a village and she's a hairdresser, all the old ladies had e and stood outside the church to have a look at her.
Wendi: Oh, that's so awesome.
James: And to wish her luck on the way in.
Wendi: That's really cool.
James: Cause it was only for family, really and they'd all e to see her in bride's gown.
Wendi: Oh that sounds really special.
关于婚礼的英语对话2
Wendi: So, yeah, I wanna talk about wedding experiences and one of the best wedding.
Rachel: The best wedding I've ever gone to was probably my friend, well, OK, wait, hold on, pause it for a second.
Wendi: No worries because.
Rachel: What is our scale of best? Like most fun? Most emotional?
Wendi: That's a good question. I guess what ever was the most kind of rewarding wedding you've ever attended. And I guess you have to chose that based on your scale.
Rachel: What are the questions going to be so I can think of how to break it down.
Wendi: Anything. It's totally random usually.
Rachel: Oh, OK.
Wendi: It's totally random. And actually, it's even good for the listener's for the people that are going to be listening to hear you thinking in your mind, like, "Ah," I don't really know. Just total natural conversation.
Rachel: No cause like there are three weddings where I can think of: The Wiccan wedding. My friend Amanda's wedding which was just massive. There as like 13 bride *** aids and thirteen and the other one that was on a ship.
Wendi: Wow. Was it like on a cruise boat kind of thing, or?
Rachel: Not a cruise boat. It was a *** aller kind of like sail boat, sailing around the Netherlands.
Wendi: That sounds crazy. Was it like a super quaint wedding kind of thing?
Rachel: No, it was kind of like a metal wedding.
Wendi: A metal wedding?
Rachel: Yeah.
Wendi: What do you mean?
Rachel: Well, it was a whole bunch of metal heads on a boat...
Wendi: Seriously?
Rachel: Eating vegetarian food.
Wendi: That sounds crazy.
Rachel: Yeah it was pretty brilliant.
Wendi: Wow. So out of all of the weddings you've been ever experienced in your whole life does anyone kind of ring out to you at all as that's the wedding I want to have.
Rachel: No.
Wendi: No.
Rachel: First off, I think I would elope.
Wendi: OK.
Rachel: And then just throw kind of like big parties all over the world because I have a feeling that my wedding would pretty much be international.
Wendi: Right.
Rachel: I think that, well the ceremony, I don't even know what kind of a traditional per se ceremony that I would want.
Wendi: Yeah.
Rachel: Yeah, I think I'd rather it just be a private more intimate thing between me and whoever I'd be marrying.
Wendi: Right.
Rachel: And then just have a party for everybody to celebrate it with afterwards.
Wendi: Yeah, cool.
关于婚礼的英语对话3
AWhat was your wedding ceremony like, Abigail?
盖布莉加尔，你们的结婚典礼怎么样?
BMy hu *** and and I got married in a registry office with just two friends there as witnesses. But then we had three parties to celebrate.
我和我丈夫请了2个朋友做见证人，去婚姻注册处注了册。可是，接着我们要办3场酒席。
AThree parties? That's quite a lot. That must have been expensive!
三场?太多了，一定要花很多钱!
BWell, since my hu *** and and I are from two different countries, and we live in a third country, we decided to have one in each country. It wasn't actually that expensive.
嗯，因为我和我丈夫来自不同国家，而且我们又在第三个国家生活。所以，我们打算在每个国家请一次客。实际上花费也不会太多。
AWere your parents upset that they weren't there to see you get married?
你们的父母没能出席你们的婚礼，他们不会觉得有点失望吗?
BI would have liked them to be there, but they couldn’t afford to fly out to see us, and we couldn't afford to fly out to see them, so they understood.
我其实很希望他们能来，但是他们负担不了飞过来看我们的机票费用，我们去看他们也同样飞不起，所以我们就互相理解吧。
ADid your hu *** and's family get to meet your family?
你公公婆婆和你父母见过面吗?
BMy hu *** and's parents flew out to meet my family when we got married in my hometown, so that was great. Some people spend ridiculous amounts of money on extravagant wedding receptions, but we agreed that the wedding party should be less about money and more about family.
我们在我家乡结婚的时候，我公公婆婆飞过来和我父母见了一面，非常愉快。有些人为了办个豪华婚礼不惜一掷千金，可是我们还是觉得婚礼应该多一点家庭的温馨，少一点金钱的装点。
AThat makes sense. Did you go on a honeymoon?
有道理。你们去度蜜月了吗?
