Embark on your journey of planning a wedding with a guide to essential wedding terms that will boost your confidence during discussions and meetings.
Key Wedding Terms:
- Bride: The woman who is getting married.
- Groom: The man who is getting married.
- Wedding ceremony: The formal event where the couple gets married.
- Reception: A party held after the wedding ceremony where guests celebrate the newlyweds.
- Wedding planner: A professional who helps plan and organize weddings.
- Bridesmaids: Close female friends or relatives who assist the bride during the wedding planning process.
- Groomsmen: Close male friends or relatives who assist the groom during the wedding planning process.
- Florist: A person or business that creates and arranges wedding floral arrangements.
- Caterer: A person or business that provides food and beverages for the wedding reception.
- Photographer: A professional who takes photos of the wedding ceremony and reception.
Understanding these key wedding terms will help you navigate the planning process smoothly and confidently.
Engagement
Engagement Photos capture your love story and help create a connection with your photographer.
Beau is the term for the individual you’re engaged to, whether male or female.
Belle is the lady you’re engaged to be married to.
Reminder: In American English, these terms do not have gender-related endings.
Wedding Hashtag enables guests to follow updates and share photos on social media.
Wedding Registry is where you can list your gift preferences for guests to choose from.
Wedding Website serves as a platform to share details about your wedding and registry.
Engagement Party is a celebration held to announce and celebrate your engagement with family and friends.
Save the Date cards are sent out to inform guests of the date and location of your upcoming wedding.
Wedding Planning involves organizing all aspects of your wedding, from venue and vendors to decorations and catering.
Planning
Mood & Style
Vision Board visually conveys the inspiration for your wedding.
Color Scheme refers to the specific colors you intend to use for your wedding.
Logistics & Coordination
Timeline outlines the crucial steps in planning your wedding or on the actual day.
Photo Checklist comprises the must-have photos you desire for your wedding album.
Comprehensive Planning involves overseeing every facet of wedding planning and coordination on the day.
Partial Planning offers coordination services for the month leading up to the wedding and additional planning assistance.
Wedding Planner maintains communication with vendors and acts as a go-between.
Inclement Weather Plan is a backup strategy for unfavorable weather conditions.
Room Transition involves changing the setup of a room between different stages of the wedding.
Site Visit is an appointment to inspect potential wedding venues.
Location Manager oversees the services at the venue for the occasion.
Vendor Meal provides food for vendors working at the event.
Additional Services denotes extra offerings by vendors.
Magic Hour is the perfect time for capturing wedding photos in ideal lighting.
Cut-Off Time is when the wedding celebrations must draw to a close.
Wedding Styles
Destination Wedding takes place in a location different from where the couple resides.
Elopement typically involves a small, intimate wedding.
Small Wedding has less than 75 guests in attendance.
Intimate Affair has fewer than 50 guests and may combine elements of an elopement with a reception.
Dress Codes & Fashion
Formal Dress Code for evening gatherings where black tie attire is required.
Black Tie Optional offers guests the choice of formal or semi-formal attire.
Wedding Attire
Formal Suit is an elegant coat typically worn by men at formal events.
Vest is a garment worn over a shirt and under a jacket.
Cummerbund is a sash worn around the waist instead of a vest.
Cufflinks fasten the cuffs of a shirt together.
Embroidery includes decorative stitching commonly found on wedding gowns.
Ribbon is a ribbed material often used in wedding accessories.
Bridal Veil comes in a variety of styles and fabrics to complement the wedding attire.
Silhouette Style refers to the different shapes of wedding dress designs.
Godets are triangular fabric inserts in dresses for a flared effect.
Wedding Party
Celebrant or Officiant leads the wedding ceremony.
Best Man supports the groom throughout the wedding process.
Groomsman assists the groom on the wedding day.
Ring Bearer traditionally carried the rings but now may be a role fulfilled by pets or relatives.
Maid of Honor is the chief bridesmaid who assists the bride.
Matron of Honor is a married woman who serves as the primary bridesmaid.
Bridesmaid is a close friend or family member of the bride who supports her during the wedding.
Flower Girl is an individual (often a young girl) who scatters flower petals or participates in the ceremony in other ways.
Wedding Party comprises the designated individuals, such as the best man, bridesmaids, etc., with roles in the wedding.
Usher is responsible for seating guests and providing directions during the wedding.
Guests
Guest List outlines the individuals invited to the wedding.
Seating Arrangement organizes where guests will sit during the reception.
Plus One allows guests to bring a companion to the wedding.
Welcome Package consists of gifts handed to out-of-town guests upon their arrival at the accommodation.
Accommodation Block reserves rooms at a hotel for wedding guests.
Details
Save-The-Date cards are sent in advance of the official invitations to secure the date on guests’ calendars.
