Wedding Vocabulary A-Z

Like any industry, the wedding industry has its own unique vocabulary that may seem commonplace to anyone on the inside, but to the many, many that just pop in for a short stint to plan their own wedding is a whole new world! Honestly, wedding planning should really come with a glossary… so we made you one! With our wedding vocabulary glossary you won’t feel left in the dark, in fact, you’ll be speaking the wedding lingo like a pro in no time!

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A

Aisle- located between two clusters of seating where the guests will sit during the wedding ceremony, the aisle is the walking space between for the bride, groom, wedding party, and family members that leads to the altar where the ceremony will take place

Aisle runner- a covering, usually cloth or paper, expanding down the length of the aisle. The aisle runner is typically a rug, smother of flower petals, or roll of paper.

Altar- a backdrop for a religious wedding ceremony, typically made of candles, murals, floral arrangements, and/or a podium 

Appliqué- a piece of ornate fabric, usually lace, sewn into another fabric to create texture and dimension 

Arbor- and arch typically made of a collection of sticks, serves as a space for couples to be married under during outdoor wedding ceremonies

B

Bachelor party- a gathering of the groom-to-be’s closest friends to celebrate their friendship and his upcoming marriage (also called a “Buck’s night”)

Bachelorette party- a gathering of the bride-to-be’s closest friends to celebrate their friendship and her upcoming marriage (also called a “Hen’s night”)

Best man- the groom’s right-hand person, typically their closest friend or family member. This person is asked to stand beside the groom in support on his wedding day and assist with any wedding needs both prior to and on the day of the wedding

Black tie- a dress code in which all of the men wear formal tuxedos and the ladies wear floor length gowns

Black tie optional- a dress code in which men have the option to wear formal tuxedos, but a nice business suit is also acceptable

Bridal bouquet- a collection of flowers tied together, usually with a ribbon, intended for the bride to hold as she walks down the aisle to the wedding ceremony. The flowers symbolize happiness and satisfaction in marriage; the ribbon symbolizes fellowship and strength through community

Bridal shower- a party thrown for a bride-to-be where the guests are expected to “shower” the bride-to-be with gifts

Bride- a woman (or person who identifies as such) who is getting married

Bridesmaid- a close friend or relative of the bride who offers support throughout the wedding planning process and on the wedding day

Bridesmaid bouquet- a collection of flowers tied together intended to be held throughout the wedding ceremony by a bridesmaid

Boutonniere- a flower or small collection of flowers that is pinned to a suit jacket lapel for special occasions (like weddings)

Bouquet- a collection of flowers tied together intended to be held by a bride and/or bridesmaids as a symbol of happiness and good luck for the marriage

Bouquet toss- a tradition that usually occurs during the wedding reception where the single ladies in attendance gather and the bride tosses the bouquet into the crowd. The person who catches the bouquet is said to be married next

Buck’s night- a gathering of the groom-to-be’s closest friends to celebrate their friendship and his upcoming marriage (also called a “bachelor party”)

Buffet- a variety of dishes displayed on tables that guests can create their own plates from. This is a more casual form of serving food

Bustle- the process of pinning or buttoning the train of the bride’s dress higher on her dress to increase her mobility and function

Buttercream- a cake frosting made of whipped butter and sugar. Though it is generally found to be more delicious than fondant, it is known to quickly melt in heat

C

Cake cutting- a tradition that typically occurs during the wedding reception where the bride and groom cut their wedding cake together and take turns feeding the cake to each other

Calligraphy- an artful type of script writing known to convey elegance, often used on wedding invitations

Casual dress- a dress code that allows guests to wear whatever they would like, though dresses and button down shirts are typically still expected

Caterer- a wedding vendor that provides food for the guests. This service can be hired independently or provided through the reception venue

Cathedral- a Christian place of worship that is the seat of a Bishop

Celebrant- a person who is legally authorized to perform, or officiate, a wedding ceremony (also called “officiant”)

Centerpiece- an object placed in the center of a table intended for decorative purposes

Ceremony rehearsal- a practice run of the wedding ceremony, typically held a day or two prior to the wedding, usually followed by a rehearsal dinner

Chapel- a space, other than a courtroom and usually other than a church, where wedding ceremonies regularly take place

Charger- a large, decorative plate that goes beneath a dinner plate

Chuppah- used for Jewish wedding ceremonies, this is a 4 post canopy with fabric draped or stretched around the outside, beneath which a couple is married

Cocktail attire- a dress code that balances between black tie optional and business attire. Men are expected to wear afternoon suits and women are expected to wear nice dresses that are less formal than evening gowns but more formal than sundresses, suits, or skirts with a blazer. 

