72 Wedding Terms You NEED To Know!

Source: Floral Cadet

Congratulations on your engagement! In order to make your wedding planning productive and communicate exactly what you want to your wedding vendors you must learn these 72 wedding terms.

14KT Gold

Gold purity is measured in karats, pure gold is 24 karats (or kt). A 14KT gold is made with around 58% pure gold and depending on the color, other metals are added in. Today, 14KT pink gold (or rose gold) has become popular.

18KT Gold

Gold purity is measured in karats, pure gold is 24 karats (or kt). An 18KT gold is made with around 75% pure gold and depending on the color, other metals are added in. For more information on 18KT gold read this article.

Source: Monique Lhuillier 2014 Gown

A-line Gown

This silhouette is fitted to the waist and then gently flares, flowing away from body. It is a forgiving design and flatters most body types.

Source: Allure Bridal 2014 Gowns

Ball Gown

This silhouette has a fitted bodice and a very full skirt. Ball gowns are preferable for larger formal wedding and any bride looking for a Cinderella dress.

Source: Cotton Paperie

Beveled Edge

This angled edge used in stationary is most common on heavy stock papers or with embossed panels.

Bezel Setting

This type of setting holds the stone with a complete collar of metal.

Image: Floral Cadet

Boutonnières

This floral embellishment is worn by the men in a wedding party. For creative non-flower boutonnieres check out these 'guy friendly' designs.

Source: Artisan Cake Company

Buttercream Frosting

Buttercream is a creamy, sweet, and soft icing that can be used as on the inside, as a filling, or on the outside of your wedding cake. It is easily colored and flavored, making this versatile frosting a favorite among brides and bakers.

Source: Kalo Catering

Canapé

These small appetizer can be eaten in one bite and are usually comprised of either bread, toast, crackers, or vegetables.

Source: At First Blush and Company

Cascade Bouquet

This type of bouquet is held by the bride and has flowers, greenery, and/or ribbons that over flow the front of the bouquet.

Channel Setting

This type of setting holds stones by suspending them between two opposing sides of a cut out area of metal.

Source: Ruffled Blog and Tre Bella Florists and Brett and Jessica Photography

Chuppah

A beautiful Jewish ceremonial structure, made with four poles structure and a canopy where the bride and groom will be married.

Source: Monique Lhuillier

Column Dress

This silhouette is similar to a column because it is falls straight down the body with no flow, flare, or fullness.

Common Prong Wedding Bands

This type of pronged wedding band is also referred to as shared prong wedding bands. The prongs hold stones on two sides where as traditional prong wedding bands hold a stone only one one side.

Corkage Fee

This fee is incurred at some restaurants when you bring a bottle of wine into a restaurant and your server opens it.

Source: Artisan Cake Company

Cornelli

This type of cake decorating is created by piping lace and/or squiggles designs on a wedding cake.

Source: Behance Stationary

Cotton Rag

This paper is cream colored and has cotton fiber running through it.

Source: Camille Style

Crudités

This appetizer is simply vegetables served with dip.

Curved Wedding Bands

These wedding bands are also referred to as contoured wedding bands. Curved wedding bands curve around the setting of the engagement ring.

Dais

This is a platform used to raise either the ceremony space and/or the head table above the other tables in the reception.

Source: Studio Embossed

Debossed

This type of printing presses the letters into the paper, as opposed to embossed, where the lettering is raised up out of the paper.

Source: Invitation Crush

Deckle Edge

This type of paper edge is rough and looks torn.

Source: Digby Rose

Die Cut

This type of cutting creates papers that are precisely made into shapes. It is an excellent way to create lace paper for vintage style wedding invitations.

Die Struck

This type of jewelry manufacturing creates a highly dense metal that is heirloom quality.

Source: Cakes By Natalie

Dragees

These are small beads of sugar covered in silver.

Source: Allure Bridal

Dropped Waist

These waistlines fall along the mid-hip rather than where the natural waistline occurs.

Source: Julie Davison

Embossed Wedding Invitations

This type of printing raises the letters or designs up out of the paper, the opposite of debossed.

Source: Claire Pettibone

Empire Waist Wedding Gowns

This is a high waist type of gown that gathers under the bust line and then flows along the body.

Source: David Connolly, Inc.

Engagement Ring Wraps

These wedding bands have decorative arms that wrap around the single setting of a solitaire.

Enhancer Wedding Bands

This type of wedding band frames the engagement ring by having a space between the top and bottom band for the ring to be inserted.

Source: Wedding Paper Products

Escort Cards

These cards let wedding guests know what table they are sitting at. For a well coordinated wedding, have them coordinate with the stationary suite.

Source: FireFlyFantasies1

Fascinator Veils

The royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton made fascinators very popular in the American bridal scene. These fun hair pieces are great for incorporating fun embellishments to your beauty and fashion look as well as an excellent alternative to traditional wedding veils.

Source: Artisan Cake Company

Fondant

This is a firm, rigid icing that can be smoothed to create a clean presentation. The higher cost, extra labor, and unique flavor make this less popular than buttercream. However, it creates an aesthetically pleasing cake.

