Wedding Terminology - What Does it All Mean?

Weddings can be incredibly stressful to begin with, then you throw wedding terminology into the mix, just another thing on the list that can make it so confusing. You could be talking with a wedding vendor and they keep bringing up a term that you have no idea about, but you just keep nodding your head as if you understand. In the end you walk away confused and frustrated because you have no clue what the term even means!

Well no more! Here is a long list of wedding terms you may or may not have heard of.

Ceremony

Altar

The Altar is typically a table/structure at the front of a place of worship. But in the wedding world the altar is the space in which you plan to get married and exchange your vows. Whether that is in a place of worship, a barn, a field, or on top of a mountain.

Procession

The part of the ceremony where each member of the bridal party walk down the aisle, ending with the bride.

Processional

The musical that will be played while the bridal party walks down the aisle. Sometimes one long song for everyone and sometimes the bride has her own special music when she walks.

Recessional

The musical played as the couple walks down the aisle as married followed by their bridal party. A perfect time for beautiful photos of the couples excitement!

Vows

The wedding terminology refers to the promises made by the couple during the ceremony about their marriage. These vows can be traditional vows and reading or they can be vows written by them.

Bridal Party & Other Important People

Best Man

The guy that is usually trusted with holding on to the rings if their is no ring bearer. He stands beside the groom and is usually the one of the most important people in your life.

Celebrant/Officiant/Justice of the Peace

These are all terms for different types of people who can pronounce you married. A Celebrant is anyone who can legally marry to people. An Officiant is typically a priest or minister who performs a religious wedding ceremony. A Justice of the Peace is a a judicial official who can perform marriages at a court house.

Flower Girl

Usually a young girl who is a relative. They walk either just a head of the maid of honour or before the bride and scatters petals along the aisle.

Maid/Matron of Honour

Your number one girl who will help you out with your wedding plans and is typically one of the most important people in your life. She stands next to the bride during the ceremony. The wedding terminology varies depending on if she is married or unmarried. Is she is unmarried she is referred to as the maid of honour. If she is married she is the matron of honour.

Ring Bearer

Usually a young boy who carries a pillow with the rings on it down the aisle. Now adays this role is either filled by a young relative, the couples pets or the best man if they have neither of these.

Usher

Normally a man/relative who hands out wedding programs and escorts guests to their seats at the ceremony

Wedding Attire

Bustle

Terminology used to describe loops, buttons, ribbon or hooks used to pull up and tuck the train of a dress out of the way so the bride can dance and walk without tripping on her dress or worrying about it getting dirty dragging across a floor.

Cummerbund

A large “sash” worn around the waist of a man. It is worn underneath his jacket but over top of both his shirt and pants.

Lapel

The collar of a suit jacket, which vary in style. Notched lapels are the most typical and least formal now adays. They have small notch that goes inward close to the top of the jacket. Peaked lapels are considered the more formal and point up towards the head instead of going in. And a Shawl lapel has no edge and is smooth all the way around the collar, this is the most formal of all the lapels.

Train

The long portion of the back of the dress. This is can anywhere from a few inches to a few feet long and gives all of your guests something beautiful to look at as you walk down the aisle.

Veil

A piece of cloth worn by the bride to cover her head. Comes in a wide variety of styles, lengths and patterns. It is the oldest part of a brides attire and symbolized a modest and untouched maiden. Or when arranged marriages were popular it was to hide her face from the groom until they kissed. Now it is a romantic tradition mostly used as an accessory.

Reception

Buffet

A style of catering that allows guests to pick and choose from several options of food while filing down a line at a given spot in the room.

Canape

Usually a puff pastry or a cracker topped with some sort of savory food. No a days this refers to any finger food / hors d’oeuvres you serve during cocktail hour.

Centerpiece

Usually an arrangement of flowers placed in the middle of each table at the reception. Can also be or include candles, lanterns, signs or other fun items that help portray the couple and their wedding theme.

Charger

The bottom plate of a place setting, used in place of a placemat and not for food. This extra décor makes the setting look more interesting and elaborate.

Cocktail Hour

A period in the wedding day schedule in between the ceremony and the reception when guests can enjoy various drinks of the couples choosing and light appetizers. Typically used as a time where your guests can still be taken care of but the couple does not need to be present for, allowing them to go take some time to themselves or take photos.

Escort Cards

Displayed at the entrance of the reception. These pieces of paper direct each guests to what table they are to be seated at by having their name and the table number written on them.

Golden Hour

A term used by photographers to describe the time just before sunset, which is a beautiful time for photos.

Head Table

Same concept as the sweetheart but also includes your bridal party as the front and main focus of the reception. Both the sweetheart and the head table typically have more elaborate decorations then all the other tables for optimal pictures.

In-House Catering

Meaning all food and beverage is handle by the staff at the venue and typically means no outside caters allowed, something to ask when taking a look. They do have the advantage of knowing the space and having everything they need on hand.

Pipe and Drape Or PD

Refers to metals stands setup to hold drapery to create backdrops or walls to make separate spaces.

Place Card

This wedding terminology is usually used along side a seating chart. A place card it placed at each table designating who is to sit in each spot.

Ruched

This wedding term refers to the gathering of fabric in a repeated pattern to create a pleat or ruffle and is often referred to when talking about chair covers.

Sweetheart Table

A smaller table for the couple to sit at alone. This table is place at the front of the venue and is the center of attention.

Seating Chart

A large display at the entrance of the reception to help guide guests to their designated table. Can be anything from a mirror with writing on it to a vintage bottle display with writing.

Florals

Bouquet

A bunch of flowers arranged and tied together. Typically the bride and her bridesmaids each have their own bouquet that they hold while at the ceremony and taking pictures.

Boutonnière

Either one flower or a tiny arrangement typically worn by men pinned to their jacket lapel (by their heart). You can also get a fabric version which last forever and is typically cheaper than the real thing.

Installation

Whether it is a floral chandelier, a floral wall or a large arrangement somewhere in the room. These beautiful arrangements are called installations.

Cascade

Large bouquet with a water-fall spill over blooms and greenery tied together.

Compote Bowl

Tall decorative bowl used to hold floral arrangements generally placed in the middle of reception tables.

Corsage

A single flower or small spray of flowers that is attached to a woman’s wrist with ribbon or pinned to the front of her dress.

Garland

Not just a term used at Christmas. Different types of garland is often used at weddings to decorate tables, pipe and drape or pews. Basically any long string of leaves or vines creating a long line, typically different types of eucalyptus or ivy.