Embarking on the wedding planning adventure and baffled by the unique (and sometimes oddly precise) lingo that comes with it? We’re here to help, friend! Dive into our comprehensive guide for a rundown of essential wedding terminology from A to Z.
Aisle Runner: Picture a gorgeous fabric or carpet rolling down the ceremony aisle, creating a red carpet moment for you and your bridal party. It’s like your own entrance to the stars!
Bespoke Wedding: In the context of weddings, “bespoke” denotes custom-designed elements, tailor-made to reflect the unique preferences and style of the couple, creating and unique one-of-a-kind Wedding.
Beverage Station: Cheers to convenience! It’s a designated area at the wedding reception where guests can help themselves with a variety of beverages, from water and soft drinks to signature cocktails or a self-serve bar. It allows everyone to enjoy a refreshing drink throughout the celebration.
Buttonhole: These small floral sprays, also known as boutonnieres, are attached to suit jackets. They’re usually worn by the groom and his groomsmen, and you can arrange them for other special male figures, like fathers and grandfathers.
Cascade Bouquet: Imagine a whimsical and romantic bouquet that drapes loosely downward. It’s crafted with trailing foliage, blossoms, or other greenery, adding natural charm to your bridal ensemble.
Centrepiece: Let’s talk table decor! A centrepiece is a decorative object or arrangement placed in the centre of a table to enhance its visual appeal. Typically created with lanterns & candlelight or made from flowers and foliage, they add beauty and elegance to your table settings.
Ceremony Arbour: It’s a decorative structure, often made of wood or metal, that serves as a focal point during the wedding ceremony. You can adorn it with flowers, greenery, or fabric to create a beautiful backdrop for exchanging vows.
Champagne Tower: Imagine a cascading tower of champagne glasses, elegantly filled with bubbly. The Champagne tower is a glamorous and eye-catching centerpiece at your wedding reception. It’s not just about toasting; it’s a spectacle that adds an extra dose of sophistication to your celebration. Guests can grab a glass from the tower to join in the toasts, creating a truly memorable and sparkling moment.
Charger Plate: Not your phone charger! A charger is a decorative plate that sits under your dinner plate, adding a pop of style to your table setting. With various colours and materials available, you can let your creativity shine.
Clear Marquee: A transparent tent made of clear or translucent material like PVC or glass panels. With a clear marquee, you can enjoy unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape and starry night sky, bringing an outdoor feel to your indoor reception.
Cocktail Hour: Cheers to the start of your celebration! It’s the time when guests mingle, sip on delicious drinks, and enjoy appetising canapés before the main reception begins. A relaxed and social hour to kick off the festivities.
Confetti Toss: Let’s celebrate sustainably! Instead of traditional confetti, opt for environmentally friendly options made from materials like dried flower petals or rice paper. They add a festive element to your wedding while being kind to the planet.
Cocktail Style Wedding: Get ready for a more casual and social atmosphere! In this wedding reception style, guests aren’t assigned to specific tables. Instead, they enjoy a variety of food stations, passed hors d’oeuvres, and high-top tables, perfect for mingling and socialising.
Destination Wedding: Ready for a picturesque adventure? A destination wedding takes place away from your hometown, often involving travel to a different city or country. It provides a unique and stunning setting for your celebration, combining it with a vacation experience.
Delivery, Set up, and Collection: Three magical words! These services provided by wedding vendors transport and arrange all the necessary items for your wedding, such as furniture, decor, flowers, and equipment. They take care of everything, from bringing it in to setting it up and collecting it afterwards.
Dry Hire: Basically this is a DIY Option. Where you handpick your decor or furniture, collect it yourself, set it up, and return it afterward without the assistance of a stylist.
Dry Bar: In events lingo, a Dry Bar is essentially a high cocktail table where guests can mingle and comfortably place their drinks.
Dummy Cake: Not for eating, but oh-so-pretty! A dummy cake is a non-edible decorative cake made of materials like Styrofoam. It’s designed to resemble a real wedding cake, perfect for couples who want a different dessert but still want an elaborate cake display.
Fairylight Curtain or Backdrop: Enchanting and dreamy! Fairylight curtains or backdrops are made of strings of fairy lights, creating a sparkling and magical effect. They’re perfect as a focal point or photo backdrop, adding a touch of wonder to your wedding decor.
Favours: Make your guests feel special with small gifts to take home! These little keepsakes, also known as bonbonnieres, show your gratitude for their presence on your big day.
First Look: This is one of the most emotional and beautiful moments captured before the ceremony starts. It’s when you and your partner see each other for the first time on your wedding day. A magical photo opportunity that captures the love in your eyes.
Flatware: These are your utensils, like knives, forks, and spoons, used at the table for serving and eating food. So, basically, it’s cutlery! Why not up the ante and choose gold or coloured cutlery?
Golden Hour: It’s the magical final hour of light before the sun sets on your wedding day. The warm and soft glow during the golden hour creates the most stunning and romantic wedding portraits.
Hanging Floral Installation: Picture a breathtaking arrangement of flowers and greenery suspended from above, creating a statement piece at the wedding reception or ceremony. It adds drama, elegance, and a touch of whimsy to your venue.
Linens: Your table’s best friend! They’re the cloths used to cover tables and the coordinating napkins. With a range of colours, patterns, and materials, they add a decorative touch to your table settings.
Mood Board: Think of it as a visual roadmap for your wedding style and concept. It’s a collection of images, colours, materials, and text that help you and your wedding planner bring your vision to life. So, let your creativity run wild!
Naked Tipi: No, not a tipi in the nude! It’s a tipi structure made of wooden poles with an open-top design, exposing the natural beauty of the wooden framework. It adds a rustic and bohemian vibe, perfect for outdoor weddings.
