America Wedding

アメリカ生活していた時の記録として残してあった英文があります。ちょうど20年前になりますが、ご一読ください。

I would like to introduce American wedding culture.

America has two processing to have a party before a couple gets a marriage.

First, the bridal shower party. I got a letter, which is a wedding invitation. The envelope includes gift list card. How can I explain it? Okay. The card is Marcy’s, which is a big mall company. The Marcy’s has wedding gift corner. I brought the card to Marcy’s and I looked a computer, which has a gift list what a couple wants. I printed it and picked two items for the couple. Then I went to the bridal party. It was surprised party for a future wife. American people like to have a surprised party!!!! Invited people brought a gift and waited for new wife appeared. New husband fooled to bring new wife to the party. She was so surprised, and got a bit mad to few her friends who hid about the party. The friends said, “That is a surprised party! Come on. Let me hug you!” During the party, it had games, a buffet-style party (light), conversation and so on. Then the new wife had to open gifts and read cards. A friend was volunteering to help list up who gave her a gift and name. Another friend was volunteering to make a bouquet from gift’s wrapped ribbon. The bouquet was very cute. The bouquet will use for a wedding rehearsal.

Second, a bachelorette party. It is a bit wild. I would like to copy from e-mail, 

which received. It will be a fun filled night for all ladies who have a slightly wild taste in life! There will be one or two male stripper, then go to a fancy french restaurant and have some gossipy talk that you so love to do. I wish I were there; however, I could not make it because I already had a plan that day. I do not know what it looks like. I have been seeing TV about a bachelorette party. I cannot explain exactly because of no experience.

Finally, the couple got marriage on September 30th. That day was beautiful day. The new marriage couple swore by god as their love is forever. The wedding mixed three cultures: Japanese, Latin American and American. The new wife is from Japan and the new husband is from Latin American. There were three interpreters: Japanese voice interpreter, English voice interpreter and American Sign Language interpreter. The Latin American family has strong faith in Catholic. They believe in silver coin, which is good luck in their future. I learned the Latin American wedding culture. When we left the church, we had a reception. The new couple, four bridesmaids, and four best men got on a limo to go to the reception. The new wife made the reception decoration. She made a lot of “Origami” for three months. It impressed me. The guests liked the decoration and got a few “Origami” as their gift from the new wife. We had a Latin American music, dance and dinner. First a new couple danced without anybody. Then second music started the guest can join to dance. The new wife had a small bag, which was getting small money from guest men while she danced with each man. The guest man gave her money as gift. The new husband got small money, too.

The wedding was very simple and very rational. I hope you enjoy read the report.

September, 2000