Wedding Industry Glossary
Tell me if this sounds familiar, you are sitting down with vendors for consultations and words are being used that sound like an entirely different language. You consult a seamstress about alterations you need made, and she asks if you know how to bustle your gown, or what kind of neckline you have. How are you supposed to know? Building a timeline is impossible when you don’t know the purpose of a cocktail hour!
Aisle Runner - a long piece of fabric or tarp that is laid down along the aisle of a wedding ceremony for the bride to walk down.
Altar - By definition, flat-topped block used as the focus for a religious ritual, especially for making sacrifices or offerings to a deity. However in the wedding world, this typically represents the structure at the end of the aisle where the ceremony takes place. This may look like florals, an archway, or anything else your heart desires!
Applique - In reference to dress shopping, this is some sort of lace or fabric that is sewn onto the base fabric of the dress to add texture, layers, etc.
Black Tie - This dress code is the second most formal option there is, and it will always be indicated on the invite or details card, so there shouldn’t be any confusion. Floor length gowns are standard, but there is a little wiggle room here for a very elegant cocktail dress. A tuxedo is generally expected.
Black Tie Optional - This indicates that something slightly more casual than black tie is going to work just as well! Tuxedos are still appropriate but suits are welcomed as well. Long dresses, short dresses, pantsuits, all are acceptable.
Boutonniere - spray of flowers worn in a buttonhole, or pinned to a lapel.
Bridals -
A bridal portrait session usually takes place before the wedding day. It is referred to like the photo session and focuses only on taking pictures of the bride.
Bustle - The pick-up point where a bridal gown is adjusted to keep its train from dragging on the floor while dancing is known as the bustle. The actual task of draping the gown is known as ‘bustling’ the gown. There are two main types of bustles: a Fresh Bustle, and an Over Bustle. Make sure to see which kind your dress has!
Calligraphy - Decorative handwriting or handwritten lettering.
Cascade Bouquet - an arrangement of flowers that literally cascades from the bride's hands, creating a natural, trailing effect.
Casual Attire - This is likely an outdoor, ranch, or barn style wedding meaning a little more laid-back or rustic feel. Unless otherwise mentioned, jeans, shorts, sleeveless tops and t-shirts are not acceptable, nor are track shoes or flip flops. Dress pants and khakis with a polo, button up or other collared shirt. Sundresses are more than acceptable with wedges or dressy sandals.
Cathedral Length Veil- A cathedral veil is the most dramatic of veils, fit for our most glamorous and romantic brides. Sweeping the floor as you walk down the aisle and fanning out beyond the gown’s train, a cathedral length veil makes for a grand entrance. Also known as a chapel veil, they can come as simple or as embellished as you want them. Long wedding veils of just simple, chic tulle give a seamless look.
Celebrant -
a person who performs and officiates formal ceremonies, and whilst commonly seen at weddings they can also conduct other services like renewals, baby naming and funeral rites.
Centerpiece - decorative piece or display placed in the middle of a dining or serving table, and item intended to be a focus of attention
Charger - a large, decorative base setting on top of which other dinnerware is placed during formal occasions such as catered events, weddings, upscale parties, banquets, or in fine dining restaurants. Charger plates are merely decorative and are not meant to come in direct contact with food. Charger plates provide an elegant way to serve multiple course meals, where each course is served in a separate bowl or plate and placed on top of the charger.
Cocktail Attire - a bit above Semi-formal, and one of the more common dress codes for weddings. It is a good place between formal and casual and fairly accessible to your guests. Opt for a tea-length, knee-length, or midi dress. A suit is required but something solid colored and not too flashy so as to not overpower the wedding party.
Cocktail Hour - Cocktail hour is the period of time between the ceremony and dinner. It is the beginning of the reception portion of the wedding. The newlyweds are often taking theirportraits during this time where guests snack and enjoy the bar.
Corsage - a small bundle of flowers traditionally worn by the bridal party.They can be pinned to a dress or tied around the wrist, and are usually larger than men’s boutonnières. Corsages are often worn by the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom, as well as sisters, bridesmaids and flower girls. However, there’s no strict rule about who wedding corsages apply to.
