When you need this

Once there's a date, the next question is where. Some couples marry in a church, a temple, a mosque or a gurdwara. Others have a civil ceremony at city hall or a courthouse, sometimes with only two witnesses. Many do both: a legal ceremony on Friday and a religious or family one on Saturday. The planning English is the same wherever you end up.

The key word is venue: the place where the wedding happens. Calling a venue is a small business conversation. You ask if the date is available, how many guests it holds, what's included and what it costs to book. "Book" means reserve; "put down a deposit" means pay part of the money now to hold the date.

When friends ask, keep it short: "We're getting married at city hall, then dinner at a restaurant." People don't need the whole plan. They want to know where to show up and what to wear.

Phrases

the place where the wedding or party happens

the part where the couple actually gets married

a legal wedding without religion, often at city hall

a small legal wedding at a local court

the person who leads the ceremony

asks if the date is free

asks about the size of the space

reserve it for your date

pay part of the price now to hold the date

every good date is already taken

what happens if an outdoor wedding gets wet

a wedding far from home, often on vacation

the decorated canopy where a Hindu couple marries

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Practice · 3 min

Say the line that fits. Situation on the left, one natural line on the right.

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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.