Wedding Vocabulary Part 1
Are you struggling with what some of the wedding words you’re reading in bridal magazines mean ? well here is a list that we put together that will help ! Beautiful Former Bride Sarah to the right.
1. Hors
d’oeuvres- small appetizers that can be served hot or cold
d’oeuvres- small appetizers that can be served hot or cold
2. Pintuck-
tuck or fold or pleat that is sewn in place
tuck or fold or pleat that is sewn in place
3. Crushed
linens- linens that are not pressed but are relaxed looks like it has a lot of
folds and creases
linens- linens that are not pressed but are relaxed looks like it has a lot of
folds and creases
4. Demi-glace-
rich brown sauce in French cuisine, can be used alone or as a base
rich brown sauce in French cuisine, can be used alone or as a base
5. Satin-
smooth glossy fabric that is typically made of silk
smooth glossy fabric that is typically made of silk
6. Chavari
Chairs- light but elegant chair design by Giuseppi Descalzi in Italy. Can be
made of many different materials and many different colors.
Chairs- light but elegant chair design by Giuseppi Descalzi in Italy. Can be
made of many different materials and many different colors.
7. Organza-
thin stiff transparent fabric made of silk or yarn
thin stiff transparent fabric made of silk or yarn
8. Fingertip
Veil- a tier of veiling that is approx. 29”-42” inches in length. Will reach to
fingertips
Veil- a tier of veiling that is approx. 29”-42” inches in length. Will reach to
fingertips
9. Biedermeier-
tightly wound cluster of flowers arranged in connecting circles and each circle
contains 1 type of color. Usually looks like a target
tightly wound cluster of flowers arranged in connecting circles and each circle
contains 1 type of color. Usually looks like a target
10. Butler
Service- waiters pass hors d’oeuvres from trays.
Service- waiters pass hors d’oeuvres from trays.
11. Ganache-
sweet rich chocolate icing/filling made of heavy cream and dark semi-sweet
chocolate. It is denser than mousse but not more than fudge.
sweet rich chocolate icing/filling made of heavy cream and dark semi-sweet
chocolate. It is denser than mousse but not more than fudge.
12. Nosegay-
small bouquet of flowers also known as poesy. Usually dome shaped
small bouquet of flowers also known as poesy. Usually dome shaped
13. Tussy
Mussy- alt. to be carried by the flower girl. Small bouquet of flowers in a
metal vase with a handle. Can also have a stand so that it can act as a
centerpiece in the reception
Mussy- alt. to be carried by the flower girl. Small bouquet of flowers in a
metal vase with a handle. Can also have a stand so that it can act as a
centerpiece in the reception
14. Peplum-
short overskirt or ruffle attached at the waistline of a dress, jacket, or
blouse. Accentuates the curves and makes a smaller waistline
short overskirt or ruffle attached at the waistline of a dress, jacket, or
blouse. Accentuates the curves and makes a smaller waistline
15. Cornelli-
form of piping that creates a 3 dimensional pattern of lace and squiggles
form of piping that creates a 3 dimensional pattern of lace and squiggles
16. Dragees-
decorative silver coated balls of sugar
decorative silver coated balls of sugar
17. Marzipan-
hardened almond paste and sugar, makes realistic cake toppers
hardened almond paste and sugar, makes realistic cake toppers
18. Corkage
Fee- caterers charge this to open bottles at receptions for those who bring
their own alcohol. Usually from $5-$10.
Fee- caterers charge this to open bottles at receptions for those who bring
their own alcohol. Usually from $5-$10.
19. Crudités-
appetizer of raw vegetables sliced and served with dip
appetizer of raw vegetables sliced and served with dip
20. Prelude-
quiet gentle background music as guests arrive
quiet gentle background music as guests arrive
21. Interlude-
song played during the lighting of the candle ect..
song played during the lighting of the candle ect..
22. Processional-
bridal party walks down the aisle, and the bride usually has a separate song
bridal party walks down the aisle, and the bride usually has a separate song
23. Recessional-
upbeat music celebrating the nuptials as the Bride and Groom exit the ceremony
upbeat music celebrating the nuptials as the Bride and Groom exit the ceremony
24. Postlude-
music that is played until all guests have left the ceremony area
music that is played until all guests have left the ceremony area
25. Off the
Rack- dresses that can be purchased right after you try them on, no
alterations, usually much cheaper
Rack- dresses that can be purchased right after you try them on, no
alterations, usually much cheaper
26. Open
Stock- sale of china and dinnerware, guests can purchase these components
separately or individually
Stock- sale of china and dinnerware, guests can purchase these components
separately or individually
27. Place
Setting- china patterns are in 5 pieces, Dinner plate, salad/dessert plate,
bread and butter plate, cup, and saucer.
