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Letting English and me to celebrate the happy couple and by the gift they actually ask for.
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A wedding in the gardens. A dinner nearby, speeches, music and maybe a little dancing.
Alan has received an invitation to his friend's wedding but there's one more thing he needs to
organise. So do you want to come as my plus one? Being invited to a wedding is exciting
but if you're new to Australia some of the language and customs might be unfamiliar.
Like what is the difference between the ceremony and the reception?
What is the gift registry and who can you bring as your plus one?
Hi, I'm Kate. If some of these questions are new to you we got you covered.
In this episode we'll practice every day English you can use when you're going to a wedding.
So let's begin.
So I've been invited to a wedding and was wondering would you like to come as my plus one?
Really me? Sounds great. I'd love to. Where is the wedding being held?
The ceremony is at the botanical gardens and the receptions at the restaurant nearby.
Oh the gardens are beautiful this time of year. Have you bought them a gift yet?
No not yet. They've set up a gift registry so I'll just choose something from that.
Weddings can look very different. They might be large celebrations with a lot of guests
or small gatherings with only close family and friends. They can also reflect the couple's culture,
faith and their personal choices. But wherever the wedding is held these phrases can help you
talk about the day. So let's start with the question Alan had for Claire.
Would you like to come as my plus one?
A plus one is a person you invite to come with you to an event.
Your invitation might say that you can bring a guest or it may include the words plus one.
For example, "Can I bring a plus one to the wedding?"
Oh, my sister is coming as my plus one.
Claire then asked, "Where is the wedding being held?"
When you ask where an event is being held, you're asking where it is happening.
You can use this phrase for a lot of different events, meetings and concerts.
For example, "Do you know where the meeting is being held?"
You could also ask a simpler question, "Where is the wedding?"
Both questions are useful, but where is the wedding being held?
Sounds a little more formal and is especially useful when you're talking about an organized event.
Alan then said, "The ceremony is at the botanical garden."
The ceremony is the formal part of the wedding.
It is where the couples stand together and say in their own way we choose each other.
There might be promises, rings, prayers, readings, cultural traditions or marriage documents
design. You might hear someone say, "Are you coming to the ceremony?"
Alan also said, "The reception is at the restaurant nearby."
The reception is the celebration after the ceremony.
This is when everyone relaxes, shares a meal, listens to speeches and eventually says,
"Come on, let's dance."
Sometimes, the ceremony and reception are held at the same place,
but they can also be at different venues, like in Alan's example.
A venue is the place where an event happens. You could say,
"The venue looks beautiful."
Or, "Have you seen the wedding venue yet?"
"Clear the nest."
"Have you bought them a gift yet?"
When a couple gets married, guests often bring or send a wedding gift.
If you're talking about the two people getting married, you can call them "the couple."
For example, "What are you getting the couple?"
Or "Have you sent the happy couple a card?"
"Have you bought them a gift yet?"
Is a useful question because it asks whether someone has already done something.
The word "yet" is often used in questions like this.
For example, "Have you chosen an outfit yet?"
"Have you replied to the invitation yet?"
Then, Alan said, "Not yet. They've set up a gift registry, so I'll choose something from that."
Here, the gift registry is a list of gifts that the couple would like to receive.
Guests can look at the list and choose a gift to buy. It can make choosing a present a little easier.
You might also hear people call it "a wedding registry."
Here are a few examples.
"Have they got a gift registry?"
"I've found a nice set of glasses on their wedding registry."
Some couples don't have a registry.
Instead, they might prefer money, gift cards, or simply having their friends and family there
to celebrate with them. Now, let's look at a few polite ways to accept
or decline an invitation. When someone invites you somewhere, it is common to show that you're
pleased to be asked. "I'd love to. Thanks for asking."
Sometimes, you want to go, but you can't stay for the whole event. You might say. "I'd love to come to the wedding, but I'll have to leave early. I need to catch the last train home."
Here, Alan says yes first, then explains his plan.
Giving a short reason can sound polite, but you don't need to share every detail.
And if you can't go at all, you can say. "Thanks for inviting me, but I'm sorry. I won't be able to make it."
I won't be able to make it, means you can't attend an event. It's a polite, clear way to decline
an invitation. To be able to make an event, means you can get there. So if you can't get to an
event that you have been formally invited to, you can say, "I won't be able to make it."
If you can't get to a less formal event, like a catch-up with friends, you could use the
less formal version. Sorry, I can't make it. Now, let's hear the dialogue once again,
and then we'll practice.
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So I've been invited to a wedding and was wondering, "Would you like to come as my plus one?"
"Really? Me? Sounds great. I'd love to. Where is the wedding being held?"
The ceremony is at the botanical gardens and the receptions at the restaurant nearby.
"Oh, the gardens are beautiful this time of year. Have you bought them a gift yet?"
"No, not yet. They've set up a gift registry, so I'll just choose something from that."
Now it's time to practice. See if you remember the meaning before hearing the answer.
When talking about weddings, what is the reception?
A reception is a formal party.
In this case, it's the celebration held after the wedding ceremony.
What is a gift registry?
A gift registry is a list of special gifts
that people would like to receive for a special celebration.
Guess can look at the list and choose a gift to buy.
Now, let's practice some of the phrases we learned in this episode by listening and repeating.
Are you coming to the ceremony?
The venue looks beautiful.
What are you getting the couple?
They've set up a gift registry.
For more ways to practice your English, visit our website or listen to our Boris episode.
You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.
Just search for "SBS Learn English".
Whether you're going to a big wedding or a small celebration, these phrases can help you join in.
Now, you know how to ask a few questions and make sure you can stay long enough for the speeches and the dance floor.
I'm Kate and thanks for learning English with me today.
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