Wedding Glossary Pt. II

(Looking for Pt. I of our wedding glossary?)

Many brides-to-be begin planning their weddings thinking it will be as easy as planning any other party. If only it were! When you're dealing with wedding vendors, special clothing like wedding gowns, and multiple guests of honor, things are bound to get complicated. Because we like to think of ourselves a premier wedding planning resource, we decided that it's time we got back to basics. To help brides-to-be (and grooms-to-be) who are feeling a little overwhelmed by all the wedding wisdom out there, we put together a comprehensive wedding glossary. This is Part II:

Bridal Procession
This is the march undertaken by wedding attendants (bridesmaids and groomsmen), the groom, the bride, and anyone else participating in the wedding ceremony. Typically, music is played during the processional, and it is followed by the recessional.

Bridesmaids
These are the gals who are good friends with the bride, supporting her emotionally both before and on her big day. They may pay for their own dresses or not, and some bridesmaids are even given the freedom to pick out their own dresses.

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.

Buttercream
A soft and creamy butter-based icing that can be colored, flavored and used for decoration or filling for a wedding cake

Calligraphy
This is an ornate highly stylized form of handwriting seen on expensive wedding invitations and on other wedding stationery.

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 the flower girl or ring bearer will fulfill this role.

Cascade (bouquet)
A type of bridal bouquet that begins as a wide gathering of flowers and then tapers down as it arches toward the floor. It may be almost floor length or just over a few feet long.

Cathedral (veil)
The longest of veils, this is three and a half yards in length.

Chapel
This is the name for a length of bridal veil that will reach the floor, extending two and a half yards from the headpiece.

Chief Bridesmaid
See Maid Of Honor.

Columns
See Pillars.

Comb
A bridal headpiece attached to the bride's hair with teeth like a comb. May be as ornate as the bride wishes it to be and can be used to anchor the veil.


Click to access the entire wedding glossary

Wedding Glossary Pt. I

Every wedding is different, which means that brides-to-be who are planning weddings have a lot to learn. You can't just rely on a template that you find in a bridal magazine or a wedding web site. To make your wedding your own, you have to learn the ins and outs of wedding planning until you could beat Martha Stewart at Wedding Jeopardy!

Luckily, we're here to help you better understand the basics of wedding planning. While it's not always easy to keep everything straight, starting with the basic wedding terminology can mean the difference between a stress-free wedding and a chaotic one.

Here's Part I of our comprehensive wedding glossary:

Ascot
This is a wide type of necktie that is reserved for the most formal of daytime weddings and occasions. It is worn with a gray cutaway (morning) coat that is longer in the back than at the front and gray striped trousers.

Backpiece
This is a highly decorated comb that sits on the back of a bride's head and is used for attaching her veil.

Ballet (veil)
Also known as a waltz, this is a veil length that drops below the bride's knees, but above her ankles.

Ballet (hemline)
A hemline that falls just above the ankles.

Basket Weave
A type of decorative piping on the wedding cake which features interlinked horizontal and vertical lines of icing.

Best Man
The best man will have numerous duties, the most important of which is to keep the bride's ring safe until it's time for the vows, when he hands it to the groom for putting on her finger. His other duties include announcing speeches at the reception and making his own. He will also sign the marriage license, and make sure the groom gets to the wedding.

Biedermeier
A type of posy (bridal bouquet) where the flowers are arranged in rings according to their color. (See posies).

Blusher (veil)
A short, single layered veil that covers the bride's face before the ceremony.

Bomboniere
This is an Italian word which is sometimes used to refer to wedding favors. (See wedding favors).

Boutonnière
This is a single flower or flower bud or a small group of flowers or buds that is worn by the groom, best man, ushers, and the male relatives of the bride and groom. It is worn on the left (over the heart) lapel of their jackets.

Bow Tie
The most popular choice of tie to wear with a tuxedo. May also be known as a "dickey bow."

Bridal Bouquet or Bride's Bouquet
The bunch of flowers given by the groom to his bride, or the gathered flowers carried by the bride during the ceremony.


Click to access the entire wedding glossary

First Dance Songs for Weddings

The first dance is many couples' favorite part of the wedding reception. Besides the fact that the bride and groom are in the spotlight during the dance, being on the dance floor all alone gives the newlyweds some time to chat in private. Seriously... so much of a wedding reception is spent schmoozing with seldom-seen relatives or graciously accepting congratulations that the bride and groom may never get another opportunity to spend a few quiet moments exchanging sweet nothings. Thank heavens for the first dance!

But choosing a first dance song can be complicated. You and your sweetie may not have ever dubbed any song "your song." Your favorite songs may have adult themes or bad language hidden in otherwise loving lyrics. And if neither of you is particularly into music, you may not even know where to begin! This is where your wedding DJ can help you -- he or she will have helped a lot of couples choose a first dance song and will likely have a huge list of possibilities for you to choose from. However, before you run off and call your wedding disc jockey, we here at Smart Wedding Planning have put together a short list of the most popular first dance songs for weddings. Here's a taste:

• "God Bless the Broken Road" (Rascal Flatts)
• "Wonderful Tonight" (Eric Clapton)
• "Inside Your Heaven" (Carrie Underwood)
• "The Way You Look Tonight" (Frank Sinatra)
• "Amazing" (Aerosmith)
• "Always" (Shania Twain)
• "I Cross My Heart" (George Strait)
• "It's Your Love" (Tim McGraw and Faith Hill)
• "I Need You" (Tim McGraw and Faith Hill)
• "Lost in This Moment" (Big and Rich)
• "Don't Take The Girl" (Tim McGraw)
• "I Don't Want to Miss A Thing" (Aerosmith)
• "A Whole New World" (Peabo Bryson)
• "Breathe" (Faith Hill)
• "Because You Loved Me" (Celine Dion)

Click to see the whole list of popular first dance songs for weddings