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Weddings have their own lingo. Learning the vernacular makes it easier for you to plan your dream celebration. In case you come across a term you’ve never heard before, here is our handy glossary of wedding terms.
A B C D E F G H I J L M N P R S T W
A
Altar: The altar is where the rituals and vows of the wedding are held.
Applique: Appliques are small decorative pieces of lace, bead and sequin work attached to wedding attire.
B
Black Tie: Black Tie is a dress code requiring formal attire.
Black Tie Optional: Black Tie Optional is a dress code where guests can choose to attend in formal attire.
Bridal Dresser: A bridal dresser is a professional that helps the wedding party get dressed for the wedding.
Bustle: A bustle is a padded undergarment used to add fullness to the back.
C
Canape: A canape is a small pastry with a savory topping served as an appetizer.
Change-the-Date: A change-the-date is a notice that you have changed the date and time of your wedding.
Charger: A charger is a decorative base setting on top of which other dinnerware is placed at a wedding.
Cocktail Attire: Cocktail Attire is a dress code that is slightly fancier than semi-formal.
Cocktail Hour: A Cocktail Hour is the time period between the wedding ceremony and dinner when cocktails are usually served.
Color Palette: A color palette is the collective colors you choose for your wedding.
D
Day-Of Coordinator: A day-of-coordinator is a professional that makes sure the wedding day is executed perfectly.
Destination Wedding: A destination wedding is a wedding ceremony that takes place outside of the couple’s hometown.
E
Elopement: An elopement is when a marriage is conducted in a sudden or secretive manner.
Escort Card: Similar to a place car, escort cards are a placeholder so guests can reserve their seats.
Event Designer: Event designers oversee the planning, design and decoration of an event.
F
First Look: A one-on-one photography session between the couple where they see each other for the first time before the wedding ceremony.
Flower Wall: Flower walls are large decorative walls covered in flowers.
Force Majeure: Force Majeure is a provision in a contract in the event that an extraordinary event, like a major storm, prevents one or both parties from meeting the obligations of the contract.
G
Golden Hour: The golden hour is the period right before the sunset that creates the perfect natural warm light for photography.
Grand Exit: A grand exit is the couple’s goodbye at the end of the wedding festivities.
H
Hosting a Wedding: Traditionally, “hosting a wedding” was a polite way of saying “paid for the wedding.” Now it means greeting guests and guiding them through the events and activities of a wedding.
I
Invitation Suite: An invitation suite is all the parts of a wedding invitation including the invite, RSVP card and save the date.
J
Joint Bach Party: A joint bach party is when the to-be-weds celebrate together instead of separately.
L
Latermoon: A latermoon is a delayed honeymoon.
Letterpress: Letterpress is a type of formal, artistic printing used for wedding invitations.
M
Micro Wedding: A micro wedding is a small wedding with up to 20 guests
Minimony: A minimony is a small, intimate wedding.
Minimoon: A minimoon is a brief honeymoon spent together.
Mood Board: A mood board is a visual tool that shows the wedding’s design concepts and ideas.
N
Nanomoon: A nanomoon is an extremely short honeymoon.
Nosegay: A nosegay is a small, fragrant bouquet of flowers.
P
Processional: The processional is the start of the wedding ceremony when the wedding party walks down the aisle.
R
Rain Plan: A rain plan is a backup plan for an outdoor event in case of rain.
Real Wedding: A real wedding is when couples get married in a legally binding ceremony.
Receiving Line: A receiving line is where the couple greets all the guests that came to the wedding.
Recessional: A recessional is the music played at the end of the wedding ceremony.
Rehearsal Dinner: A rehearsal dinner is a dinner held for the wedding party and guests the night before the ceremony.
RSVP: An RSVP is both the request to respond to an invitation and the response to an invitation about whether the guest will be in attendance or not.
S
Sample Sale: A sample sale is a sale where retailers get rid of overstock and floor models.
Signature Cocktail: A signature cocktail is a unique cocktail made to reflect the qualities of the person creating it.
Save the Date: A Save the Date is a notice to block a certain time on the calendar for your wedding.
Sweetheart Table: A sweetheart table is a smaller table that only seats the newlyweds.
T
Tablescape: A tablescape is the creative decor on a tabletop.
Trunk Show: A trunk show is when a retailer has a full line of samples from a specific wedding attire designer.
W
Walk-Through: A walk-through is the final walk-through of the wedding plan to iron out any last-minute details.
Welcome Bag: A welcome bag is a bag of gifts to thank people for attending your wedding.
Wedding Planner: A wedding planner is a professional that assists you with the design, planning and management of your wedding.
Wedding Website: A wedding website is a website that contains all the important information about your wedding for your family and friends.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by wedding planning? Make it easier by contacting us. When you work with us, you’ll be speaking “wedding” in no time!
McKenzi Taylor is America’s go-to elopement and micro wedding expert, often featured in small and major media outlets, such as the New York Times. With over 15 years of wedding photography experience, it was after planning her own Las Vegas elopement in 2016 that McKenzi felt her purpose shift into elopement coordination. She started Cactus Collective Weddings soon after in 2017. Since then, she’s become a WIPA board member, and has helped well over 1000 couples get hitched in style around Las Vegas, San Diego and Black Hills.
