EY Y03 L02 Weddings

  1. When was the last time you went to a wedding? Where was it? What were the names of the bride and groom? How do you know them? How did you get there?
  2. Did you enjoy it? Why?
  3. Couples in Japan often choose either a western style wedding or a Japanese style wedding. Tell us one difference between the two.
  4. Was the wedding you last attended a Japanese style wedding or a western style wedding? Which do you prefer? Why?
  5. Have you ever been a bride or a groom? If yes, how was it? Why? If no, what would your ideal wedding be like?
  6. Weddings are very different in different parts of the world (and even different parts of Japan). Tell us about a wedding tradition from another part of the world that you find interesting, odd, funny, or just a little bit different to how things are done in Japan.

Question 1

The last time I went to a wedding was two years ago (2019). It was in a small city in China, called Ningbo (宁波). The bride is one of my close friends that I met back in 2014. Her name is Chen Xi and her husband's name is Wang. I went to Ningbo directly via China Eastern airlines. The wedding was very extravagant as she is the only daughter in her family. It was truly a unique experience for me.

Question 2

I enjoyed every second of it. Chen Xi's family treated me like a family and I felt the warmth of their hospitality. They didn't let me spend my money and everything during my trip was paid for. I tried many dishes that they offered me and gained some weight after overeating for 5 days! I made new friends, new memories, and gained invaluable experience just by staying with my friend's family for 5 days.

Question 3

Western-style wedding is usually done in a chapel. The bride and groom wear white dresses and tuxedos to complement each other's looks. There are many important distinctions between Western-style weddings and Japanese weddings from the ceremony to customs that both families go through. Taking an example, Japanese weddings usually have traditional Shinto ceremonies. On the other hand, Western-style weddings have a pastor that blesses the newly-wed couple.

Question 4

It was a Chinese-style wedding with a little touch of Western customs. I'm not sure what aspect I should use as a foundation for choosing one wedding style over another, however, I think a mixed wedding style is preferable for me since I look pretty good in a kimono and my family comes from a Christian background. It's 2021 and I feel like we should be more open to new ideas and hybridization of multiple cultures.

Question 5

No, I have not! The idea of getting married for me right now is very far-fetched. However, I do want Lady Gaga to be singing for me at my wedding. I want to invite at least 500 people and have a white tiger at my wedding. I plan to make it a once-in-a-lifetime experience for everyone who attends my wedding.

Question 6

One of my cousins' friend from Indonesia had a "drive-thru" wedding. It was held last year in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. They actually restricted any form of interaction between guests and made sure that everyone were able to congratulate them personally. I wish I was there to experience this bizarre wedding convention.

Tough Vocabulary