IELTS cue card: «Describe a memorable event in your life», пример ответа

Describe a memorable event in your life.

You should say:

what the event was

when and where it happened

who was there

and explain why it was memorable.

I'd like to describe my older brother's wedding, which took place last August in Samarkand. Uzbek weddings are famous for being huge, and this one was no exception: there were around four hundred guests.

The main celebration was held in a wedding hall in the evening, but the day actually started at six in the morning with the traditional morning plov, which the men of the family serve to guests. I'd barely slept the night before, because we'd been decorating the house until late.

Pretty much our whole extended family was there, including some relatives from Russia whom I hadn't seen for almost ten years. Seeing everyone in one place was quite emotional in itself.

What made it truly memorable for me, though, was that my brother asked me to give a short speech. I was terrified, because I'm not used to speaking in front of crowds, and while I was waiting for my turn my hands were shaking. But once I started, I just told a few funny stories from our childhood, and people laughed in the right places. At the end my grandfather came up and hugged me, and I noticed he had tears in his eyes.

I think I'll remember that moment for the rest of my life.

Why do people spend so much money on weddings?

Partly tradition and partly social pressure, I think. In Uzbekistan a wedding is seen as the family's celebration, not just the couple's, so families feel they have to invite everyone they know, even if it means taking on debt.

Are traditional celebrations becoming less important?

Not really, in my experience. The way they're celebrated is changing, with smaller guest lists in cities, for example, but the core traditions like Navruz are still extremely important to most families.

How do people celebrate important events in your country?

Is it better to have a big celebration or a small one?