Wedding Terminology
What is a processional?
The grand entrance part of a wedding where the couple, family members, and wedding party walk down the aisle
What is a charger?
A decorative base plate placed under the actual dinner plate.
After what time in Arizona, is it considered "After Hours?"
10pm
This is vase-less floor arrangement that creates the illusion that flowers are growing directly out of the ground.
Floral Meadow
Five minutes before the reception entrance, the bride tells you she has decided she no longer wants to do the Daddy-Daughter Dance. The dance is currently on the timeline. Who needs to know about this change, and what do you do?
What is a recessional?
The grand exit of the ceremony where everyone walks back up the aisle
What is a hurricane?
A tall, open-ended glass cylinder placed over a candle to shield the flame
What is A/V?
Audio/visual (sound and picture)
What does it mean to swag a door?
Drapery hung in a swoop design to allow access to a door.
The florist arrives with centerpieces, but the tables aren't fully set and the rental company hasn't arrived. What should you do first?
First, contact the rental company immediately to get an ETA and determine whether there is a delay or issue. At the same time, communicate with the florist about the situation and ask them to hold off on placing the centerpieces until the tables are ready.
Focus on setting up the other areas that are available. Keep the florist updated, and relay this info to other vendors if the event timeline is going to be impacted.
What is an air wall?
A large, movable partition used to divide a single big banquet room or ballroom into smaller spaces
What am I referring to when I say pillar, votive, taper, and floating?
Candles!
What is a COI?
Certificate of Insurance
I am the menu and invitation suite.
Stationery
The couple's DIY backdrop is leaning, the couple is in cocktail hour, and the photographer is waiting for family photos. Walk me through your priorities.
First, prioritize the family photos and the couple's experience. I would quickly assess whether the backdrop is safe and whether it can be stabilized or removed without creating a bigger issue. If it’s something our team can safely and confidently fix, we do so quickly. If it’s a structure we didn’t install or don’t understand how to dismantle, we don’t start taking it apart blindly.
At the same time, I would communicate with the photographer that family photos can happen in another location and identify the best available option.
What does it mean to strike?
The breakdown, packing up, and removal of decor, rentals, and equipment after the wedding reception ends
What is flatware?
What does F&B stand for?
Food & Beverage minimum
This is the name of the microphone that is wearable.
Lapel
Guests are already arriving for the ceremony and you notice the last two rows of chairs are noticeably crooked and the aisle isn't centered. The ceremony starts in 15 minutes. What do you do?
Fix it. This is within our team's scope, it's highly visible, and there is enough time to correct it.
What is cathedral length referring to?
A veil. It usually extends 3-4 feet from the length of the dress.
What is a king's table?
A wide rectangular table - the largest size 8ft x 4ft
Besides catering, what is the second fee usually included in a venue's contract?
Ceremony Fee
What vendor typically creates and installs a decal?
Signage
The bride originally told you she wanted to spend cocktail hour taking photos with all of her guests. During cocktail hour, she tells you she actually wants to sit down, have a drink, and enjoy the first 20 minutes with her new husband without taking photos. You know there are still several planned photo combinations on the timeline. What do you do?
Honor what the bride wants in that moment. Communicate the change to the photographer and adjust the photo timeline accordingly. The original timeline was created around her preferences, so if her priorities change on the wedding day, our job is to adapt—not pressure her into following the plan simply because it was scheduled.