On the day Coordination: Where a coordinator manages all logistics on your big day. They handle everything from ensuring vendors arrive on time to perfecting the timing of your grand entrance, allowing you and your partner to fully enjoy your celebration without any stress.
PAX: Just a fancy way of saying the number of people attending your wedding. So, if a venue can accommodate up to 90 PAX, it means they can seat 90 guests.
Palette: Not the one you paint with, but the selection of colours that will be featured throughout your wedding styling. Choose colours that reflect your personality and theme, setting the tone for your big day.
Parasols: Not only stylish but practical too! Parasols are decorative and functional umbrellas that provide shade at outdoor weddings. They come in various colours and patterns, adding a whimsical touch while protecting guests from the sun.
Petal Aisle: Imagine a lovely aisle created by scattering flower petals along the pathway for the wedding processional. Petal aisles add a whimsical and romantic touch to the ceremony, creating a visually stunning pathway for the couple and their wedding party.
Petal Cones: Guests will love this interactive touch! Petal cones are small paper cones filled with flower petals, placed for guests to grab and use during specific moments, like showering the couple or tossing petals. It adds whimsy and fun to your celebration.
Place Cards: These nifty little cards are personalised markers that tell your guests exactly where to sit. No more guessing games; everyone will find their designated seat with ease.
Place Setting: The whole shebang! It’s the complete set of crockery, cutlery, glassware, and other tableware provided for each guest at their designated place at the table. Each guest’s spot will feel extra special!
Plinths for Aisle: Want to add some height and elegance to your aisle decor? Plinths are sturdy elevated platforms used to display floral arrangements or other decorative elements along the ceremony aisle. They create a visually appealing focal point as you walk down the aisle.
Registry Table: Also known as Signing table. This is where you and your partner sit down after your ceremony to seal the deal and make everything legal.
Runsheet: Your ultimate master document! It covers the running of your wedding day from beginning to end. With timelines, supplier contacts, and essential details, it’ll ensure everything runs smoothly, like a handy guide.
Seated Wedding: For a more formal and structured reception, a seated wedding is the way to go. Guests are assigned to specific tables and served a seated meal, creating a cozy and intimate atmosphere for your celebration.
Seating Chart: No more confusion, this visual display shows guests where they are seated during the reception. It ensures a smooth flow of the event and helps guests find their designated seats with ease.
Signature Cocktail: Cheers to a unique and personalised drink experience! A signature cocktail is a custom-designed drink reflecting your taste and wedding theme. You can feature it during the cocktail hour or as a special offering at the bar.
Specialty Napkins: They’re not your ordinary napkins! These unique napkins come in a wide array of colours and textures, allowing you to match them perfectly to your wedding theme and elevate your overall styling.
Sperry Tent: Known for its elegant sailcloth construction, the Sperry tent is highly versatile and can be customized to create a sophisticated and upscale ambience. With chandeliers, drapery, and wooden flooring options, it’s the epitome of elegance.
Stationery Suite: Your wedding’s own little paper kingdom! It includes invitations, save the dates, envelopes, menu cards, place cards, and more. It sets the tone for the event and gives guests a glimpse of your wedding style.
Sweetheart Table: This is your romantic oasis at the reception, a cozy table reserved just for the newlyweds. This is perfect if you’ve decided not to go ahead with a Bridal Party.
Tablescape: Imagine a beautifully styled table with lovely place settings, gorgeous flowers, and all the little details that make it uniquely yours. That’s your tablescape! It’s the art of creating a stunning and cohesive look for your wedding tabletops.
Table Runner: It’s a stylish strip that runs along the centre of the table, adding colour, texture, and style to your table setting. It complements your wedding theme and makes your table look picture-perfect.
Tipi: This traditional tent-like structure, often associated with Native American culture, can be used as a unique and unconventional wedding venue. It creates a cozy and intimate ambience for your guests.
Unplugged Ceremony: This is all about being fully present in the moment! An unplugged ceremony asks guests to refrain from using electronic devices to take photos or videos. It ensures clear shots for your professional photographers and allows guests to fully immerse themselves in the experience.
Venue Coordinator: This pro works specifically for the wedding venue! They assist you with logistical details, ensure the venue is ready, and act as a point of contact between you and the venue staff.
Votive Candles: Adding a touch of romance! Votive candles are small decorative candles placed in votive holders, scattering a warm and romantic atmosphere throughout your venue. They can be used as centrepieces, placed around the venue, or incorporated into floral arrangements.
Welcome Sign: A personalised decorative sign for your Ceremony or reception entrance, greeting and guiding your guests. It showcases your names, wedding date, and a warm message, setting a welcoming and personalised atmosphere.
Wet Weather Backup: Mother Nature can be unpredictable, so having a backup plan for outdoor weddings is essential. It ensures you have an alternative indoor or covered space to guarantee a smooth and uninterrupted celebration.
**Wedding Planner: **Your fairy godmother of wedding planning! A wedding planner assists you from start to finish, providing guidance, recommendations, and coordination services to make your planning process and wedding day execution smooth and stress-free.
Wedding Stylist: A Wedding Stylist, also known as a wedding decorator or designer, plays a pivotal role in transforming your wedding venue into a reflection of your personal style and theme. This creative professional curates and implements all visual elements, from floral arrangements and lighting to table settings and décor. They work closely with you to ensure every detail aligns with your vision, creating a cohesive and stunning aesthetic that makes your big day truly unforgettable.
Phew! We’ve covered quite a bit, but remember, planning your dream wedding is all about making it personal and meaningful to you. So, have fun exploring these terms, and let your creativity shine as you design the wedding of your dreams! Happy planning!
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