Weddings in the United States vary as much as the people do. There are church weddings with a great deal of fanfare; there are weddings on mountain-top with guests barefooted; and there have been weddings on the ocean floor with oxygen tanks for the guests. But many weddings, no matter where or how they are performed, include certain traditional customs.
美国的国土上居住着各种各样的人，他们的婚礼也千差万别。有热闹庄重的教堂婚礼；有在山顶上举行的婚礼，客人们光着脚陪伴登高；也有在海底举行的婚礼，客人们戴着氧气瓶跟着入水。但婚礼无论在哪儿举行或怎样举行，总有某些传统的风俗。
Before a couple is married, they become engaged. And then invitations are sent to those who live nearby, their close friends and their relatives who live far away. When everything is ready, then comes the most exciting moment.
在举行婚礼前先要订婚，然后发放请柬给住在附近的友人以及远方的亲戚。当一切准备就绪，就该到最激动人心的时刻了。
The wedding itself ususlly lasts between 20 and 40 minutes. The wedding party enters the church while the wedding march is played. The bride carrying a bouquet enters last with her father who will "give her away". The groom enters the church from a side door. When the wedding party is gathered by the altar, the bride and groom exchange vows.
婚礼本身通常持续20至40分钟。婚礼一行人伴着结婚进行曲进入教堂。新娘手持一束鲜花和她的父亲最后进来，父亲要把她交给新郎。而新郎则要从侧门进入教堂。当婚礼一行人聚集到教堂的祭坛前时，新娘和新郎互相表达誓言。
It is traditional to use the words "To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part". Following the vows, the couple exchange rings. Wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand is an old custom.
常用的结婚誓言是：“从今往后，不论境遇好坏，家境贫富，病患与否，誓言相亲相爱，至死不分离。”宣誓过后，二人交换戒指。通常把戴在左手无名指上，这是一个古老的风俗。
After the ceremony there is often a party, called a "reception" which gives the wedding guests an opportunity to congratulate the newlyweds.
仪式过后，通常会有宴会，叫“喜宴”。宴会给参加婚礼的人一个向新婚夫妇祝贺的机会。
The car in which the couple leaves the church is decorated with balloons, streamers and shaving cream. The words "Just Married" are painted on the trunk or back window.
新郎新娘乘坐汽车离开教堂，汽车上装饰有气球，彩色纸袋、泡沫之类的东西。“新婚燕尔”几个字常写在汽车后的行李箱上或后玻璃窗上。
The bride and groom run to the car undre a shower of rice thrown by the wedding guests. When the couple drives away from the church, friends often chase them in cars, honking and drawing attention to them. And then the couple go on their honeymoon.
新娘新郎从婚礼客人撒下的雨点般的生大米中跑向汽车。小两口儿开车离开教堂时，朋友们常常开车追赶他们，不停地按喇叭，引他们注意。然后小两口儿就接着去度蜜月了。
英语词汇整理：
1. oxygen n. 氧气，氧
eg: No living things can live without oxygen.
没有氧生物就无法生存。
相关短语：
combine with oxygen 与氧结合
lack of oxygen 缺氧
give sb oxygen 给某人输氧
2. bouquet n. 酒香；花束
eg: He bought a bouquet at the florist.
他在花店买了一束花。
相关短语：
throw bouquets [口语]赞扬
balloon bouquet 气球束群
3. altar n. 祭坛；圣坛；圣餐台
eg: Tom and Mary exchanged their vows before the altar.
汤姆和玛丽在圣坛前，山盟海誓永结良缘。
相关短语：
lead to the altar (男子)把......领到教堂圣坛举行婚礼，娶......为妻
altar boy 侍者
altar fire 真挚的爱,神圣的爱
4. vow n. 发誓；誓言；许愿 vt. 发誓；郑重宣告
eg: Priests vowed their lives to the service of the church.
教士们立誓终生为教会服务。
相关短语：
exchange vows 订婚；结婚
take (the) vows 立誓修行；发愿当修士(或修女)；落发出家
under a vow 发过誓
vow and declare 郑重宣告
5. newlyweds n. 新婚夫妇
eg: Lavalais raised his glass to propose a toast to the newlyweds.
拉瓦莱斯举起了他的酒杯，向这对新婚夫妇敬酒。
6. streamer n. 彩色纸袋；饰带
eg: The car is decorated by streamer.
这辆车用了彩色带做装饰。
7. honk vt. 按汽车喇叭
eg: He honked to hurry me up down the stairs.
他鸣汽车喇叭催我赶紧下楼。
相关短语：
to honk...off 按汽车喇叭让......避开
佳句采摘：
To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.
从今往后，不论境遇好坏，家境贫富，病患与否，誓言相亲相爱，至死不分离。
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