'I do. ' To Americans those two words carry great meaning. They can even change your life. Especially if you say them at your own wedding. Making wedding vows is like signing a contract. Now Americans don't really think marriage is a business deal. But marriage is serious business. It all begins with engagement. Traditionally, a young man asks the father of his sweetheart for permission to marry her. If the father agrees, the man later proposes to her. Often he tries to surprise her by' popping the question' in a romantic way. Sometimes the couple just decides together that the time is right to get married. The man usually gives his fiancee a diamond ring as a symbol of their engagement. They may be engaged for weeks, months or even years. As the big day approaches, bridal showers and bachelor's parties provide many useful gifts. Today many couples also receive counseling during engagement. This prepares them for the challenges of married life. As the ceremony begins ,the groom and his attendants stand with the minister, facing the audience. Music signals the entrance of the bride's attendants ,followed by the beautiful bride. Nervously, the young couple repeats their vows. Traditionally, they promise to love each other for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. But sometimes the couple has composed their own vows. They give each other a gold ring to symbolize their marriage commitment. Finally the minister announces the big moment: 'I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride !' Almost every culture has rituals to signal a change in one's life. Marriage is one of the most basic life changes for people of all cultures. So it's no surprise to find many traditions about getting married...even in America. Yet each couple follows the traditions in a way that is uniquely their own. 'popping the question' ( L. 3, Para. 2 ) means______.