Corkage Fee - a charge deemed necessary by a catering or bartending company that will take the lead to open and serve bottles of wine. The fee essentially covers the cost for the team to chill (if needed), uncork, pour, and serve glasses to wedding guests in stemware rented by the catering company.
Concept Style/Theme Attire - This could look like a 20’s theme, hollywood glam, etc. Another popular choice is the all-one-color that clients use to get their desired aesthetic, commonly used to encourage guests to wear all white. Picture Bella’s Nightmare Wedding Scene in Breaking Dawn Part 1.
Day of Coordinator - Put simply: They’re the on-site authority making sure that everything goes off without a hitch.
Destination Wedding - A destination wedding is something you may consider if you'd like to tie the knot someplace memorable. Destination weddings are ceremonies that are hosted away from the couple's hometown and usually require travel for the wedding party and guests.
Details Shots -
Wedding detail shots showcase the color and aesthetics of the wedding that you've so carefully planned. Styled flatlay images with your invitation suite and wedding rings, photos of your wedding dress carefully hung in the bridal suite, wedding bands in antique ring boxes, the bride’s jewelry nestled in the wedding bouquet, the groom’s accessories lying next to a handwritten note, etc.
Dress Code - have your guests wear what you and your spouse would wear to someone else's wedding to match your aesthetic
Dressy Attire - see Semi Formal
Elopement - run away secretly in order to get married, especially without parental consent.
Engagement photos - when a professional photographer takes pictures of you and your fiancé in a casual setting, to capture your love and happiness genuinely. Your engagement is a wonderful time in both of your lives, and a photo shoot is a great way to commemorate that.
Escort card - Escort cards are the more informal sibling of place cards, and direct guests to a table rather than a seat. Once guests get to their table, if there are no place cards, they're free to choose their own seats.
Escort card display - the stand that typically groups all escort cards for guests to find.
Favor - small gifts given as a gesture of appreciation or gratitude to guests from the bride and groom during a wedding ceremony or a wedding reception.
Festive Attire - Guests are given the opportunity to be playful with their look. This is a very new attire as weddings take on a non-traditional style. Picture this: Cocktail attire plus bold accessories. Fun colors, playful jewelry and hair pieces, loud patterns, chunky heels or boots. Suits are acceptable, or a heavily patterned dress shirt with clashing tie.
First look - when a couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day. This intimate moment typically makes for an emotional photo opportunity. This is typically opted in to be able to take in the moment in a more intentional way, but also to cut down the time the newlyweds are taking portraits together post-cereony.
First Touch - when you steal a few moments to yourselves before the ceremony but the groom doesn't actually see you. Sometimes the couple will simply stand on opposite sides of a door, hold hands and bask in the moment.
Flatlay -
An artful arrangement of small tokens of the wedding day, photographed from above. This typically includes but is not limited to: All wedding and engagement rings, a complete invitation suite, Flowers, Bride’s wedding shoes, Veil, Ring boxes, Accessories from the couple — jewelry, cufflinks, tie, Personal family heirlooms, Handwritten notes, the vows, etc.
Flip (room flip/flip space) describing when a room is completely transformed between stages of an event, such as from a wedding ceremony to a dinner reception. Flips require planning and teamwork to ensure the event flows smoothly.
Gobo lighting - A “Gobo” is a small stencilled circular disc, and used in lighting fixtures to create a projected image or pattern, often the monogram of the couple.
Golden hour - short window of pretty light occurs about one hour before the sunset (depending on the venue). Whether you are planning on doing a First Look, or all your photos after the ceremony, this is a time that you don't want to miss on your wedding day.
Grand Exit - The main idea is for wedding guests to gather as the bride and groom leave the party in a special or symbolic way. a magical moment at the end of the wedding reception where the couple says goodbye to guests and hello to their new life together.
In house catering - your venue provides your catering service with its own chef and staff.
Hardstop - The time at which your wedding festivities have to be completed by and guests need to be off the property.
