You can see the word everywhere~

promise to love you for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.

It all begins with engagement. Traditionally, a young man asks the father of his sweetheart for permission to marry her. If the father agrees, the man later proposes to her. Often he tries to surprise her by “popping the question” in a romantic way.

Sometimes the couple just decides together that the time is right to get married. The man usually gives his fiancee a diamond ring as a symbol of their engagement. They may be engaged for weeks, months or even years. As the big day approaches, bridal showers and bachelor’s parties provide many useful gifts. Today many couples also receive counseling during engagement. This prepares them for the challenges of married life.

At last it’s time for the wedding. Although most weddings follow long-held traditions, there’s still room for American individualism. For example, the usual place for a wedding is in a church. But some people get married outdoors in a scenic spot. A few even have the ceremony while skydiving or riding on horseback! The couple may invite hundreds of people or just a few close friends. They choose their own style of colors, decorations and music during the ceremony. But some things rarely change. The bride usually wears a beautiful, long white wedding dress. She traditionally wears “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.” The groom wears a formal suit or tuxedo. Several close friends participate in the ceremony as attendants, including the best man and the maid of honor.

As the ceremony begins, the groom and his attendants stand with the minister, facing the audience. Music signals the entrance of the bride’s attendants, followed by the beautiful bride. Nervously, the young couple repeats their vows. Traditionally, they promise to love each other “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.” But sometimes the couple has composed their own vows. They give each other a gold ring to symbolize their marriage commitment. Finally the minister announces the big moment: “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride!”

At the wedding reception, the bride and groom greet their guests. Then they cut the wedding cake and feed each other a bite. Guests mingle while enjoying cake, punch and other treats. Later the bride throws her bouquet of flowers to a group of single girls. Tradition says that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry. During the reception, playful friends “decorate” the couple’s car with tissue paper, tin cans and a “Just Married” sign. When the reception is over, the newlyweds run to their “decorated” car and speed off. Many couples take a honeymoon, a one- to two-week vacation trip, to celebrate their new marriage.

翻译：

一切都开始于订婚。通常呢，一个男青年问他爹地：我的甜心儿能不能嫁给我呢？如果爹地同意了，男青年稍后就会去求婚。通常他会用让人很惊喜又很浪漫的方式来“求婚”。

有时俩小情人儿刚刚开始决定在一起，刚刚遇到黄道吉日。这时男青年就会用一枚钻戒作为订婚信物给他未婚妻。他们也可能订婚订了几个星期、月、甚至年（囧）。随着大日子的来到，在新娘和新郎各方的聚会上，会有许多有用的“礼物”提供给他们。今天许多准新人仍然接受订婚时的“个别辅导”。这个为他们富有挑战的婚姻生活提供了准备。

最后就是结婚的时刻了。尽管许多婚礼仍然沿袭着一直以来的传统，但其实仍然对美国个性主义留有余地。比如说吧，通常结婚的地方就是教堂。但是一些人会到户外的风景名胜去举行婚礼。少数人甚至在飞行或者马背上进行这个仪式！准新人可能会邀请数以百计的人来围观，或者只邀请为数不多的几个要好朋友。他们自己选婚礼的风格，装饰品和音乐。但是一些部分是基本上不变的。新娘通常穿漂亮的拖地白色婚纱。她会遵循传统的“有旧、有新、有借、有蓝”的风格。新浪穿正装或者晚礼服，包括伴郎和半年在内的要好朋友，会作为出席者参加他们婚礼。

婚礼开始的时候，新郎和他邀请的人，和牧师站在一起，面向观众。音乐响起，代表着新娘的出席者们可以进来了，后面跟着的是美丽的新娘。最紧张的是，新夫妇念他们的誓言。传统意义上来说，他们发誓彼此相爱“不论贫富贵贱，生病健康”。但是一些时候小夫妇也会构想出他们自己的誓言。他们交换金戒指，以此表示他们的婚姻。最后牧师宣布这个伟大的时刻“我宣布‘男青年’和你的妻子。你可以亲你的新娘了！”

在婚礼招待会上，新娘和新娘向来宾们致敬。然后他们切开婚礼的蛋糕，然后喂彼此吃一口。来宾们在啜饮的同时品尝着蛋糕，潘趣酒和其他招待品。稍后新娘向一堆单身女青年抛掷鲜花。传统意义上来讲，拿到花束的女青年就是下一个结婚的人。在招待会之间，爱玩的朋友们用纸巾，铁罐和“已嫁出”的标志来“装扮”新婚夫妇的车。当招待会结束之后，新人跳上他们“盛装过”的车并火速离开。许多夫妇会有个蜜月，一个一至两个月的假期旅行，来庆祝他们的新婚。

tips：

　　“有旧、有新、有借、有蓝”的婚礼习俗

许多新娘在她们举行婚礼的当天都曾被问到是否已经备好了那些“有旧、有新、有借、有蓝”的服饰，以穿戴它们缓缓走过教堂内的通道。穿戴这每一件服饰的传统据说各有其独特的涵义，但都能够给新婚夫妇带来吉祥和财富。你曾想过这种说法到底是什么意思吗？是如何起源的？每件服饰各有何涵义？
最初的说法源自维多利亚时代，原文是：“有旧，有新，有借，有蓝；在一只鞋里放一枚六便士的银币。”
有旧　　　新娘可以穿着或佩戴一样旧衣物来象征她和她娘家及过去生活之间的历史纽带。许多新娘佩戴一件家传的珠宝饰品作为“有旧”的选择。有些新娘穿着她们母亲或祖母穿过的结婚礼服。实际上，旧的东西同时也可以是借来的东西。
有新　　　穿戴一样新衣物是要象征新娘在新生活和婚姻中拥有成功和希望。如果新娘置办的是新的结婚礼服，那它就可以是她的“有新”，但是任何别的新服饰也是可以的。“有新”常常是最容易做到的。
有借　　　借来的服饰应该是从一位已幸福地结了婚的朋友那里借来的。据说他们的幸福会惠及于你，给你的婚姻带来长久的美满。有些新娘会去借来一种衣着用品、一件首饰、一块手帕或者一个饰以珠子的手袋。
有蓝　　　穿戴一件蓝色服饰源自《圣经》时代，当时蓝色结婚礼服代表着纯洁、忠诚和爱情。随着时间的推移，这一传统已从穿蓝色结婚礼服，演变成后来的在新娘的结婚礼服下摆处缝上一圈蓝色的镶边，再演变到现代的普遍做法——新娘用蓝色的吊袜带。