Wedding

Wedding is considered one of the most important days in people's lives. The wedding traditions vary greatly between different countries, cultures, social classes and religions. Let's look at traditions and current trends in the Czech Republic and compare them with the English-speaking ones.

Before wedding

When a man proposes a woman, it means when a man gives a ring to his future woman, she becomes his fiancée. At that moment, the future bride starts to choose wedding gown or dress, flowers, rings, veil, shoes, underwear, jewellery and she starts to think about her witness or her bridesmaid(s). Moreover, she thinks about the venue for the wedding and makes the guest list. Will it be something special, such as on the rock or in Las Vegas or something traditional, as having a church or civil wedding? These and other things are usually very pleasant worries. When the venue is arranged, a bride sends wedding invitations to their relatives and friends.

Shortly before the wedding, women may go to hen party with their girlfriends to drink and celebrate. On the other hand, men usually  go to stag night or bachelor party to have fun with friends.

The big day

When the big day comes, the bride goes with her father to the wedding ceremony, the groom is accompanied by his mother. During the ceremony, the couple may make their marriage vows, exchange rings and kiss each other and an important document (marriage certificate) is signed by the wife, husband and their witnesses. At the reception, the best man, bridesmaid, bride's father or the witness is asked to propose a toast and make a short speech. The wedding reception may include a starter, a traditional soup with noodles and liver balls, main dish and dessert which may be a wedding cake. After celebration, the newlyweds usually leave for their honeymoon.

Questions for discussion:

1) Do you know any traditions in the Czech Republic? Do you like them? Why/why not? Are you superstitious?

2) Can you describe your own wedding?

3) Why do people get married? Is it important to get married nowadays?

4) How much does a wedding cost?

5) What does something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue mean?

6) Can you think of some unusual/beautiful/terrible venues for a wedding?

7) What do you think about the phrase: ... and they lived happily ever after?

8) What do you think of a registered partnership?

More useful words and phrases:

wedding gifts/wedding presents

shotgun wedding = when a woman is pregnant, it is considered necessary to get married

dowry /dauri/

stormy marriage

to marry sb for love

marriage certificate

henpecked husband

marriage of convenience