Invitation Suite encompasses various elements like response cards and information inserts for the formal invitation.
Wedding Stationery includes custom stationery pieces such as thank you cards and other printed materials related to the wedding.
Pressing is a traditional printing technique that creates a raised impression on the paper.
Translucent Paper known as vellum, used in elegant wedding invitations for a sophisticated look.
Place Card specifies the guest’s table and assigned seat at formal events.
Program details the sequence of events and individuals involved in the wedding.
Flowers
Boutonniere is a floral accessory worn on the lapel, especially by men.
Corsage is a small arrangement of flowers worn by women on the dress or wrist.
Bridal Bouquet is a floral arrangement carried by the bride.
Nosegay is a small posy of fragrant flowers.
Floral Garland is a band or chain of flowers, often used as a decorative element.
Pomander is a decorative ball of flowers used in wedding decor.
Flower Wall is a display of flowers covering a wall or forming a decorative backdrop.
Buttercream is a popular frosting choice for wedding cakes.
Fondant is a cake decorating material known for its smooth finish.
Ganache is a chocolate and cream mixture used for cake icing or filling.
Royal Icing is a decorative medium used for piping and intricate designs on cakes.
Naked Cake is a cake style with minimal frosting to display the inner layers and fillings.
Cutting Cake is a cake specifically for the ceremonial cutting during the reception.
Sheet Cake is a cost-effective option for serving a larger number of guests than the main wedding cake.
Decor
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Table Centerpiece enhances the decor of the reception tables.
Table Decor is the artistic arrangement of elements on the dining table.
Charger Plate is a decorative base for dinnerware settings.
Place Setting includes the dishes and cutlery arrangement for each guest at the table.
Candelabra is a large candle holder usually placed on tables or at the altar.
Taper Candle is a narrow candle designed for standard candle holders.
Tealight Candle offers a small and inexpensive lighting option for table settings.
Gobo Lighting provides personalized lighting effects using stenciled discs.
PARTIES, SHOWERS & EVENTS
Engagement Celebration is a party thrown in honor of the engaged couple.
Bachelor and Bachelorette Events are gatherings for the groom and bride separately with their respective wedding party or friends.
Rehearsal Dinner is a pre-wedding meal hosted for the wedding party and close family or friends.
GETTING READY
Private Moment for the couple before the official ceremony is known as the First Glance.
First Touch is a private moment shared by the couple without seeing each other.
First Glance: This is the moment when the couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day. It is a special and intimate moment that often allows for genuine emotions to come forth before the whirlwind of the day begins.
First Touch: A moment where the couple shares a physical connection, such as holding hands or a hug, without actually seeing each other. This can be a calming and reassuring moment before the ceremony, adding to the anticipation and excitement of the day.
THE CEREMONY
Prelude is the musical accompaniment played while guests are seated for the ceremony, reflecting the couple’s preferences.
Wedding Procession includes the entrance of the wedding party, officiant, family members, bridesmaids, flower girl, ring bearer, bride, and groom.
Vows are the promises exchanged by partners during the ceremony, which can be personalized or follow traditional formats based on culture and beliefs.
Exit Procession is when the wedding party leaves following the ceremony.
THE CELEBRATION
Food and Drink
Cocktail Hour is the time between the ceremony and reception for guests to socialize, enjoy drinks, and hors d’oeuvres.
Corkage Charge is a fee per bottle when bringing your own wine or alcohol to the event.
Open Bar offers drinks paid for by the host throughout the event.
Signature Drink representing the couple is a special cocktail served as a unique treat for guests, often inspired by their love story or family history.
Feasting Style catering focuses on self-service with a presentation that emphasizes beauty and delicious flavors.
Sit-Down Dinner is a predetermined meal served to guests by waitstaff.
Appetizer is a small savory dish often served with drinks at the event.
Crudités features raw vegetables with accompanying dips, traditionally served as French appetizers.
Reception Details
Grand Entrance marks the introduction of the newlyweds at the wedding reception.
Principal Table refers to the main table where the wedding party is seated during the reception, sometimes accompanied by a private Sweetheart Table exclusively for the newlyweds.
An Official Exit known as the Send-Off concludes the reception, as guests bid farewell to the couple with bubbles, streamers, flowers, flags, or even fireworks.
WEDDING PLANNING TERMINOLOGY
Essential wedding planning terms to be familiar with.
Here are some tips for delving deeper into the subject:
- Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Communicate clearly with your vendors to avoid confusion.
- Conduct thorough research. Stay up-to-date with useful guides and resources.
- Avoid making assumptions. Double-check details with vendors to prevent any misunderstandings.
HAPPY WEDDING PLANNING
Now that you have a grasp of wedding terminology, it’s time to put it into practice!
If you’re still on the lookout for local wedding vendors, we can assist in streamlining your search for photographers, planners, calligraphers, and more.