Cocktail hour- an “hour” directly following the wedding ceremony where guests gather to mingle, eat appetizers, and enjoy alcoholic beverages. Typically during this time the bride, groom, wedding party, and immediate family take pictures

Corsage- a small bouquet of flowers that can be worn on the wrist like a bracelet or pinned to clothes, typically worn by the matriarchs of a family, though on rare occasions bridesmaids will wear them

Cummerbund- a wide waist sash worn with double-breasted tail coats or tuxedos

D

Day of coordinator- a person hired to make sure the wedding plans are carried out. They typically act as the liaison between the timeline, vendors, and wedding party to ensure everyone is in the correct place at the allotted time doing the planned event. They will manage the vendors, communicate with the wedding party, and oversee the evening.

Destination wedding- a wedding taking place at a location where the couple and/or majority of guests must make travel arrangements in order to attend

Dress code- a specification of attire that guests are asked to adhere to

E

Engagement- the relationship between two people who intend to be married. It is also known as the time between a marriage proposal and a wedding

Engagement party- a party held to celebrate a recent engagement. Also serves as an opportunity to introduce members of the merging families and other wedding guests

Engagement pictures- typically a professional photograph, or series of photographs, taken to use for wedding announcements, wedding websites, social media, and/or decorate the wedding reception

Engagement ring- a gift given by one spouse when asking if the other will marry them, it serves as a symbol that the person wearing the ring is to be married

Escort card- a small card that lists a guest's name and their table number for the wedding reception. These are usually placed on a table together where guests will find them before moving to their assigned table

F

Family style- a food serving style where large serving dishes of food are placed on each individual table. The guests are expected to serve themselves and pass the serving trays around the table

Father of the bride (FOB)- just as it sounds, this is the father of the bride. FOB is a typical abbreviation used by wedding vendors and will commonly appear on timelines or other documents created by wedding professionals

Father of the groom (FOG)- just as it sounds, this is the father of the groom. FOG is a typical abbreviation used by wedding vendors and will commonly appear on timelines or other documents created by wedding professionals

Father/daughter dance- a traditional dance between the bride and her father to a meaningful song. It is intended as a celebration of their relationship. Typically no other guests will be on the dance floor, though occasionally the pair will request for other father/daughter couples to join them on the dance floor halfway through the song (See “How to Create a Timeline” for suggestions on timing this event)

Favors- a small gift from the newly weds to the guests to show their appreciation for the guests’ attendance; souvenirs for guests to take as they depart from the wedding

Fiancé (or Fiancee)- a person who is engaged to be married

First dance- typically occurring at the beginning of the wedding reception, this is the first dance that the newly weds will share as a married couple. (See “How to Create a Timeline” for suggestions on timing this event)

Floral arrangement- a collection of flowers specifically and artfully pieced together (See “All Things Wedding Florist” for more information) 

Flower girl- a young girl who walks down the aisle before the bride, she will typically scatter flower petals as she walks

Fondant- a smooth cake icing that is rolled out over a cake to give it a smooth appearance

Formal attire- a dress code that is between cocktail attire and black-tie. Feminine attire includes a nice short or long dress made of higher end material, pantsuit, or skirt and blazer. Masculine attire includes a dark suit, tie or bowtie, and white shirt

G

Ganache- a combination of chocolate and heavy cream either used as icing or filling for a cake. They will also have additions like liqueur, vanilla, or fruit flavorings

Garlands- (1) also known as Mala in the Hindi language, used in Hindi weddings, flowers bunched together on a string and worn around the bride’s and groom’s neck (2) a lush leafy and/or flowery vine used as decor 

