Here are some expressions commonly used in discussing marriage and wedding matters.
bachelor party - a party for a man who is going to get married, to which only his male friends are invited best man - the bridegroom's friend who accompanies him to the ceremony bride - a woman who is about to be married or has recently been married bridesmaids - the girls who traditionally accompany the bride in the church civil ceremony - a non-religious legal marriage ceremony performed by a government official engaged - promised to be married engagement ring - a ring worn by a woman on her left-hand ring finger indicating her engagement to be married fiancé - a man to whom a woman is engaged to be married fiancée - a woman to whom a man is engaged to be married groom - a man participant in his own marriage ceremony hen night or hen party (in the UK) - a party for women only, usually one held for a woman before she is married honeymoon - the holiday after the wedding pre-wedding nerves - when you are nervous before the wedding proposal - an offer of marriage reception - a social function, especially one intended to provide a welcome or greeting Registry Office - the local office for the registration of births, deaths and marriages (BD&M), and for the conducting of civil marriages wedding bells - the traditional tune that the church bells play as the couple leave the church wedding cake - a traditional cake with three "tiers" eaten at the end of the wedding meal wedding dress - a gown worn by the bride at a wedding wedding list - a list of presents that guests can choose to buy the couple wedding vows - the promises that the bride and the groom make to each other during the ceremony; some of these vows could be to love each other white wedding - a traditional formal wedding held in a church
Now we put new vocabulary into context, so you can see how you might use these terms yourself. The expressions are in boldface in the text.
The groom and the best man arrive at the church first and then the guests arrive. Usually the bride´s father walks her down the aisle until they reach the priest / vicar at the altar. The priest always asks if there are any objections to the marriage (someone can speak or forever hold their peace = never have the opportunity again to object), and at the end of the service, the couple exchange rings and are proclaimed ´´man and wife´´. When they come out of the church, the guests often throw confetti (small pieces of coloured paper) and the photographer takes photographs. At the end of the day, the happy couple traditionally leave on honeymoon.
