“Going to the chapel and we’re gonna get married…

We’re going to the chapel of love”. 

🎵🎶🎵🎶 The Dixie Cups- The Chapel Of Love 💒💒

❤️💒 HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU WHO GOT MARRIED THIS SUMMER 💒❤️

Maybe you have just tied the knot, popped the question to your loved one, or you are planning on getting hitched in the near future. 

2022 has seen a record number of weddings taking place due to the standstill over the last few years as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic. 

Couples all over the world have had to put off their big day and wait for a better time to tie the knot. 

Over the years, I have been lucky enough to have attended weddings in France, UK, and Spain, and they all vary in their own special ways. 

So, today I am going to be talking to you about 8 interesting wedding traditions from around the world.

Vocabulary

Tie the knot - to get married

To pop the question - to ask someone to marry you

To get hitched - to get married

Standstill - no movement or activity

To put something off  - to postpone something

Curious wedding traditions from around the world

Italy

Sugared almonds used to be thrown at the newlyweds! Imagine the pain! 😖 They are now given as wedding favours to the guests. Five sugared almonds represent longevity, wealth, fertility, happiness, and health.

Germany

In Germany, the night before the wedding ceremony the bride and groom smash porcelain. Then they both clean it up showing that they can work together as a team.

Sweden

The bride traditionally puts a silver coin given to her by her father in one shoe, and a gold coin given to her by her mother in her other shoe. This is to ensure that the married couple never has financial problems. 

Malaysia

The Tidong people of Borneo are not allowed to leave their home or use the bathroom for 3 days after the wedding. They are kept under guard. It is thought that if this tradition is not respected, the marriage will break up, the couple’s children will die or there will be infidelity in the marriage. 

Venezuela

The bride and groom leave the wedding reception without saying goodbye to anyone. This is supposed to give the married couple good luck in their new marriage. 

India

In some parts of India, it is a common tradition for the bride and her family to steal the groom’s shoes and hide them. If the groom’s family isn’t able to find them before the wedding ceremony ends, they have to pay a “fine”. 

Brazil

In Brazil, brides wear gold shoes. They take them off to dance during the reception during which time, the wedding guests fill the shoes with cash for the newlywed couple. 

Spain

Brides traditionally got married in black. This was to symbolise the “Until death do us part” part of the vows. It signified the marriage would be for life. 

Find the vocabulary

Think about…

(Listen to the answers in the audio or find them below 😎)

* What’s the name of the wedding “party”?

* What do you call a couple who has just got married?

* How many ways can you find to say “to get married”?

* What expression was used to express when you ask someone to marry you?

* What do you call the little presents that guests are given at a wedding?

Did you know?

In English, we use the expression Mr. / Mrs. Right to talk about the person who is the perfect husband/wife. 

I’m so happy I married Mr. Right!

To make an honest man/woman out of someone means to marry someone you have been going out with for a while and make the relationship official. 

In English, you don’t “Marry with someone” 

To marry someone - He married his best friend

To get married to someone - She got married to her brother’s best.

Up-level your English

Other ways to say “beautiful” 

We had a ___________ day at Sarah and James’ wedding. 

Beautiful, Gorgeous, Splendid, Amazing, Stunning, Lovely, Breathtaking

Other ways to say “big”

The wedding was ________.  / It was a ______ wedding.

Huge, Massive, Gigantic, Enormous, Extravagant

Think about… answers

1. Reception

2. Newlyweds

3. To get hitched / To tie the knot

4. Pop the question

5. Wedding favours.

That’s all for this week folks! Happy Englishing!

Thanks so much for reading and listening.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s Woodside Weekly.

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