Garter- a piece of bridal lingerie worn around a bride’s upper thigh, under her wedding dress. Traditionally a groom will retrieve the garter and toss it into a crowd of single men (see “Garter Toss”)

Garter toss- after retrieving the garter, the groom will toss or sling-shot the garter into a group of single men that have gathered prior to the garter retrieval. The bachelor that catches the garter is said to be married next

Gift registry- a service provided by websites and/or retail stores for engaged couples to create lists of desired items they would like to receive as wedding gifts and communicate those wishes with their wedding guests

Gobo lighting- a light that shines through a projected image onto a solid surface such as a wall or floor. Typically for weddings couples will use a Gobo to project their monogrammed initials 

Golden hour- a time with optimum lighting for photographs that occurs twice a day, one during sunrise and once during sunset. Golden hour typically starts the first 30 minutes after sunrise, the final hour prior to true sunset, though most sunset photo shoots last about 30 minutes after sunset

Grand entrance- a presentation of the newly weds, often the bridal party is included and occasionally close family members are included. This typically occurs directly following cocktail hour and immediately preceding dinner

Grand exit- a formal send-off of the newly weds at the conclusion of the wedding reception. The grand entrance usually includes guests forming a tunnel of aisle for the newly weds to run through before getting into their exit vehicle

Groom- a man (or person who identifies as such) who is getting married

Grooms speech- the groom’s speech is usually made on behalf of himself and his new spouse to thank the guests for attending their wedding, acknowledge the continued support of friends and family, and appreciate his new spouse.

Groomsmen- an attendant to the groom that offers support throughout the wedding planning and wedding day; usually the groom’s closest friends and/or family members

Guest list- a list of individuals invited to a wedding. This list does not include anyone hired to work as a vendor on your wedding day (even if they are friends!)

H

Head table- a table at a wedding reception where the bride, groom, and their wedding party will sit to eat dinner. This table usually faces outwards towards the rest of the guests

Hen’s night- a gathering of the bride-to-be’s closest friends to celebrate their friendship and her upcoming marriage (also called a “bachelorette party”). Hen’s nights traditionally take place on the evening prior to the wedding, but with the rise in popularity of the bachelorette party, Hen’s nights have largely transitioned to earlier dates.

Honeymoon- a vacation taken by the bride and groom following their wedding 

Hosted bar- bar drinks available to guests prepaid for by the host(s) of a wedding

Hotel block- an agreement made between the host of a wedding and a hotel to guarantee a predetermined number of rooms at a predetermined rate are available to wedding guests

I

In house catering- catering services provided by a wedding reception venue

Installation- any display, decor, floral or otherwise, that has been placed specifically for a wedding

Invitation- a letter sent providing information and a request for attendance of the recipient to a wedding. The invitation should state the date of the event, address where the event is being held, time they should arrive, and any other pertinent information to your unique event (i.e. dress code, will food be served?, will there be dancing?, is there a wedding website where further information and/or a registry can be found, a map to find the specific location if venue is in a low internet-service area, etc.)

Invitation suite- all of the paper goods sent along with an invitation. This usually includes an RSVP card, meal card, directions to the wedding venue, and any other important information necessary to share with guests

J

Justice of the peace- a court judge with limited legal abilities, but whose abilities include performing marriage ceremonies

K

Ketubah- a Jewish marriage contract that outlines the responsibilities of the groom in relation to the bride

Kickback- an amount of money paid from one vendor to another for a client referral

L

Letterpress- a printing technique by which many copies are made by repeated direct impression of a raised inked surface against sheets or rolls of continuous paper

M

Maid of honor (MOH)- the bride’s right hand person, typically a close friend or family member who participates in the wedding ceremony processional, adjusts the bride’s dress once she arrives at the altar, holds the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony, and offers continued support throughout wedding planning and on the wedding day. The MAID of honor is an unmarried woman.

Master of Ceremonies (MC or Emcee)- A person who speaks through a microphone to provide information and entertainment to guests

Matron of honor- the bride’s right hand person, typically a close friend or family member who participates in the wedding ceremony processional, adjusts the bride’s dress once she arrives at the altar, holds the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony, and offers continued support throughout wedding planning and on the wedding day. The MATRON of honor is a married woman.