Hashtag - Your wedding hashtag is an efficient way to keep track of all the photos that your bridal party and guests take along the journey. A great way to remember these social media photos is in a custom wedding album, you can include the captions and comments that your loved ones wrote and keep them in one convenient place
Head table - a larger table that includes the bride and groom, their wedding party, and/or immediate family members.
Installation - Define space and add color, texture and fragrance to your entire reception scene
Intimate Wedding - (this is up for debate, y’all) Myself and the vendors around us typically define intimate weddings as less than about 75 guests
Invitation suite - consists of all paper goods sent along with the wedding invitation. It should always include a response card, as well as important information like directions and accommodations. Traditional elements include the Invitation, a Response Card and Envelope, the Mailing Envelope and Postage. Optional elements include an inner envelope, Reception Card, Directions, Weekend Events Card, Accommodations Card, and Invitation Wrapper.
Kickback - Vendor receives an amount of money over and above the original cost of the sale. For example. If the contract is for $5000 worth of flowers and vendor receives a 10% kickback, then the florist still receives $5000, vendor receives $500, and the client pays $5500.
Letterpress - beautiful old-world style of printing where plates are used to create an imprint on each individual piece of paper.
MC/Master of Ceremonies/Toast Master - The Wedding MC is the host of the wedding reception. The Wedding Emcee is there to make sure the newlyweds are the stars of the show and that they are taken care of throughout, whilst also making sure the wedding party, immediate family, and guests are all having the time of their lives.
Maid of Honor - unmarried woman acting as principal bridesmaid at a wedding
Matron of honor - a married woman acting as principal bridesmaid at a wedding
Microwedding - (this is up for debate, y’all) Myself and the vendors around us typically define INtimate weddings as less than about 25 guests
Mood Board - a carefully curated collection of photos that convey the look, essence, and feeling you are hoping to create through your wedding design.
Naked Cake -
a layer cake that is decorated with little to no frosting on it’s sides
Nearlywed - Divorced From Tradition’s favorite way to talk about our engaged clients! It is a fun way to keep gender, sexual orientation, and relationship styles out of wedding language.
Nosegay - a round, tight bunch of flowers as opposed to a cascading bouquet or other type of arrangement.
Open Bar - a bar (as at a wedding reception) at which drinks are served free
Out of town Guest - those that would need overnight accommodations if they visit.
Page Boy - Traditionally page boys are in charge of carrying the brides train down the aisle, but nowadays this role has transformed into ring-bearers
Palette - Inspired by your personal preferences and your event's seasonality and location, the wedding color palette you settle on will help drive the visual components of your day and ensure everything looks on-theme and cohesive—which is why selecting your colors should be one of the first décor-related decisions you make.
Place Card - piece of stationery that usually goes on your reception tables to let guests know where they're sitting. Typically, there's one place card at every seat at your reception with a guest's name and their table number.
Place Setting - Any form of the following being stacked to create a welcoming table environment. Charger, Dinner plate, salad plate, bread plate, flatware, water glass, wine glass, champagne flute, menu, place card, and any decorative pieces (single flower, decorative napkin, etc)
Plus one - grants an invited guest permission to bring someone with them to an event.
Prelude - background music played from the time wedding guests begin arriving to the wedding ceremony until the wedding party is ready to begin the procession
Processional - the group of people walking down the aisle in a specific order to mark the beginning of a wedding ceremony. The processional often includes a permutation of the officiant, the wedding party, flower girls, ring bearers, and the nearlyweds and their parents.
Program - a document that gives guests information to guide them through the wedding ceremony. It traditionally outlines the proceedings and includes the names of everyone participating in the ceremony.
Queen Anne Neckline - features a high collar at the back of the neck and a v-neck or similar plunging style in the front. The straps originate from the outer edges of the chest and widen towards the neck. The back of the dress often features a cut-out or button-down, but can also include sheer materials or appliqués.
Recessional - the order in which the newlywed couple and wedding party exit the ceremony. Just like the processional, there's a specific order to follow based on the couple's preference - usually with the newlyweds first!