Setting- china patterns are in 5 pieces, Dinner plate, salad/dessert plate,
bread and butter plate, cup, and saucer.
28. Completer
Set- items not included in the place setting but can be coordinated. Salt and
pepper shaker, platters, servers, ect.
Set- items not included in the place setting but can be coordinated. Salt and
pepper shaker, platters, servers, ect.
29. Jack and
Jill- shower for bride and groom where both male and female guests are invited.
Usually a cocktail party, club, picnic, or barbq.
Jill- shower for bride and groom where both male and female guests are invited.
Usually a cocktail party, club, picnic, or barbq.
30. Trousseau-
old fashioned term for new linens, lingerie, and clothing for the bride in
honor of the upcoming nuptials
old fashioned term for new linens, lingerie, and clothing for the bride in
honor of the upcoming nuptials
31. Cascade-
blossoms are woven into a waterfall effect and it flows below the waist
blossoms are woven into a waterfall effect and it flows below the waist
32. Chuppa-
temp. structure of 4 poles w/ canopy covering them, can be decorated with
flowers or linens. Is the centerpiece for Jewish weddings
temp. structure of 4 poles w/ canopy covering them, can be decorated with
flowers or linens. Is the centerpiece for Jewish weddings
33. English
Garden Arrangement- fluffy and full with lots of color. Traditional but not
romantic look
Garden Arrangement- fluffy and full with lots of color. Traditional but not
romantic look
34. Freeze
Dried Petals- retain the color and texture of the petals for guest to throw
after ceremony
Dried Petals- retain the color and texture of the petals for guest to throw
after ceremony
35. Pomander-
round ball of flowers suspended from a ribbon handle. Use as alt to bouquet or
decorations
round ball of flowers suspended from a ribbon handle. Use as alt to bouquet or
decorations
36. Beveled
Edge- slanted edge usually on heavy cardstock or inside embossed panels
Edge- slanted edge usually on heavy cardstock or inside embossed panels
37. Cotton
Rag- rich and creamy paper made from cotton fibers. Top quality invitations
Rag- rich and creamy paper made from cotton fibers. Top quality invitations
38. Debossed-
like embossing but images are depressed than raised
like embossing but images are depressed than raised
39. Dekle
Edge- rough uneven edges on paper to give the “old world” look. Unfinished
Edge- rough uneven edges on paper to give the “old world” look. Unfinished
40. Die Cut-
precision cut to create windows to text or images, lasers are now used
precision cut to create windows to text or images, lasers are now used
41. Dingbat-
decorative motif on stationary, is a topographical term to personalize them
(birds, trees, flowers…ect)
decorative motif on stationary, is a topographical term to personalize them
(birds, trees, flowers…ect)
42. Color-processed
Color- produces ultra-saturated colors very striking especially for outdoors
pictures
Color- produces ultra-saturated colors very striking especially for outdoors
pictures
43. Hand
tinted- vintage technique where color is applied to black and white photos
tinted- vintage technique where color is applied to black and white photos
44. Dais-
raised platform for head table
raised platform for head table
45. Gobos-
lighting technique. Die cut stencil is loaded into a projector and casts image
onto ground/ wall
lighting technique. Die cut stencil is loaded into a projector and casts image
onto ground/ wall
46. Pin
Spotting- narrow field of light used to pick out and highlight an item, will
draw attention to special elements
Spotting- narrow field of light used to pick out and highlight an item, will
draw attention to special elements
47. Swaging-
2 tablecloths are layer and top one is extremely gathered and draped in soft
areas
2 tablecloths are layer and top one is extremely gathered and draped in soft
areas
48. Sweetheart
Table- small, romantic 2 person table for bride and groom
Table- small, romantic 2 person table for bride and groom
49. Damask-
a pattern with raised patterns woven into it
a pattern with raised patterns woven into it
50. Dowry- a
gift or endowment the woman brings to her husband in marriage
gift or endowment the woman brings to her husband in marriage