There are 196 entries in the glossary.
Pages: 1
| Anniversary Cake | A smaller wedding cake for your first wedding anniversary.
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| Ascot Tie | A wide necktie for the formal daytime wedding. |
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| Aufruf (OOF - roof) | Calling up of a couple to the Torah on the Shabbat before their wedding. |
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| Bachelorette | Term used for a bride while she is engaged and before she is married. |
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| Back-Up Cake | A sheet cake of the same flavor as your wedding cake, used to serve a very large guest list after your display cake is finished. |
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| Backpiece | A decorated comb on the back of a bride's head to be attached to a veil. |
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| Ballet Veil | A veil that drops below the bride's knees, but above her ankles. |
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| Basket Weave | A type of decorative piping on the wedding cake. |
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| Best Man | The best man will have numerous duties; keeping the ring safe, sign the marriage license, announcing speeches at the reception and making his own. |
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| Biedermeier | A type of posy where the flowers are arranged in rings according to their color. |
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| Blusher | A short veil that covers the brides face before the ceremony. |
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| Body Shapers | Sheer hosiery that provides support and control for under a garment. |
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| Bomboniere | This is an Italian term which refers to wedding favors which are passed out to wedding guests as a keepsake in appreciation of their attendance. |
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| Boutonnière | This is a single flower worn on the lapel of a man's jacket. |
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| Bow Tie | A short tie shaped like a bow that can be worn with a wing or laydown collar. |
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| Bridal Procession | Every girl’s chance to be a princess. Resplendent in her gown, and on her doting father’s arm, the accompanying entourage can be as lengthy as she wishes (venue and cost permitting). |
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| Bridal Shower | Party given for the bride before the wedding to be usually coordinated by the bridesmaids to offer gifts for the bride and groom for their new home. |
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| Bride's Bouquet | The bunch of flowers for the bride. |
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| Bridesmaids | These are the gals who are good friends with the bride, supporting her emotionally both before and on her big day. Although they pay for their own gowns, the bride should give them an idea as to what sort of styles and colors she expects them to wear, as some in this group may try to outshine the star of the show. |
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| Bubbles | Used in place of rice at a wedding to send off the bride and groom. |
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| Buffet | A self service style of meal at a wedding reception, where the food and drinks are presented on a long table, or a series of tables, and the guests collect a plate and help themselves whenever they wish (queues permitting). A buffet is usually the most affordable option as considerably less waiters are needed (if any), but the costs can rise as less control over food portions can be exercised. |
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| Buttercream | A soft and creamy icing that can be colored, flavored and used for decoration or filling for a wedding cake. |
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| Cake Server | A cake knife used in the tradition of cutting the wedding cake. |
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| Cake Top | Usually a statue or other collectable used to adorn the top of a wedding cake. |
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| Calligraphy | This is an ornate highly stylized form of handwriting seen on expensive wedding invitations and other places. |
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| Candelabra | A centerpiece created at the base, neck, or top of a multi-armed candelabra for candles and decorated with flowers. |
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| Candle Lighters | These are children (hopefully responsible ones) who light candles at the altar when the bride’s mother (who is the official hostess of the ceremony) takes her seat. Sometimes these candle lighters are uniquely dressed. |
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| Cap Sleeves | The shortest sleeve style, it usually covers only the shoulder. |
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| Carat | The standard unit of weight for diamonds and most other gems. |
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| Cascade | See Shower. |
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| Cascade Bouquet | Resembles waterfall with the flowers flowing loosely downward. |
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| Cathedral | Large church for a couple to marry. |
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| Cathedral Veil | The longest of veils, this is three and a half yards in length. |
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| Centerpiece | Used as the decoration for the center of the table at a wedding. |
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| Centerpiece Cake | A specialty cake that takes the place of flowers as your table decorations. |
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| Chantilly Lace | Delicate bobbin lace of scrolls and florals on a soft mesh background. |
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| Chapel Train | The train on a wedding dress that extends 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 feet from the waist. |
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| Chatan (ha-TAN) | The groom. |
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| Chief Bridesmaid | See Maid of Honor |
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| Chocolate Ganache | A thick, delectable icing made of chocolate and heavy cream. |
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| Choker Necklace | A single strand of pearls worn around the collar. |