BWe waited until our one-year anniversary to go on our honeymoon to Africa.
我们想结婚一周年的时候去非洲度蜜月。
AYou really didn't have a very traditional wedding, did you?
你们的婚礼真的跟传统式不沾边，对吧?
BNot at all, but we don’t have a very traditional marriage either, so it suited us perfectly!
没错，而且我们也不是普通的婚姻，所以，这种婚礼和我们正好相配。
『陆』 1道英语阅读题In Britain ,wedding(婚礼)invitations go out about six w
C.an immediate reply
C.to the woman’s house
B.in church
C.A woman with a ring on the third finger of her right hand must have been married.
『柒』 一篇英语阅读的问题疑惑
这是一个笑话。全文大意是，这个年轻人很穷，想给新娘买个花瓶却买不起。经理出于好心帮忙，当时有一个已经碎了的花瓶，经理事先和一个雇员打好招呼，告诉他婚礼的时候把这些花瓶碎片送上的时候需要故意“失手掉在地上摔碎”，这样的话，大家的感觉就成了：年轻人买得起礼物，但是雇员把它摔碎了。于是这就可以维护了新郎的体面嘛。
然而大概是经理在吩咐雇员的时候并没有说过多的细节，只是告诉他“将花瓶包装好，到时候你掉地上打碎一下就是了”，雇员于是曲解了经理的意思，大概以为是什么恶作剧，于是自作聪明的把每一个碎片都打好包装。
于是在婚礼那天……他打碎了花瓶……然而当外包装打开的时候大家看见的却是……包装好的碎片……
问题：
1，On the birthday of his financee,the young man was excited because_____
A, the mannager was helpful
B, he was not sure whether his trick would be seen through
因为知情者只有经理和新郎，所以新郎心里很忐忑，因为他并不知结果如何。有点期待，又有点紧张，因为这一点而激动。其实按道理来说结婚本身就是激动的事情。如果从仅这两项来选的话，选B. A是错的，因为the manager 事实证明，并没有helpful.
2, The servant packed each piece separately becuase_______
A, he misunderstood the manager
B, he hope the young man's trick would be seen through
C, he was a careful man
上面已经解释出了。选A
『捌』 英语阅读题
1c 2c 3d 4b 5c
你好 回答如下
There is a scene that is repeated up and down the land ring the month of June.
译：六月的这片土地上到处都会重复出现一个相同的场景.
附：up and down 来回地; 到处来回地; 到处
例句：The teacher was walking up and down in the classroom.
老师在教室里走来走去.
Outside a church in some Scottish town or village a *** all crowd has interrupted its daily affairs to gather on the pavement.
译：在一些苏格兰小镇或村庄的教堂外,会有一小股人聚集在人行道上,打断了教堂的日常
事务.
附：interrupt v. 中断, 插嘴, 妨碍; 打断
affairs n. 事, 事件, 事情; 事态; 业务, 事务
pavement n. 人行道, 公路
Near the west door a dozen or so overdressed people are glancing impatiently at their watches.
译：在西门附近,十几个打扮讲究的小伙们时不时会急切地向他们佩戴的手表瞥上一眼.
附：a dozen or so 有十几个（小于等于12个）
overdressed adj. 打扮过分的; 穿着过于正经的
impatiently adv. 不耐烦地; 焦急地; 性急地; 焦躁地
glance v. 看一下, 一瞥
例句：He glanced round the conference room.
他扫视了一下会议室.
He glanced at the envelope and recognized his uncle's handwriting.
他瞥了一眼那个信封,认出是他叔父的笔迹.
The men seem a little self-conscious in their hired kilts; the women hold their wind-blown dresses and loudly admire each other’s hats.
译：穿着租来的苏克兰短裙的男人们显得不太自然；手拉住被风吹起的裙子的女人们大声地
赞美彼此的帽子、
附：self-conscious adj. 自觉的, 忸怩的, 不自然的
admire vt.钦佩, 赞美, 羡慕
例句:
They admire her alabaster plexion.
他们羡慕她那白润光滑的肌肤.
We admire him for his righteousness.
我们钦佩他的正直.
They are all lively and talkative, yet at the same time strangely reserved.
他们都很活跃并健谈,但这时他们却出奇的沉默.
附： talkative adj. 喜欢说话的, 健谈的, 多嘴的
reserved adj. 有“沉默寡言的”之意
例句：She is not usually so reserved.
她通常不如此缄默.
