核心问题
Why didn't you invite me to your marriage?《朗文英语正误词典》认为上面的句子用marriage是错误的，应改为wedding，并解释说：“marriage是指宗教或法律观点来看的婚姻，如：Her parents are against the marriage.（她父母反对这个婚姻。）”我的问题是：marriage是不是也可以表示婚礼？
词典解答
marriage 除用以表达“婚姻”这一基本概念之外,也可以表示“婚礼”(不管是否伴有隆重的庆典)。
-
Many were present at their marriage. 很多人出席了他们的婚礼。
-
There were five marriages here last week. 上星期这里举行了五个婚礼。
-
I shall attend your marriage. (Forster) 我应该参加你的婚礼。
-
The marriage will take place in June. (FWF) 婚礼订于六月举行。
但是, wedding 强调婚礼的仪式和庆典, 带有感情色彩:
-
A golden wedding is the fiftieth anniversary of a marriage. (Thorndike) 金婚是第五十个结婚纪念日。
-
It was a beautiful wedding. 这是一次精彩的婚礼。
-
Over a hundred invitations to the wedding were sent out. 已发出了100多张参加婚礼的请柬。
-
The wedding will take place on Saturday. (Chambers) 婚礼订于星期六举行。