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| Chupah (hoo-PAH) | The wedding canopy to cover the couple that symbolizes the couple's new home and the presence of god. |
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| Classic bouquet | A bunch of flowers that can be made into a bouquet holder, wired, or hand-tied. |
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| Columns | See Pillars. |
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| Comb | A bridal headpiece attached to her hair with teeth like a comb. May be as ornate as the bride wishes it to be. |
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| Cornelli | A complicated decorative form of icing which resembles a lacework on the wedding cake. |
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| Corsage | A single flower bloom or a small spray of blooms which are attached to a lace and pinned to either the front of a woman’s dress, or at her wrist. Orchids are among the most popular flower choices for corsages, and at weddings they are usually only worn by female relatives of the bride and groom. |
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| Crepe | A lightly crinkled textured fabric. |
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| Croquenbouche | A wedding cake formed with cream puffs. |
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| Crown | One of the things a bride may choose to wear, it is a fully circular gemstone or bead adorned head piece that is larger than both a half crown and tiara. In Greek Orthodox Christian weddings; both the bride and groom have crowns placed on their head by the Koumbaro, who then swaps the crowns between the couple three times. (See Koumbaro) |
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| Cummerbund | This is a broad sash worn around a man’s waist on top of his shirt but under the jacket. They are usually black, but may be any color required. |
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| Dais | This is a podium or platform raised from the floor. In wedding receptions, it is where the bride and groom are seated. The word is also used to indicate the flower display on the happy couple’s table, which often tumbles over the front. |
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| Damask | This is a linen or fabric with raised patterns woven into it. Brocade is similar but of a heavier weight. The word is derived from Damascus, the capitol of Syria. |
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| Dotted Swiss | A method of decorating the wedding cake which involves small random dots of icing. |
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| Double Tier | A two layered veil. Usually, one layer will be longer than the other. |
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| Dowry | A gift; endowment. The money, goods, or estate, which a woman brings to her husband in marriage. |
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| Dragees Round | Edible and brightly colored balls of sugar seen on wedding cakes. |
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| Duchesse | Lace with floral designs using a lot of raised work with irregularly shaped spaces between designs. |
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| Elbow Veil | A length of veil which reaches down to the bride' elbows. |
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| Embellishments | Embroidery, lace, beads, etc that are extra adornments to a wedding bridal gown. |
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| Euro Tie | Often worn with a spread collar, this is a long tie that is more formal than a regular necktie, but less so than an ascot. (See Ascot). |
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| Father of the Bride | He used to pay for everything at a wedding but nowadays both families often share the costs. What has not changed is his duty of escorting his daughter down the aisle in her last few moments of being single. |
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| Favors | These are small inexpensive gifts that may be given to all guests at a wedding as a thank you for their attendance, and also to serve as a souvenir. |
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| Fiance | This is the title of the groom or husband-to-be between the engagement and the wedding. |
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| Fiancée | An engaged woman. |
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| Finger Tip | One of the most popular lengths of veil, which as the name suggests, extends to the fingertips. |
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| Fish Bowl | A centerpiece in floral decorations where flowers are together in a, ornate or otherwise, low and broad glass bowl. |
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| Fitted Sleeves | Sleeves that fit very close to the arm. |
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| Floor-length Dress | The dress's hemline falls 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches from the floor. |
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| Flower basket | A basket usually used by the wedding flower girls to hold flower petals to be tossed down the aisle before the bride makes her entrance. |
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| Flower Girls or Flower Children | These are small children (usually girls) that pave the way down the aisle for the bride by holding a pomander or scattering flower petals from a small basket. (See Pomander). |
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| Flyaway | A layered veil that will barely reach to the shoulder. |
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| Fondant | This is a sweet elastic icing made from sugar, syrup and gelatin that is used to be draped over the wedding cake for decoration. |
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| Formal | At a formal wedding, has dress codes that will apply such as black tie. |
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| Fountain | This is the name of a veil style, where part is gathered up atop the bride’s head and the remainder set loose to fall around her face. A fountain veil will reach to either the shoulder or the elbow, depending on preference. |
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| French Cuffs | Shirt cuffs which are folded over and closed with cuff links. |
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| Full Dress Jacket | Usually worn at very formal weddings, short in front and have two long tails in the back. |
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| Ganache | This is a mixture of chocolate and cream, used either to fill or garnish a wedding cake. |
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| Garland | A woven rope or strand flower arrangement often used to adorn pews, staircases and doorways. |