The crowd ignores them, barely noticing when they disappear into the church. Even the arrival of the groom rouses little excitement. These participants are not the main attraction. We are waiting for the bride.
译：人群忽略了他们,在他们消失在教堂时也几乎没有注意到.即使是新郎的到来也只引起
了很少的兴奋.这些参加者并不是最吸引人的.我们都在等待新娘.
附：barely adv. 仅仅, 勉强; 贫乏地; 几乎没有; 光秃秃地
groom n.新郎 bride n. 新娘 participant n. 关系者; 参与者
rouse v.唤醒, 激起
n.觉醒,奋起
例句:
It was a marvelous night with a tempest to rouse the gods.
真是个美妙的夜晚,暴风雨惊天动地.
I was roused by the sound of the bell this morning.
今天早晨,我被 *** 唤醒.
The news roused great indignation.
这条消息引起了极大的愤慨.
Whatever her age or appearance, everyone will *** ile and express approval. By convention, all brides are beautiful.Nobody says so, but the spectators feel cheated unless she steps out of a car, dressed in white from head to toe.
译：不管她（新娘）的年龄与长相如何,每个人都会微笑并表示赞同.按照惯例,“所有的
新娘都是美丽的”.（尽管）没有人会这样说,围观者们在穿着从头到脚的白纱的新娘走出
轿车前通常都会觉得被这个惯例所欺骗,而在新娘走出车后,没有人会感到被欺骗.（即所
有的怀疑都烟消云散,人人都为新娘的美丽惊叹.）
附：approval n.同意, 批准, 认可, 赞同
spectator n. 观众, 旁观者, 目击者
The nearer she matches their image, the greater their satisfaction.This event is
not merely a wedding; it is a tradition, and such occasions are potentially
dangerous. Participants must pay strict attention to detail. An untraditional
bride destroys the magic.
译：她（新娘）的形象越接近围观者心目中（传统上新娘应该有的）形象,他们就越满意.
这个活动不仅仅是一场婚礼；它还是一个传统,而且这样的场合还可能是危险的.参与者（
如围观者等）一定会严格地关注细节.（他们认为）一个非传统的新娘会毁掉那个（让所有
人都觉得新娘是美丽的）魔法.
附： merely adv.仅仅, 只不过
例句:
Pretending to faint was merely (an) artifice.
假装昏迷只不过是个诡计.
detail n. 细节; 详情
When the crowd has left, some bystanders will remain to watch the bride walk out
of church on the arm of her groom. The guests troop out behind the happy couple
and all gather on the pavement with an obvious air of relief.
译：当大片人群散去后,某些看热闹的人还会留下来观看,直到看到新娘从教堂走出并拥到
新郎的怀抱之中.宾客们在快乐的新人身后匆匆离开,在人行道上聚集,并都长舒了一口气
.（因为婚礼总算按着传统要求办完了,没出什么差错.）
附：relief n.减轻, 解除,轻松, 浮雕, 救济(品), 安慰, 替代
例句:
It is a great relief to have rain after a long time of drought.
长期的乾旱之后有雨是一大慰藉.
What a relief!
真叫人宽慰!
We all heaved a sigh of relief when we heard that they were safe.
当我们听说他们平安无事时,都松了一口气.
troop out
匆匆出去
例句:
They are pulling their troops out of the battle zone.
他们正把部队调离战区.
A piper strikes up Mairi’s Wedding and the guests start shouting and jumping
everywhere,putting the photographer off his work. Before bride and groom lead
their party to the reception, someone is sure to disobey the priest and scatter
forbidden confetti (五彩碎纸).
译：风笛手吹起了《Mairi的婚礼》,宾客们开始大声叫嚷,到处跳舞,甚至把照相师拉离工
作岗位以加入狂欢的队伍.在新郎新娘将狂欢派对变成欢迎会之前,某些人一定会违背牧师
的规定,去散播那些被禁止的五彩碎纸.
附：piper n. 吹笛者, 风笛手
disobey vi. 违反
vt. 不服从
例句:
Her pupil often get the rough edge of her tongue when they disobey her.
学生不听她的话时,常遭到她粗暴的申斥.
Those who disobey must be punished by law.
违法分子必须受到法律惩罚.
scatter vt.散播, 撒, 驱散
vi.分散, 消散
n.散布, 零星少量
例句:
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.
树倒猢狲散.
The birds scattered at the sound of the gun.
鸟群一听到枪声就四处飞散了.
The farmers were scattering seed on the fields.
