WEDDINGS

A Indian Weddings
1. Krishna and Neeraj, who are from Bangalore and New Delhi in India
respectively, focus on the cultural aspects of an Indian wedding. Listen to the
recording. Do Krishna and Neeraj confirm what you already knew about Indian
weddings? Are you surprised by anything they say? Do not worry about
understanding every word, but try to understand the main points which they
make.
2. Listen to the recording again and answer the questions below. Again, do not
worry if you cannot understand everything that is said.
1. How long do wedding celebrations last in India?
………………………………….
2. Are most weddings ‘arranged’ or are they love matches?
…………………………
3. What is a lot of money spent on before a wedding?
………………………………..
4. What differences does Krishna observe about weddings held in the south and
north of India?
……………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
5. What kind of event does Neeraj mention as being arranged typically in Northern
India by the groom’s family? ………………………………………………………
6. How many people attended Krishna’s wedding?
…………………………………
7. What concerns Krishna about the weddings of rich families in India?
…………………………………………………………………………………….....
……………………………………………………………………………………….
8. Do only rich families spend more than they can actually afford?
………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Listen to the recording again and this time pay special attention to the words
and phrases actually used. Pause the recording if necessary to complete the
gaps.
1. […] the majority of the weddings ……are aranged……….. in India.
2. […] usually it’s never ……………one day (offer?)……………….., like how
Krishna said, it can go on for several days.
3. […] there’s always ………celebrations happening……………… – a lot of
music and dance.
4. So it was ………………., with so many people attending the ceremony.
5. […] we …………………………………………… for such a big crowd.
6. […] the people who come and attend the wedding, they …bless the couple..
and also gift …
7. […] sometimes they do …dundoves (not have this amount of) money,…
8. […] you end up spending more money than …you can actually afford…. to do
on a wedding in India!

B Preparing for a Scottish – American wedding

1. Nikki is soon to get married. She talks to her friend Lorna (who is also from
Scotland) about some differences between Scottish and American weddings.
Nikki mentions these particularly Scottish items:
a kilt – a type of skirt traditionally worn by Scottish men.
tartan – a design for cloth traditionally associated with Scotland
But not these…
a ceilidh – Scottish weddings often are followed by a ceilidh, with traditional
Gaelic and Scottish folk music and dancing
bagpipes – probably the best-known Scottish musical instrument
the saltire – the name of the national flag of Scotland
a quaich (described by Nikki in the extended online recording – go to
www.collinselt.com/englishforlife/extras to hear the description)

2. Play the recording again and answer the questions to test your
comprehension.
1. How are the wedding plans going?
………………………………………………..
2. When is the wedding taking place?
………………………………………………..
3. What does a ‘rehearsal dinner’ involve?
…………………………………………..
4. When does a ‘rehearsal dinner’ take place?
………………………………………
5. How does Nikki feel about having a ‘rehearsal dinner?
…………………………...
6. Which American tradition is Nikki really nervous about?
………………………...
7. Who will be wearing kilts at the wedding?
………………………………………...
8. Will the kilt worn be in the ‘family tartan’?
……………………………………….
9. Why do the non-Scottish guests want to wear kilts?
………………………………
10. How successful does Lorna predict that the wedding will be?
…………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………….
Useful vocabulary and phrases: weddings

bride and groom

best man and the maid of honour
wedding ceremony
usher (groomsman – [US])
stag party (bachelor party – [US]), hen party (bachelorette party – [US])
wedding reception
guest list
bride-to-be
my mother-in-law-to-be (my future mother-in-law)

3. Complete these sentences with words and phrases from the box above. In
some cases, there is more than one possible answer.
1. Have you ever been to ……………………… in a castle? I went to one last
week.
2. John chose his best friend from school to be ……………………… at his
wedding.
3. John and his friends went to Vilnius in Lithuania for his ……………………… .
4. It was very difficult to limit ………………………………. for the wedding.
5. ………………………………….. met when they were both on holiday in Paris.
6. My ………………………………….. is nothing like my mum, but they get on
very well all the same.
7. She found it difficult to choose just one ……………………………. . She has so
many friends.
8. Julia didn’t want to have a wild ……………………… . She just wanted to
spend a quiet evening at home with her close friends.
4. Nikki and Lorna use a lot of colloquial and idiomatic language. Check that
you understand the meanings of the phrases below. Then listen to the recording
again and write down some standard equivalent phrases.
1. A little bit scary rather frightening
2. It’s just weird, like…
3. Stuff that I expected…
4. A massive thing in America…
5. a kind of run-through…

5. Lorna listens attentively to what Nikki says about her wedding plans. She
responds with empathetic statements and asks follow-up questions. Focus on
what Lorna says as you listen again to complete the gaps.
1. Oh, you …………………………… so excited.
2. I’ve never ……………………………………………. .
3. What does that …………………………., a rehearsal dinner?
4. I suppose it ………………………………… . I’m sure you’re both really
excited.
5. So you can ………………………………….. that way, I suppose.
6. And you’ve not told me …………………………… part: is Patrick going to
wear a kilt?
7. What ………………………….? … is your dad going to wear a kilt …?
8. So it sounds like ……………………………….. .