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| Garter | Used by the bride to hold up stocking and to be tossed by the groom to the single men at the wedding. |
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| GIA | Gemological Institute of America, an organization that sets and upholds standards for grading diamonds and other precious stones. |
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| Girdle (diamond) | The outer edge or the widest part of the diamond forming a band around the stone. |
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| Glimmer Hosiery | Sheer or opaque hose which have high reflection properties from the yarn. |
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| Groom's Cake | A smaller version of the wedding cake or cake theme to the groom's interests. Usually served at the engagement party or the rehearsal dinner. |
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| Groom's Tish | The groom's table. This is where the Chatan, his groomsmen, and male family members gather for song and dance before the wedding ceremony. |
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| Guest book | A book used at a wedding to collect signatures and addresses of guest attending the wedding. |
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| Gum Paste | This is a mixture of sugar, starch and gelatin. It’s what many of those realistic looking flowers, fruits and ribbons are made of on a wedding cake. |
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| Half Crown | An ornate headpiece for the bride which lies between a crown and tiara in size and weight. |
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| Hattabin | These are the male friends and family of the groom at a Moslem wedding. |
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| Head (diamond) | The prongs that hold a diamond in its setting. |
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| Honor Attendants | These are the best man and the maid (or matron or man) of honor. |
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| Hora | A dance at a Jewish wedding where the bride and groom are lifted high on chairs. |
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| Huppah | A flower bedecked canopy that is an essential part of a Jewish wedding. |
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| Ikebana | This is an extremely dramatic and artistic form of flower arranging that originated in Japan, but is now popular all over the world and often seen at weddings. |
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| Illusion (fabric) | Fine netting used for veils, headpieces, and on the sleeves and necklines of dresses. |
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| Imam Zamin | This is a good luck tradition after a Moslem wedding where the mother of the bride ties a coin that is wrapped in silk around her daughter. |
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| Jacquard | An intricately woven shiny fabric with a floral or foulard design woven into the fabric. |
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| Jewel Neckline | A high neckline that follows the natural shape of the shoulders and neck. |
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| Juliet Cap | This is a close fitting cap that is often decorated with precious stones sometimes worn as a bride’s headpiece. |
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| Juliet Fitted Sleeves | A tightly fitted sleeve with a small pouf at the shoulder. |
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| Kallah (KAH-lah) | The bride. |
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| Karat | The measure of the purity of gold. |
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| Ketubah (k'too-BAH) | In Jewish weddings it is the marriage contract. |
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| Koumbaro (See Crown) | This is the title of the best man in Eastern Orthodox Christian weddings. |
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| Lace | A decorative mesh of interlaced threadwork which is plaited, knotted, looped and turned to make either simple or complicated patterns and raised work. |
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| Latticework | An icing adornment on a wedding cake that zigzags. |
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| Lazo | A rope used in some culture to tie the bride and groom together during the wedding ceremony. |
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| Leg o´ Mutton Sleeves | Sleeves that are very full at the shoulder and narrow to become very fitted at the forearm. |
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| Madonna Veil | A veil that falls just below the chin and is worn at informal weddings. |
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| Maid Of Honor | An unmarried woman known as the chief bridesmaid in some countries, she is the last bridesmaid to walk down the aisle before the bride herself. She will also hold onto the bouquets during the vows and see that the brides dress is properly turned out. |
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| Man of Honor | Some brides prefer to have a male friend attending to the duties of the maid of honor. |
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| Mantilla | This is a Spanish word literally meaning `little cloak.’ It is a lace or tulle shawl that the bride can wear around her head and shoulders. |
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| Marzipan | Made of sugar, egg whites and almonds, this substance can be used as a base for icing, or to mold decorative forms such as flowers from, on the wedding cake. vMatron Of Honor |
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| Matron Of Honor | The maid of honor who is already married. |
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| Mermaid Silhouette | Slim-fitting dress silhouette that flares out at the knee. |
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| Mizinke (meh-ZINK-a) | A joyous dance towards the end of the reception to honor parents who have brought their last daughter or son to the wedding canopy. |
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| MOH | This abbreviation stands for maid / man / matron of honor. See respective entries. |
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| Monarch Train | Extends 12 feet or more from the waist. |
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| Money Bag | A bag used for the bride to hold monetary gifts given during the wedding. |
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| Money Box | A box usually put on the dais for guest to put wedding cards. |
