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27 Dresses

27 Dresses

Date: Apr 23 2008

Themes: Fashion, Romance

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

How exciting! Your friend is getting married! And you get to be a bridesmaid! Well, you wouldn’t think so if it was the 27th time one of your friends asked you to be a bridesmaid. You’d probably be pretty tired of planning bridal parties and buying expensive dresses and wondering when it will be your turn to get married.

Being a bridesmaid can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a strain on your patience, wallet and time. When Mason and Amanda talk about the movie 27 Dresses about a woman who is a bridesmaid 27 times, it brings up a little bit of frustration.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Mason

Amanda

Amanda

Mason:  The whole concept of the movie, right, is “always a bridesmaid, never a bride”...

Amanda:  Yeah, ouch.

Mason:  It’s like someone took that old saying and made a movie out of it. Is that really true?

Amanda:  It’s true and you know what’s really hard about that is the financial implications associated with that. It’s not only the heartache of being right there by your best friend who is the bride over and over again, you’re dropping cash for the dress, the bachelorette party, the shower. People don’t even realize that. So imagine going through that 27 times.

Mason:  Huh. I don’t know that they covered that in the movie, but that would be interesting. I was even gonna ask, is it such a big deal to be a bridesmaid? What are the responsibilities? How does that even happen? You ask your best friend to do all this stuff for you because anyone else would kill you by the time they’re done?

Amanda:  You know what I don’t understand is what the criteria is for choosing your maid of honor. That’s what I don’t get. Because, to be honest, I’ve been a maid of honor for someone who I really was not close to. So, why?

Mason:  Maybe you were the responsible one.

Amanda:  Maybe I was the responsible one.

Mason:  Maybe they needed someone who can get stuff done.

Amanda:  Maybe I was the only one who could afford do this lavish shower and bachelorette party for her.

Mason:  Oh…

Amanda:  Maybe she wanted someone that looked like me next to her in photographs. I’m just saying. I’m just throwing that out there.

Mason:  You were like the rich nanna? Like, she totally just cozied up to you because her rich nanna was gonna give her the pony?

Amanda:  I just think it’s weird having been a maid of honor and then the wedding came and after the wedding I never hear from her again.

Mason:  There’s no bitterness there.

Amanda:  None at all. I’m just saying. Just putting it out there.

 

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Discussion

Mason explains that the movie 27 Dresses is an extreme example of the old saying, “always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” He asks Amanda how often that happens in real life.

She’s not sure, but being a bridesmaid 27 times sounds pretty expensive to her. You usually have to buy a fancy dress and put on a couple of parties for the bride. Mason asks if that’s why your head bridesmaid, or maid of honor, is usually your best friend. No one else would be willing to do all that stuff for you.

But Amanda says that she was a maid of honor for someone she wasn’t all that close to one time. She’s not sure why she was selected, but after the wedding she never heard from the bride again. Mason senses that Amanda is a little bitter about the situation but she denies it.

Have you ever been a bridesmaid or a best man? Is there a role for the best friend of the bride in the wedding customs of your country?

 

Comments

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mickee85

mickee85

Philippines

I haven't been experienced to be a bridesmaid, I don't like it at all. I've watched this movie and it's fun, Katherine Heigl is one of my favourite actress she portrayed the character well. She's pretty busy with her work and then being a bridesmaid. The one that she's a bridesmaid in a two wedding at the same time cracked me up, hahah. Fortunately, she got married in the end of the movie.

04:07 PM Aug 16 2010 |

zvedava

zvedava

Germany

We have similar  bridesmaid or best men system. And I find it amazing to be bridesmade. Bridesmade in our country make up scenario of this beauteful event. The most interesting thing is buying-out of a bride. One of best men's  duties is buying ;-)He has to overcome with different  difficulty and have to help of a bridegroom to pick up a bride

09:12 PM Nov 08 2009 |

Maariya

Maariya

Pakistan

fine

08:32 PM May 05 2008 |

Mii9U3LiiT0

Puerto Rico

hi how is everybody doin

my name is miguel

04:53 PM May 05 2008 |

箫剑锋

China

make friends with a boy from Chian,will you?

06:58 AM May 03 2008 |

Ngathanh

Viet Nam

I think if I were a bridesmaid for my close friend I would be very happy

04:53 AM May 01 2008 |

Ngathanh

Viet Nam

I think if I were a bridesmaid for my close friend, I would be very happy.

04:50 AM May 01 2008 |

arshia

India

Laughing

07:24 PM Apr 29 2008 |

rjarjusey

rjarjusey

Gambia

hmmmm…...............tiresome

02:47 PM Apr 29 2008 |

urhoney59

Nepal

love al u sexy girl

if u wan join frenship, plz keep in touch

04:47 AM Apr 29 2008 |

homyhoo

homyhoo

China

i have been a bridemaid for one time.

04:33 PM Apr 28 2008 |

hanwei3058

hanwei3058

China

I don’t take part in a wedding, so i have no feeling.i don’t know why wedding need a best man and bride groom?if i would marry ,i will find average person.

11:49 AM Apr 28 2008 |

indianman

India

amazing…................dress

09:18 AM Apr 28 2008 |

habsi_2008

Oman

hi …

which things can help me to improve my language fast ??
?

07:20 AM Apr 28 2008 |

Keni

Keni

Azerbaijan

I was a bridesmaid of my friend.It was exciting.But 27 times…I can say only OH,MY GOD

01:25 PM Apr 27 2008 |

Keni

Keni

Azerbaijan

I was a bridesmaid of my friend.It was exciting.But 27 times…I can say only OH,MY GOD

01:25 PM Apr 27 2008 |

8diana8

8diana8

Australia

I dont know that much, I remember that when I was very young I did once to my the elder sister’s wedding!

08:06 AM Apr 27 2008 |

caby

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

I have never been a bridemail. But I think that could be very interesting! Given a chance ,I really would like to have a try.

12:40 PM Apr 26 2008 |

geluce

Cameroon

I've never been a bridesmaid or a maid in honnor.

But i thing it can be a great experience once a time also. 

01:35 PM Apr 25 2008 |

董清生

董清生

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

It unhuman to do this thing to a friend who you don't even care. at the same time you may even can't get a  wish.

 

12:18 PM Apr 25 2008 |

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