Registry - A bridal registry or wedding registry is a service provided by a website or retail store that assists engaged couples in the communication of gift preferences to wedding guests. Selecting items from store stock, the couple lists desired items and files this list with the chosen merchant.
Rehearsal Dinner - dinner for the participants in a wedding ceremony and the families of the couple who are getting married, typically held after a rehearsal of the ceremony on the night before the wedding itself.
Room Block - a group of guest rooms that a resort puts on hold at a specific “negotiated” rate for a group of people. A room block typically needs to have 10 or more rooms to qualify for the potential for special rates or concessions.
RSVP - please reply — used on invitations to ask the invited guests to indicate whether they will be able to attend. RSVP comes from the French phrase “répondez s'il vous plaît.” and typically the guests will also respond with what choice of meal they want, if they get a choice.
Runsheet - documented timeline which specifies the running order of events throughout your wedding. The run sheet should be treated like gospel!
Sample Sale - when a wedding dress boutique sells on the sample dresses that they use in their showroom, usually at a hefty discount. It doesn't necessarily mean that only dresses in small sizes are available, known in the industry as "sample sizes", as most boutiques buy samples in a range of sizes.
Save the Date - a card that's mailed before the wedding invitation. It announces the wedding date and location and lets the recipient know they will be invited to the wedding. Basically, the purpose of the save the date is to get guests to mark their calendars and get excited about the wedding to come.
Semi-Naked Cake -
There's a minimal amount of frosting swiped around the sides. So in other words, a semi-naked cake is a crumb-coated cake.
Send Off - see: Grand Exit
Shotlist - You give your wedding photo checklist to your photographer, so they know exactly what you're hoping to see in your wedding photographs.
Signature Cocktail - a mixed drink that is served as a special at your bar to show off your personalities and the theme of your event.
Sweetheart Neckline - Shaped like the top half of a heart, the sweetheart neckline has long been one of the most popular styles.
Sweetheart Table - a much smaller table wherein the bride and groom sit by themselves at their own table during the reception.
Tablescape - includes your table numbers, name cards and centerpieces.
Train - an extra length of fabric that extends from the back of your wedding dress and trails behind you as you walk
Trial (Hair & Make Up) - An appointment where you will visit your HAMU Artists to have a sort of dress rehearsal for your services before the big day. Some nearlyweds opt into doing their trials on the same day as their Bridals.
Trunk Show - hen a bridal salon has a more complete or full range of gown samples on hand from a specific bridal designer. Styles can often be purchased at a discount if they are purchased during a trunk show.
Usher - primarily responsible for directing and seating guests at a wedding ceremony. With less responsibility than a groomsman or bridesmaid, the usher is often (but not always) younger than the rest of the wedding party.
Vellum -
a smooth, translucent paper that comes in different weights from thin and delicate to sturdy. Vellum wedding invitations are a sleek, modern, and versatile option.
Vendor Meal - food that is paid for by the couple so the professionals who are working with you throughout the whole day are fed. Usually the vendor will have in their contract if you are expected to feed them. If not, a good rule of thumb is that you should feed a dinner to anyone working your event for more than 5 hours.
Walkthrough - The first happens when you initially decide to tour — or “walk through” — a venue that you’re thinking of booking for your ceremony and/or reception. The second happens closer to your wedding (usually 10 to 14 days before your wedding date). This “final” walkthrough is to confirm all venue-related details with your ceremony and/or reception venue.
Website - Personal Wedding Websites are websites that engaged couples use to aid in planning and communication for their wedding. The websites are used to communicate with guests of their wedding and inform them of location, date, time, and a gift registry.
Wedding Management - any kind of wedding planner, day of coordinator, etc.
Welcome Bag - essentially goodie bags for your guests that are mostly aimed at your out-of-town visitors. Wedding welcome bags commonly include little gifts, treats, and pointers to nearby restaurants, attractions, amenities, and last (but by no means least!), details about the wedding day itself
White Tie Attire - The most formal wedding attire there is! Formal floor length evening gowns, tuxedos WITH tails, formal footwear or oxfords, white vest, etc.