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はじめに

Since the weather is getting warmer these days, I thought I would write about weddings and how they are different in the U.S. compared to Japan. In the U.S. (and maybe Japan also), spring is a very popular time to have a wedding. However, the traditions for Japanese weddings and American weddings are very different.

First, if you get invited to an American wedding, there will usually be a party a few weeks before the wedding. We call this party a “bridal shower”. You should bring a gift to this party (not money). Usually the couple who is getting married will have a list of things they would like to receive and a list of stores you can shop at. You just have to buy some things from the list (there is no limit for how much you should spend, but it is best to buy something around $50-$100). If you give a gift at the bridal shower, you do not have to bring a gift to the wedding. However, if you do not go to the bridal shower, you should bring your gift to the wedding.

Next comes the seating. Usually at American weddings, you are expected to bring a date. Usually you bring your boyfriend/girlfriend or wife/husband, even if they do not know the friend who is getting married. In Japan, you would never bring your girlfriend/boyfriend to a friend’s wedding. After you and your date walk in, you should pick a side of the church to sit on. Usually the bride has one side and the groom has the other. If you are a friend of the bride, you should sit on her side of the church.

After the wedding, there is a big party. Everyone goes to a different building for this party. At the party, there is a huge wedding cake that everyone will eat (wedding cakes in the U.S. are real, not rubber like in Japan). After everyone eats, there is a lot of dancing and drinking. Weddings in the U.S. usually last all day because they are like a big party. In Japan, there is usually no dancing, just a dinner after the wedding.

These are some of the main things you should remember if you ever get invited to the wedding of an American. Most importantly, have fun!

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