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| Morning Coat | A jacket worn by the groom for a formal daytime wedding which tapers from the front waist button to a long, wide back tail |
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| Nosegay | See Posies. |
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| Nosegay Bouquet | Round in shape and usually smaller than the other styles, it's made using flowers all cut to the same length and usually made with one dominant flower or color. |
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| Notched Lapel | A triangular informal lapel where indentation is cut where the lapel joins the collar. |
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| Oasis | Special foam used in flower arrangements. Oasis fits in a bouquet holder and retains water like a sponge. |
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| Officiant | This is the cleric or secular official that carries out the ceremony. For non religious weddings, he or she might be a justice of the peace, magistrate or even the Captain of a ship (when onboard). |
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| Organza Ribbon | A sheer fabric used to make ribbon and netting for wedding decorating and accessories. |
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| Pageant Bouquet | See Presentation. |
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| Pages or Page Boys | These are small children (usually boys) who follow the bride down the aisle carrying some of her train. They can also be known as train bearers. (See Train). |
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| Pillars | These are the supports used to prop up the varying tiers of a multi-tiered wedding cake. They may be made from cardboard, plastic or wood. They are also known as columns. |
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| Piping | This is a way of making shapes like bows, leaves, stars, flowers, or design patterns using icing. A pastry bag is filled with soft icing, then squeezed through a selection of different shaped tips onto the wedding cake, where it hardens. Royal icing is often used for this, as it can easily be colored and is not strongly flavored. |
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| Place cards | Seating cards to let the wedding guest know where they are to be seated at the wedding. |
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| Pomander | This is a round ball completely covered by flower blooms. They are carried by flower girls in the bridal procession who hold them by a ribbon. |
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| Posies | Small, roundly shaped flower bouquets that are tightly packed and also will include greenery. |
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| Pouf | This is a piece of netting that is gathered up and attached to a headpiece or comb, to allow for extra height to the veil. |
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| Presentation | This is an elegant bouquet of long stemmed flowers that the bride carries in her arms. |
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| Pulled Sugar | A technique in which boiled sugar is pulled and stretched to produce flowers, ribbons and bows. |
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| Qazi | The cleric who holds a Moslem wedding ceremony. |
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| Raised Tiers | Layers are separated by columns to make the cake appear taller. |
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| Rehearsal dinner | The dinner held before the wedding to invite the families to get together and rehearse the ceremony. |
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| Ring Bearer | This is a usually a small boy, who walks down the aisle as part of the bridal procession carrying an ornamental cushion that has two rings tied to it. |
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| Ring Pillow | A pillow carried by the ring bearer used to hold rings to walk down the aisle preceding the bride. |
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| Rolled Fondant | This icing is made of gelatin, confectionery sugar and water. It has a beautiful porcelain finish suitable for beading or tiny flowers. |
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| Royal Icing | Sugar and egg white mixture piped through a bag to create flowers and other decorations that are allowed to dry and placed individually on the cake. |
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| Rukhsat | A ritual tradition in Moslem weddings where the father of the bride gives her hand in marriage to her groom, on the promise that he will look after her. |
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| Save the Date Card | Informal announcements that precede the wedding invitations several months ahead and allows your guests to make the necessary arrangements to attend your wedding. |
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| Semi-Cathedral Train | A dress that extends 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 feet from the waist. |
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| Semi-Formal | At these weddings; a less restrictive choice of clothing applies. |
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| Sephardim | Jewish traditions and culture that originate from the Mediterranean, including Spain and Portugal. |
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| Shabbat (shah-BAHT) | The Hebrew word for "Sabbath." |
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| Shawl Collar | A smooth, rounded lapel with no notch. |
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| Shower | A spray of long stemmed flowers, often mixed with ivies that cascades downwards as the bride holds it in her hands. |
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| Silhouette (Dress) | The general outline and style of a dress. |
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| Silk | This expensive, lustrous, and fine but strong natural thread is used for the most costly of wedding gowns. Many different weaves are available, which are used for different parts of the gown as they vary in density, suppleness, and sheen. Satin, Organza, Chiffon, Shantung, and Velvet are some examples. |
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| Simcha (seem-CHAH) | The celebration of joy and a joyous occasion. At a Jewish wedding, it is a post-ceremony party whose purpose is to heighten the jubilation of the bride and groom. |
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| Sleeveless Bodice | A bodice style that doesn't have any attached sleeves. |
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| Snood | A snood is an knitted net the bride may wear at the back of her head to enclose her hair. |