农夫把种子撒在田里.
The particulars of this scene are modern; yet three elements are present that
have existed since marriage in Scotland began—ancient Roman law redefined in a
Christian context, Celtic tradition, and pre-Christian tradition.
译：这个场景中的个别部分是有现代气息的；但其中所呈现的元素有三个都是自苏格兰有婚
礼以来就存在的,分别为：在基督教背景下重新定义的古罗马法律,凯尔特人传统以及前基
督教传统.
附：particular n. 个别项目, 详细说明
redefine v. 重新定义
『拾』 求关于英国婚礼习俗的英文短文
http://www.learnenglish.de/culture/marriage.htm
图文并茂！
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British Marriage and Weddings
Before the Wedding
Marriage is usually initiated by a proposal of marriage, simply called "a proposal". In a heterosexual relationship, the man traditionally proposes to the woman and the actual proposal often has a ritual quality, involving the presentation of a ring (an engagement ring) and the formalized asking of a question such as "Will you marry me?" The man may even go down on one knee before proposing. If the proposal is accepted, the couple become engaged.
In the United Kingdom, the engagement ring is worn, by the woman, on the fourth finger of the left hand.
In the UK the 29th of February (in a leap year) is said to be the one day (coming round only once every four years) when a woman can propose to her partner.
It is usual for a couple to be engaged for a while before they get married. An engagement is actually an agreement or promise to marry, and also refers to the time between proposal and marriage. During this period, a couple is said to be affianced, engaged to be married, or simply engaged.
A man who is engaged to be married is called his partner's fiancé; a woman similarly engaged is called her partner's fiancée.
Once a wedding date has been set the banns of marriage, commonly known simply as "the banns", (from an Old English word meaning "to summon") are announced. This is a notice, usually placed in the local parish church or registery office, that a marriage is going to take place between two specified persons.
The purpose of banns is to enable anyone to raise any legal impediment to it, so as to prevent marriages that are legally invalid. Impediments vary between legal jurisdictions, but would normally include a pre-existing marriage (having been neither dissolved nor annulled), a vow of celibacy, lack of consent, or the couple's being related within the prohibited degrees of kinship.
In England, a marriage is only legally valid if the reading of the banns has taken place or a marriage licence has been obtained.
The People
In addition to the bride and groom, traditional weddings involve a lot more people. Typically, these positions are filled by close friends of the bride and groom; being asked to serve in these capacities is seen as a great honour.
For the couple:-
Ringbearer - an attendant, often a young boy, who carries the wedding rings.
Ushers - helpers, usually men, who assist with the organization.
For the groom:-
Best man - a close male friend or relative of the groom, given a place of honour.
Groomsmen - one or more male attendants who support the groom.
For the bride:-
Maid of honour - a close female friend or relative of the bride, given a place of honour. If she is married, she is instead called the "matron of honour."
Bridesmaids - one or more female attendants who support the bride.
Father of the Bride - One who symbolically "gives away" the bride. If her father is deceased or otherwise unavailable, another male relative, often an uncle or brother, will give the bride away.
Flower girl - a young girl who scatters flowers in front of the bridal party.
Junior Bridesmaids - young girl typically between the ages of 8 and 16 who is too old to be a flowergirl, but the bride wants to be a part of the wedding.
Wedding guests are generally sent invitations to which they are expected to reply (rsvp). The guests are generally invited to both the wedding and the wedding reception afterwards, although sometimes reception places are limited. Often certain people are invited e to perceived family obligations, as to not receive an invitation can be considered an insult.
The Wedding Ceremony
When the guests arrive for a wedding the ushers' ty is to hand out the correct books, flowers and the order of service, they also ensure the guests are seated in the correct places. Traditionally, the side on which people sit depends on whether they are friends or family of the bride or of the groom. The front rows are generally reserved for close family or friends, with the very first seats reserved for the bridal party. However, in many ceremonies the bridal party will remain standing at the altar ring the ceremony along with the bride and groom.
The groom and his best man wait inside the church for the arrival of the bride and her "entourage".
This entourage generally arrives in elegant cars or in horse-drawn coaches, specially hired for the occasion. The bride's entourage normally consists of the bride, the bride's father and all the various bridesmaids, maids of honour, flower girls and page boys that are intended to attend her.
The ushers and/or groomsmen escort the grandparents of the bride and groom to their seats.
The ushers and/or groomsmen escort the mother of the groom and mother of the bride to their seats.
