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READING 3 New Wedding Trends
NewWeddingTrends
Read the following article. Pay special attention to the words in bold. 4.4
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Wedding traditions are changing. More and more couples are choosing to create a unique wedding experience for themselves and for their guests. In traditional weddings, a clergyperson1 faces the bride and groom and reads them their vows. The bride and groom simply say, “I do” in response to the question of whether or not they agree to marry. But today, 43 percent of weddings are officiated by a friend or family member rather than a clergyperson. And more and more couples are writing their own vows and saying them to each other in their own words.
Following tradition, the bride and groom send their friends and relatives an invitation. But with today’s busy schedules, the new norm is for the bride and groom to tell their guests the date at least five or six months in advance. They send them “save-the-date” cards so that their guests can make plans. Some couples are choosing to have a themed wedding—a central idea or style for their big day. Examples include a specific decade, a movie or television show, a book, a city, or a color. The cards give this information to guests so that they can dress appropriately.
Another new trend in weddings is to create a wedding based on the couple’s ethnic background. For example, in an African-American wedding, some couples want to show respect to their ancestors2 by jumping over a broom, a tradition from the time of slavery. The jumping of the broom symbolizes a new beginning by sweeping away the old and welcoming the new. Some African Americans use colorful clothing inspired by African costumes, rather than a white dress for the bride and a suit or tuxedo for the groom.
One thing stays the same. The newlyweds send the guests thank-you cards by mail to thank them for attending the wedding and for the gifts they gave.
An African-American couple jumps over a broom.
1 clergyperson: a minister, rabbi, or other religious leader 2 ancestor: the people from whom one is descended; great-grandparent, great-great-grandparent, etc.
