Wedding Planning Glossary

A wedding venue that bundles catering, bar, rentals, and often coordination into one per-guest or flat-rate price.

A pre-priced reception bar offering: open bar, cash bar, beer & wine only, or limited-call.

The hand-tied floral arrangement carried by the person walking down the aisle.

A small single-flower arrangement pinned to the lapel of a suit jacket, traditionally worn by the wedding party and immediate family.

A self-serve reception meal where guests visit one or more food stations.

The photographed moment where the couple jointly cuts the wedding cake, traditionally signaling guests are free to leave whenever.

A per-slice fee charged by a venue or caterer to cut and serve an outside wedding cake.

The focal floral or decorative arrangement at the center of each reception table.

A 60-90 minute period between the ceremony and reception when guests drink, eat appetizers, and the wedding party finishes photos.

A per-bottle fee charged by a venue or caterer to open and serve wine you bring from outside.

A wedding planner hired to manage logistics on the wedding day (and usually the month before), without designing or planning the whole event.

A small card given to each guest at the reception entrance telling them which table they're seated at.

Reception meal served on large platters at each table that guests pass and serve themselves.

The newly married couple's choreographed (or just slow) dance to their chosen song, traditionally the first dance of the reception.

A private moment where the couple sees each other in wedding attire before the ceremony, photographed by the wedding photographer.

All flowers for the wedding — bouquets, boutonnières, ceremony installations, centerpieces, and arch arrangements.

Multiple themed food stations placed around the reception space (carving, pasta, taco, raw bar, etc.) where guests serve themselves.

Two reception traditions: the bride throws the bouquet to single women, and the groom retrieves and tosses a garter to single men.

The 60-90 minutes before sunset when light is warm and soft — the most flattering window for wedding photos.

The DJ-announced entry of the wedding party and newly married couple into the reception, typically opening dinner service.

A long table at the reception where the couple and wedding party sit, facing the rest of the room.

The legal document, issued by the county, that authorizes a couple to marry. Required before the ceremony.

The person who legally performs the marriage ceremony and signs the marriage license.

The traditional father-daughter and mother-son dances at the reception, performed after the first dance.

A small card at each place setting indicating where a specific guest sits.

A formal reception meal where guests stay seated and servers deliver pre-selected entrées.

An invitation that allows the guest to bring a date or partner.

The walk down the aisle at the start of the ceremony, in a set order of wedding party and couple.

The exit from the ceremony, with the couple leaving first followed by the wedding party in reverse pair order.

An intimate dinner the night before the wedding for the wedding party, immediate family, and often out-of-town guests.

Equipment and decor rented for the wedding day — tables, chairs, linens, glassware, dancefloors, tents, and lighting.

The guest's reply confirming attendance. From French 'répondez s'il vous plaît' — 'please reply'.

A minute-by-minute timeline of the wedding day, shared with every vendor and the wedding party.

A pre-invitation card sent 6-8 months before the wedding letting guests block the date on their calendar.

An assignment of every reception guest to a specific table (and sometimes seat). Displayed on a sign at the reception entrance.

The final exit from the reception, where guests line up and cheer the couple's departure — often with sparklers, bubbles, ribbons, or petals.

A written list of must-have photos given to the wedding photographer ahead of the day.

One or two custom-named cocktails featured at the reception bar, usually themed to the couple or wedding palette.

A two-person table at the reception just for the couple, instead of a head table with the wedding party.

The full visual design of a reception table — linens, runners, centerpieces, candles, charger plates, glassware, and stationery.

A handwritten card sent to every guest who attended or sent a gift, ideally within 2 months of the wedding.

Speeches given at the reception by the maid/matron of honor, best man, parents, and (sometimes) the couple.

A tuxedo features satin lapels, satin side stripes on the pants, and is reserved for formal evening weddings; a suit is appropriate for daytime, semi-formal, and most modern weddings.

A symbolic ceremony moment representing the joining of two people, such as candle-lighting, sand-blending, or handfasting.

A length of sheer fabric (typically tulle) worn over the head and back during the ceremony.

The location where the ceremony and/or reception are held — a barn, ballroom, vineyard, garden, beachfront, etc.

The personal or traditional promises exchanged between the couple during the ceremony.

The friends and family who stand with the couple at the ceremony — bridesmaids, groomsmen, attendants, and the maid/matron of honor and best man.

A curated list of items the couple wants as gifts, hosted on retailer sites or a cash-fund platform.

A central web page with the couple's story, schedule, venue details, RSVP form, and registry links.

A small gift bag left in the hotel rooms of out-of-town guests, typically with local snacks, water, and a weekend itinerary.