READING 4 Questions and Answers about American Weddings

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS about American Weddings

Read the following questions and answers. Pay special attention to the words in bold. 4.5

Q: Who pays for the wedding? A: Usually the bride and groom do, especially if they are working and earning money. In some cases, their parents help. Q: What’s a shower? A: A shower is a party for the bride (sometimes the bride and groom) before the wedding. Guests give the couple gifts to help them start their new home.

Typical gifts are cookware, linens1 , and small kitchen appliances. Q: Who hosts2 the shower? A: Usually the maid of honor hosts the shower. Q: When do they have the shower? A: Usually the shower is two to six weeks before the wedding. Q: How long does it take to plan a wedding? A: Most couples plan their wedding for seven to twelve months. Q: When do the couples send invitations? A: They usually send the invitations about eight weeks before the wedding. Q: When guests come in from out of town, who pays for their hotel? A: They pay for the hotel themselves. However, the groom pays for his groomsmen, and the bride pays for her bridesmaids. Q: Whom does the groom choose as his best man? A: He usually chooses a brother or best friend.

The groom chooses other close friends or male relatives as the groomsmen. Q: When do the bride and groom open their gifts? A: They open their gifts at home, not at the wedding. Q: How do the guests know what the bride and groom need as gifts? A: The bride and groom usually register for gifts at stores. They list the gift items they want and need for their new home. When the guests go to buy a gift, they check the registry in the store. However, money is the most popular gift. Q: How do I know how much money to give? A: Most guests spend about $100 on a gift. People who are closer to the bride or groom often spend more.

1 linens: sheets, pillowcases, and towels 2 to host: to invite and entertain guests