Meal card- a card included with the invitations where guests who plan to attend the wedding will specify what meal option they would like

Money dance- a dance where guests take turns offering the bride and groom money in exchange for a quick dance. The money offered is typically pinned to the bride and grooms clothing, though it is occasionally put into baskets, or someone, usually the bride’s mom or an aunt, will pin the money together to form crowns and/or capes for the bride and groom to wear

Mood board- a visual representation of the design vision and inspiration for a wedding. Also called an “inspiration board”

Mother of the bride (MOB)- just as it sounds, this is the mother of the bride. MOB is a typical abbreviation used by wedding vendors and will commonly appear on timelines or other documents created by wedding professionals

Mother of the groom (MOG)- just as it sounds, this is the mother of the groom. MOG is a typical abbreviation used by wedding vendors and will commonly appear on timelines or other documents created by wedding professionals

Mother/son dance- a traditional dance between the groom and his mother to a meaningful song. It is intended as a celebration of their relationship. Typically no other guests will be on the dance floor, though occasionally the pair will request for other mother/son couples to join them on the dance floor halfway through the song

N

Newlyweds- people who have just gotten married. The “newlywed” period begins immediately following the wedding ceremony and extends through the first year of marriage

O

Officiant- any person who performs the role of officiating a legal marriage ceremony (also called “Celebrant,” “Justice of the Peace,” or any religious leader) (See “All Things Wedding Officiant” for more details on this service, questions to ask a potential officiant, & how to proceed once a wedding officiant is booked)

Open bar- a bar serving alcoholic beverages paid for by the host(s) of the wedding

P

Palette- a collection of colors intended to be used in the wedding design (See “Design Building Guide” for more information and guidance on how to select the right color palette for you!)

Place cards- small pieces of paper listing a guests name, placed at their seat. Typically guests will find their name and designated table on a seating chart and upon arriving at their table will look for their place card to locate their exact seat. 

Plated dinner- dinner served to seated guests by wait staff. Typically their desired meal will have been specified on their meal card and communicated with the catering service staff prior to the wedding so no one will place orders directly on the wedding day

Place setting- a collection of plates, napkins, place cards, silverware, cups, and occasionally decorative touches at each guests seat

Plus one- an unspecified guest of a wedding guest. The “plus one” is up to the guest’s discretion. This is commonly allotted to guests who are single and/or may not be familiar with many other guests in attendance.

Photo booth- a vending machine or kiosk where guests can take pictures. The pictures are usually printed on strips for guests to take home or sent to them via text or email. Props are usually provided to encourage creativity 

Photographer- a professional hired to take pictures throughout the wedding day

Procession- a group of people formally walking down the aisle in a wedding ceremony, typically occurs after all of the guests are seated

Processional- the music played while a group of people (i.e. wedding party, parents or parental figures of the couple, etc.) walk down the aisle in a wedding ceremony

Q

Queen Anne neckline- a high collar in the back, with a dipped cut in the font usually in a V or U shape. Common wedding dress neckline.

R

Reception- a celebration following a marriage ceremony that typically includes food, drinks, and dancing or other entertainment.

Recessional- the part of a wedding ceremony where the wedding party exits the ceremony area

Rehearsal dinner- a dinner directly following the ceremony rehearsal, typically the guests include anyone who attended the ceremony rehearsal and their dates. This usually includes the wedding party and immediate family of bride(s) and/or groom(s)

Ring bearer- a young male child who participates in the wedding ceremony by bringing the rings to the altar

Ring box- a box containing the wedding rings and bands carried by the ring bearer

RSVP- an abbreviation of a french phrase “repondez s’il vous plait,” which in english means “please respond. When this is listed on an invitation it means the guests are expected to confirm or deny their attendance

RSVP card- a card included with the wedding invitation that guests can use to confirm or deny their attendance and mail back to the sender

S

Sample sale- an event where boutiques and wedding dress designers offer the dresses used in their showrooms for bride’s to try on designs or worn at fashion shows at deeply discounted rates

Save the date (STD)- an announcement sent to guests of the wedding date and city. This announcement is sent prior to the invitations. They are often sent once the date is solidified, but other important details are still unknown

Seating chart- a display listing table numbers or names and the guests assigned to each table

Semi-formal attire- a dress code requiring guests to wear something dressier than what they would wear to a business meeting, but less formal than a tuxedo or evening gown

Signature cocktail- a cocktail selected by the bride(s) and/or groom(s) for guests to drink. Often used when the reception bar is limited

Speeches- an address given by important family or friends of the bride(s) and/or groom(s) usually providing well wishes or fond memories with the couple (also called “Toasts”)

Suit- a formal three piece outfit composed of dress pants, formal jacket, and nice button up shirt. A suit is less formal than a tuxedo.