Source: Cake Central

Ganache

This is a rich combination of chocolate and cream which can be used as filling or icing.

Genoise

This French style sponge is often soaked in a liqueur syrup with layers of fruit fillings and/or flavored whipped cream.

Source: Karma Event Lighting

Gobo

This is the lighting projection made of the wedding couple's logo on either the wall or dance floor.

Hand Engraving

This type of artistic relief engraving can create any type of design or pattern. Few jewelry manufacturers offer this type of embellishment.

Source: Floral Cadet

Hand-Tied Bouquet

A type of domed, or nosegay bouquet, it is typically rounded and dome shaped and has a sturdy grouping of stems tied with ribbons, fabrics, or other sentimental materials.

High Polish

This type of finish creates a shiny reflective surface.

Interlude

This music is played during the ceremony.

Jack & Jill Party

A co-ed party for the bride and groom, thrown in lieu of a traditional bridal shower and bachelor party.

Marzipan

Almond paste and sugar are combined to create this sweet candy used to decorate cakes. It is most commonly used to create sculptures and 3D elements.

Matte Finish

This type of finish creates a frosted look to the metal.

Source: Allure Bridal

Mermaid Gown

This silhouette is very fitted to the knee and then flares to the floor.

Micro Pave

This type of setting uses uniform size small stones and sets then in rows, offset to achieve the closest level of spacing possible.

Milgrain Edge

This type of embellishment is also referred to as a beaded edge, where round beads of gold are engraved into the side of the ring.

Source: Allure Bridal

Natural Waistline

This is a waistline that falls at waist.

Overlay Linens

When multiple linens are used on the reception tables, this lays on top of the underlay and usually adds a decorative element, such as beading, embroidery, metallic shear, etc. Here is a great David Tutera explanation.

Pave Setting

This type of setting tightly sets small stones close to one-another.

Source: Allure Bridal

Pickups

Any fabric that is gathered up, either on a wedding gown skirts or a table cloths.

Source: Exclusively Entertainment

Pin Spotting

This type of lighting is used to highlights item, such as architectural element, flowers, cake, doorways, etc.

Place Cards

These cards are used at the tables if you want guests sitting in specific seats.

Platinum

A highly dense and durable metal, platinum is known for its grayish-white color.

Source: Sisters Floral Design

Pomander

This bouquet is also referred to as a kissing ball. They are round balls of flowers suspended from a ribbon and carried like a purse. For reception spaces that do not allow flower girls to toss petals, a pomander is a great option.

Postlude

This music is played as the guests leave the ceremony and usually plays for about 15 minutes.

Prelude

This background music is played before the start of the ceremony when guests arriving.

Processional

This music is played when the bridal party and the bride walk down the aisle. Often times the bride will have separate music played for her entrance.

Prong

These are thin metal projections that hold a stone. When a prong holds two stones at the same time, it is called common or shared prong.

Recessional

This music is played at the end of the service when the bride, groom, and bridal party exit the ceremony.

Ring Guards

These are individual rings that sit above and below the engagement ring, framing it and protecting it from bumps and dings.

Royal Icing

This frosting is made by combining sugar and egg whites and is used for attaching decorative elements or creating decorations, such as flowers.

Semi-Bezel Wedding Bands

This type of setting is a modified version of the bezel setting, but the setting does not continue around, rather it holds the stone on two opposing sides.

Shadow Bands

These bands are similar to enhancers and ring guards, they sit like a shadow above and below the engagement ring.

Shank

This is simply the band portion of a ring.

Source: Claire Pettibone

Sheath Dress

This form following silhouette does not hug the figure, but lays close to the body with some room for movement. Bridal designer Claire Pettibone has many vintage style wedding gown desings using this silhouette.

Source: Bella Baroque Designs

Stationary Suite

All the elements in your invitation package comprise the suite: invitation, envelope, response card, escort cards, etc. If you are throwing a tech freindly wedding consider having business cards size cards printed with your wedding hashtag.

Source: Sarah K Chen via LoveLABridal

Sweetheart Table

This is a reception table that is only for the bride and groom.

Trousseau

These are the things a bride will purchase for her wedding night and include lingerie, clothing, and linens.

Source: Allure Bridal

Trumpet Gown

This silhouette follows the figure to the knee and then flares to the floor.

Tungsten Wedding Bands

This is a metal most known for its use in manufacturing. It has recently gained popularity among grooms. Buyers need to be aware that the metal can not be sized, if you gain or loose weight the ring will not fit. Also, there is no standard for alloying the metal, therefore allergy sufferers need to check what metals have been used.

Source: Swede 13 Cottage

Tussy Mussy

This is a cone style metal bouquet holder from the Victorian period. While not common today, they are ideal for vintage themed wedding.

Underlay Linens

When multiple linens are used on the reception tables, this linen lays underneath the top linen and is often a solid color meant to add contrast to the overlay. Here is a great David Tutera explanation.

Source: Noted Designs

Vellum

This frosted but transparent paper is thin and used as a decorative overlay in stationary.

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