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| Stroller Coat | This is a semiformal jacket colored gray or black that resembles a tuxedo, but worn for daytime weddings. |
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| Sweep Train | The shortest dress train, it goes back 8 to 12 inches after touching the floor. |
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| Tails | This is an abbreviation for the tail coat worn for formal evening weddings. |
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| Tallis (tal-lis) | The prayer shawl. It is worn by married Jewish men in Orthodox synagogues and all adult men (and some women) in Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist synagogues. It is a rectangular garment with four tzitzit (fringes) on each corner. |
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| Tiara | A tiara is a thin jeweled semi-circular headpiece with a higher front and sloping sides worn at the top of the head. |
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| Tiers | Cakes that are stacked on top of one another to create a multi-layered cake supported in place by pillars. |
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| Tiffany (Diamond) | A simple 2-3mm ring setting with a head that holds a single diamond. |
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| Toasting Glasses | A set of glasses used at a wedding for the bride and groom for their beverages and to use during the toast. |
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| Topiary | This is the skilled art of clipping or trimming foliage or flower arrangements so that they take on the shapes of animals, lettering, numbers, or various but precise geometric forms. |
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| Torah (to-RAH) | The first five books of the Hebrew bible. |
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| Tossing Bouquet | This copy of the bridal bouquet is used to throw towards bridesmaids and other female guests after the wedding ceremony. |
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| Train | This is an extension to a wedding gown or other dress that trails along the floor behind the wearer. |
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| Train Bearers | See Pages or Page Boys. |
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| Trellis | A woven wooden frame used as a screen or support for climbing plants and flowers. |
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| Trousseau | French, from Old French, diminutive of trousse bundle. The personal possessions of a bride usually including clothes, accessories, and household linens and wares. |
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| Trunk Show | Usually held at a local bridal shop, a trunk show allows a bridal gown designer to "show off" her/his latest designs to the shop's customers. |
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| Tulle | This is a fine mesh used for bridal veils, wedding favors, and sometimes in wedding gowns made from nylon, silk or rayon. |
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| Tuxedo | A single- or double-breasted jacket that is worn at formal or semiformal evening weddings and is paired with matching trousers. |
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| Tzedakah (tz'dah-KAH) | The obligatory Jewish requirement of righteous giving and just behavior that ensures the basic well-being of fellow human beings. |
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| Unity Candle | A candle that is lit by the bride and groom together as a symbol of their unity of becoming one. |
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| Veil | A layer of tulle used by the bride as a headpiece. |
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| Vests | Worn in place of a cummerbund to cover the trouser waistband. |
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| Vows | At the very heart of the wedding ceremony, the vows exchanged between the bride and groom are promises of future loyalty, love, trust and support. |
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| Waistcoat | Worn in place of a cummerbund to cover the trouser waistband. |
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| Wali | These are representatives of the bride at a Moslem wedding. |
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| Walima | This is the Moslem name for a wedding reception. |
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| Waltz Veil | A veil that falls somewhere between the knee and the ankle. |
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| Wedding Bubbles | Used in place of rice at a wedding to send off the bride and groom. |
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| Wedding Cake Server | A cake knife used in the tradition of cutting the wedding cake. |
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| Wedding Cake Top | Usually a statue or other collectable used to adorn the top of a wedding cake. |
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| Wedding Favors | A gift given as gratitude and as a souvenir of the wedding to the wedding guests. |
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| Wedding Guest Book | A book used at a wedding to collect signatures and addresses of guest attending the wedding. |
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| Wedding Money Bag | A bag used for the bride to hold monetary gifts given during the wedding. |
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| Wedding Party | Attendants that are part of a wedding such as Maid of honor, best man, groomsmen and bridesmaids. |
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| Wedding Ring Pillow | A pillow carried by the ring bearer used to hold rings to walk down the aisle preceding the bride. |
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| Wedding Veil | A layer of tulle used by the bride as a headpiece. |
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| Wing Collar | This is the most formal type of collar, shirts with this are the standard choice for wearing with a tuxedo. |
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| Wreath | A circle of flowers and / or leaves that is often decorated with ribbons and bows. Wreaths are generally used as a centerpiece of a decorated area, or are seen above doorways. A small wreath may also be worn by the bride atop her head, if she so wishes. It may also be referred to as a garland though there are differences. (See Garlands). |
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| Yichud (YEE-hood) | A short time of seclusion immediately following the marriage when the Chatan & Kallah spend a period alone together. |
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