Sunset pictures- portraits taken of the bride(s) and/or groom(s) during sunset or “golden hour”

Sweetheart table- a special table for newlyweds to sit while eating dinner. This table is usually separated from the other guests, but allows guests a clear view of the couple and vice versa.

T

Table pictures- this is when the newlyweds walk around to the guest tables during dinner and take pictures with the entire table

Tablescape- a cohesive, intentional design of a table decor and place settings.

Toasts- an address given by important family or friends of the bride(s) and/or groom(s) usually providing well wishes or fond memories with the couple (also called “Speeches”)

Trial- a practice run of hair and makeup prior to the wedding day to ensure the hair and makeup teams are prepared with all materials to achieve the desired look, and to confirm the bride is happy with how her desired look translates to her personally

Train- the long back portion of a wedding dress that trails behind the wearer

Tray-passed appetizers- hors d'oeuvres served to guests by wait staff from trays as guests mingle

Trunk show- a special event in which a bridal salon features a particular designer's collection. The bride has a unique opportunity to view and try on wedding dresses straight off the runway before they are available in stores as well as styles from previous seasons

Tulle- a stiff, fine netting-like fabric often used for wedding dresses and veils 

Tuxedo- a formal three-five outfit composed of dress pants, matching formal dinner jacket, button up shirt, cummberbund, and tie. 

U

Usher- a designated person to escort guests to their seats prior to and during a wedding ceremony

V

Veil- a piece of fabric worn in the brides hair that compliments her dress

Vendor- a professional hired to take care of a specific aspect of the wedding event. Examples of vendors include caterers, wedding planners, rental companies, florists, etc.

Venue- a location that either or both the wedding ceremony and/or reception will take place

Venue walk through- a visit to your wedding venue to map out the day-of plan on site. Typically a venue representative, the couple, their planner, photographer, caterer, and rental company are in attendance.

Videographer- a wedding vendor hired to film the wedding (For more information on this service, the styles of videography, what is common in videography packages, questions to ask a videographer, and what to expect after booking a wedding videographer, check out our blog “All Things Wedding Videography”)

Vows- an exchange of promises between the bride(s) and/or groom(s) during the wedding ceremony 

Votives- small candles usually used to accent wedding decor. These candles are larger than tea candles, but smaller and shorter than candle sticks

W

Wedding band- (1) a ring exchanged during the ceremony symbolizing matrimony (2) a group of performers intended to provide musical entertainment during a wedding reception

Wedding ceremony- a legal and/or religious union of two or more people committing their lives

Wedding coordinator- a person hired to make sure the wedding plans are carried out. They typically will manage the vendors, communicate with the wedding party, and manage the timeline (see also “Day-of coordinator”) (For a complete description of this role, questions to ask potential coordinators, & what to expect after booking a wedding coordinator, visit “32 Questions to ask a Wedding Coordinator”)

Wedding dress- a dress worn by a bride at her wedding 

Wedding planner- a hired professional who plans and organizes weddings (For more information on the role of a wedding planner, questions to ask a wedding planner prior to booking, and what to expect after booking a wedding planner, check out our blog “Questions to ask a Wedding Planner”)

Wedding website- an online platform specific to a wedding where guests can find important information regarding that wedding

Welcome bag- a collection of useful items gifted to wedding guests upon their arrival to a hotel block. This bag usually includes items relevant to the couple, the wedding, and/or the city the guests are staying in

White glove service- a premium service that is expected to be carried out with the utmost attention to detail and care

Y

Yuchid- a Jewish tradition immediately following a wedding ceremony intended to seclude the bride and groom offering them a moment in private