Ep 14: Planning a Wedding
Introduction
Welcome, everybody, to another episode of B1 English Talks. I'm your host, Brandon, and this podcast is here to help you improve your English at the B1 level and feel more confident in your progress. Each episode, we'll dive into fun, real-life topics to help you practice your listening skills. Let's get started.
Guys, just to clarify this episode, I'm not married. I do not have a future wife on the horizon. This episode is intended to show you guys a lot of the vocabulary that would show up in a wedding planning scenario and then also give you some phrasal verbs, question tags, and example uses of comparatives and superlatives in a way that feels natural rather than instructional.
If you have any further questions, DM me on Instagram at EnglishWithBrandonH, and otherwise, enjoy the episode.
Talking About Weddings
In today's episode, we're talking about really big events in our lives, specifically our wedding. Have you ever sat down to plan your wedding or a big celebration like a wedding? It's one of the most exciting things that you can sit and plan out, right, at least in the beginning, because it's definitely a lot of work, isn't it? (Question tag) But it can also be a really rewarding experience when everything finally comes together.
Before I taught English, I was a professional chef, and I would work at a lot of weddings and engagement parties. I found that an engagement party was much easier (comparative) for someone to plan than a full ceremony and reception, but only a little.
Planning a Wedding
When you start, the first step is figuring out your budget. Without a clear idea of how much you're going to spend (future with "going to"), you'll struggle to choose the right venue, the right caterer, and the right florist, among other things.
Specifically for me, we were always the caterer, right? So we were a high-end caterer, and usually, the people that came to us were a certain clientele. They had a certain budget, versus many other clientele who would come to us, hear our rates, and find that their budget didn't fit or align with what we charged.
Once you've sorted out (phrasal verb) your budget, it's time to go over (phrasal verb) the guest list. A big list can be harder (comparative) to manage than a smaller one, don't you think? (Question tag)
Wedding Details and Themes
The bride and groom often think about what theme they'd like.
Will it be something formal or more relaxed?
Some people set up a very romantic look with plenty of lace details and an elegant bouquet.
Others prefer a fun party vibe with colorful decorations and confetti.
I've also seen many weddings that had a particular theme, like the Great Gatsby. For example, I've seen every type of wedding you can imagine, from the 600-person wedding at a big venue that cost over $100,000 to a much smaller, quieter wedding in someone's backyard.
Personally, I like the smaller wedding. At a 600-person wedding, it would be impossible to know everyone, wouldn't it? If I were to plan my wedding, (Second conditional) I would want it to be intimate and personal.
The Importance of a Timeline
We cannot forget about the importance of having a timeline for your wedding. A rehearsal can be crucial, especially if you have:
A long aisle to walk down.
A complex seating plan.
You may want the best man, bridesmaids, and even the father of the bride to practice where they'll be standing. It's less stressful on the day when everyone knows what to do, isn't it? (Question tag)
Choosing the Menu and Cake
One of the most adventurous and fun parts of planning your wedding is choosing the menu and the cake. You can try out different flavors, meet with vendors, and pick the one that feels perfect for you.
After all, you want the best memories to look back on down the road, right? (Superlative)
Personal Reflections
Personally, I have not spent a lot of time planning my future wedding. For me, it's impossible to plan because I wouldn’t be planning it alone. I would be planning it with my wife, and she may have particular things that she wants.
The Wedding Day
On the day itself:
Gown, tuxedo, and centerpieces all come together.
The newlyweds walk down the aisle, exchange their vows, and become a family in front of everyone they love.
After the ceremony, there's a toast or speeches, and the party really gets started.
Then, after the wedding, it's off to a honeymoon, or maybe you'll wait and celebrate an anniversary trip later.
Final Thoughts
This day signifies the creation of your new family. This day is extremely special. It’s a pivotal moment in your life. Setting up a wedding or a big event can be extremely challenging. But if you keep it organized and have a good wedding planner, you can have one of the most memorable days of your life.
Thank you for listening to today's episode of B1 English Talks. I hope you learned some new vocabulary or expanded your perspective on weddings.
B1 Grammar Highlights:
Comparatives and Superlatives:
"Much easier," "harder to manage," "the best memories," "smaller wedding."
Phrasal Verbs:
"Plan out," "sort out," "go over," "set up."
Question Tags:
"It's definitely a lot of work, isn't it?" "It would be impossible, wouldn't it?"
Conditionals:
"If I were to plan my wedding..."
Key Vocabulary:
Weddings: venue, caterer, florist, budget, guest list, theme, bouquet, aisle, vows, ceremony, reception, honeymoon.
Event Planning: timeline, rehearsal, centerpiece, toast, vendor.
Adjectives: intimate, personal, elegant, adventurous, romantic, formal, festive.
This version emphasizes both wedding-related vocabulary and practical grammar usage for B1 learners. Let me know if you'd like further adjustments!