The bridesmaids enter, escorted by the groomsmen.
The maid or matron of honour enters, either by herself or escorted by the best man.
The ringbearer enters.
The flower girl enters. (In some ceremonies, the ringbearer will accompany the flower girl.)
The bride then proceeds down the aisle, escorted by her father, to the accompaniment of music (usually the wedding march, often called "Here comes the bride"), and the ceremony starts.
During the ceremony the bride and groom make their marriage vows. Marriage vows are promises a couple makes to each other ring a wedding ceremony. In Western culture, these promises have traditionally included the notions of affection ("love, comfort, keep"), faithfulness ("forsaking all others"), unconditionality ("for richer or for poorer", "in sickness and in health"), and permanence ("as long as we both shall live", "until death do us part"). Most wedding vows are taken from traditional religious ceremonies. Touching love poems or lyrics from a love song can be revised as wedding vows. Nowadays some couples choose to write their own vows, rather than relying on standard ones spoken by the celebrant (priest).
After the wedding ceremony, the bride, groom, officiant, and two witnesses generally go off to a side room to sign the wedding register. Without this the marriage is not legal and a wedding certificate cannot be issued.
Afterward, guests file out to throw flower petals, confetti, birdseed, or rice (uncooked) over the newly-married couple for good luck.
Finally, a photographic session ensues of the couple leaving the church.
Nice Day for a White Wedding
The Western custom of a bride wearing a white wedding dress, came to symbolize purity in the Victorian era (despite popular misconception and the hackneyed jokes of situation comedies the white dress did not actually indicate virginity, which was actually symbolized by a face veil).
Within the "white wedding" tradition, a white dress and veil would not have been considered appropriate in the second or third wedding of a widow or divorcee.
Before the white wedding dress became "traditional" an old poem (which seems to favour blue) sang the praises or woes of various colour choices.
“Married in white, you will have chosen all right.
Married in grey, you will go far away.
Married in black, you will wish yourself back.
Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead.
Married in blue, you will always be true.
Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl.
Married in green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow.
Married in brown, you’ll live out of town.
Married in pink, your spirits will sink."
The average price of a traditional white wedding dress is around £826.
The reception
After the ceremony there is usally a reception at which the married couple, the couple's parents, the best man and the wedding entourage greet each of the guests. At such events it is traditional to eat and drink.
During the reception a number of speeches and/or toasts are given in honour of the couple.
Any dancing is commonly started by the bride and groom, usually termed the "Bridal Waltz", but dancing an actual waltz is comparatively rare - often the couple chooses their favourite piece of music or a song.
An arranged dance between the bride and her father is also traditional. Sometimes the groom will cut in halfway through the dance, symbolizing the bride leaving her father and joining her new husband.
At some point the married couple may become the object of a charivari, a good-natured hazing of the newly-married couple. While this is most familiar in the form of tying tin cans to the bumper of the couple's car, or spraying shaving cream on the windows, some of the pranks can be far more malicious. The worst one I've ever heard of is when the bride and groom returned from honeymoon to find their front door had been bricked over.
The final tradition is the newly married couple to set off for their honeymoon.
Have your cake and eat it
A wedding is often followed by a wedding reception, at which an elaborate, tiered, wedding cake is served. Traditionally this is a fruit cake. Often there are a couple of little figures on top of the cake, normally they are a representation of the bride and groom in formal wedding attire.
It is considered lucky for the couple to cut the cake together. A portion is usually stored, and eaten by the couple at their first wedding anniversary, or at the christening of their first child. The cake can be frozen and if the top tier of the cake is fruitcake, it can be stored for a great length of time.
British Wedding Traditions
Traditions include:-
The happy couple toast each other.
The newlyweds have the fiirst dance.
The couple cut the cake together, this symbolizes their first meal as husband and wife (see above).
The bride may throw her bouquet to the assembled group of all unmarried women in attendance, with folklore suggesting the person who catches it will be the next to wed.
(A fairly recent equivalent has the groom throwing the bride's garter to the assembled unmarried men; the man who catches it is supposedly the next to wed.)
It is usual for the couple to go away on holiday together. This is called the honeymoon.
On arriving back home it is traditional for the husband to carry his wife into their new home. This is called carrying the bride over the threshold.
In 2004 the average wedding in the UK cost £16,000 - and prices have risen since then, it now stands at a staggering £18,500. Of course there is no need to get caught up in Competitive Wedding Syndrome, none of it is actually necessary. You can simply get married and live happily ever after.