🎧 Audio
📖 Script
In recent years, many couples have been choosing to have smaller weddings or even elope, mainly due to the rising cost of living. For example, Averill and Lloyd Johnson from Melbourne managed to have their dream wedding for just $3,000. This is significantly less than the average wedding cost in Australia, which is about $38,000. The couple decided to keep things simple, focusing on what was truly important to them, such as their vows and close family presence, instead of spending on extravagant decorations or a large venue.
The trend towards micro-weddings and elopements is not just about saving money. It also reflects a shift in priorities, where couples value intimacy and personal connection over large gatherings. Many couples feel that smaller weddings allow them to spend quality time with their guests and create more meaningful memories. Additionally, this approach reduces the stress often associated with planning large weddings.
The economic challenges faced by many, such as high housing costs and inflation, have made it difficult for couples to justify spending a large amount on a single day. Instead, they prefer to allocate their resources towards long-term goals like purchasing a home or starting a family. This change in mindset is becoming more common as financial pressures continue to mount.
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has played a role in this trend. Restrictions on gatherings and the need for social distancing have led couples to opt for smaller, safer celebrations. This has encouraged a more personalized approach to weddings, where couples can tailor their day to suit their specific desires without the pressure of pleasing a large number of guests.
Overall, the rise of micro-weddings and elopements indicates a broader change in how people view marriage celebrations. While large, traditional weddings are still popular, more couples are choosing to focus on the essence of the day—celebrating their love—without the associated financial burden.
📝 Vocabulary
- opt: to choose or decide to do something（選ぶ）
例文: “Many couples opt for smaller weddings to save money.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- opt for
- opt out
- opt in
- elopement: the act of running away to get married（駆け落ち）
例文: “The couple considered an elopement to avoid wedding stress.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- secret elopement
- romantic elopement
- quick elopement
- venue: a place where an event is held（会場）
例文: “They chose a small venue for their wedding.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- wedding venue
- event venue
- venue selection
- inflation: the rate at which prices increase over time, reducing purchasing power（インフレーション）
例文: “Inflation has made it difficult for people to save money.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- rising inflation
- control inflation
- inflation rate
- allocate: to distribute resources or duties for a particular purpose（割り当てる）
例文: “They decided to allocate their savings towards buying a house.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- allocate resources
- allocate funds
- allocate time
✏️ Grammar Point
Present Perfect Tense – “In recent years, many couples have been choosing to have smaller weddings or even elope…”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
（過去から現在に至る継続的な状況や経験を話すときに使います）
📝 使用例文
“例: In a job interview, you might say: ‘I have worked in marketing for five years and have developed strong skills in brand management.’”
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: Averill and Lloyd spent $38,000 on their wedding.
- MCQ: What is one reason couples are choosing micro-weddings?
a) To have more guests
b) To save money
c) To travel abroad
d) To have a traditional ceremony - MCQ: How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced wedding trends?
a) It increased guest numbers
b) It led to more elopements
c) It encouraged international weddings
d) It had no impact
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- False
- b) To save money
- b) It led to more elopements
📚 Reading Questions
- What was the cost of Averill and Lloyd’s wedding compared to the average in Australia?
- Why are some couples choosing smaller weddings?
- What does the word “allocate” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- $3,000 compared to $38,000
- To focus on intimacy and reduce financial stress
- To distribute resources or duties for a particular purpose
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
近年、生活費の高騰により、多くのカップルが結婚式を小規模にするか、駆け落ちを選ぶ傾向があります。オーストラリアでは平均的な結婚式の費用が約38,000ドルですが、メルボルンのアヴェリルとロイド・ジョンソンは3,000ドルで夢の結婚式を実現しました。高騰する住宅費やインフレーションがカップルに長期的な目標に資金を振り分けることを促し、このような傾向が広がっています。加えて、COVID-19パンデミックは、集会の制限やソーシャルディスタンスの必要性から、小規模で安全な結婚式を後押ししました。将来的にこのトレンドは続くと予測され、結婚式のあり方がより個人化される可能性があります。
