Boy meets girl. Girl loves boy. Boy proposes to girl. And then somehow they’re supposed to have learned the magical language of weddings while trying their very best to plan for the happiest day of their lives. Planning a wedding is hard enough, but much harder when vendors are asking you things like “Are you having a receiving line?” and you’re not sure if that means you have to line up to receive your gifts or if that means your bridal party will be walking down the aisle at some point.
Not to worry anymore! I’ve gathered a lovely list of wedding vocab that’ll help you figure out what everyone is talking about. I’m sure I haven’t complied all of it here myself, so be sure to add your own in the comments!
Let’s start small – Wedding Abbreviations
B – Bride
G – Groom
BM – Best Man or Bridesmaid
MOH – Maid of Honor or Matron of Honor
MOB – Mother of Bride
FOB – Father of Bride
MOG – Mother of Groom
FOG – Father of Groom
Moving along – Your Wedding SAT Vocab Guide
Preps – Getting ready in the morning
Processional – Walking down the aisle before the ceremony
Recessional – Walking back up the aisle after the ceremony
Receiving Line – Greeting all of your guests as they walk out of the ceremony
Cocktail Hour – Hour of hors d’oeuvres and drinks before the reception
Reception – 4-5 hours of dinner and dancing
First Dance – Husband and wife’s first dance together
Parent Dances – Traditionally, Bride dances with her dad, Groom with his mom
Toasts – Traditionally made by the Best Man, but can also be made by the MOH and Parents of the Bride or Groom
Cake Cutting – Bride and Groom cut their wedding cake and feed each other
Anniversary Dance – All married couples slow dance, with the Emcee directing couples to leave the floor starting with the newest married until the couple who has been married the longest is left dancing alone
Bouquet / Garter Toss – Bride throws her bouquet to all the single ladies, groom pulls garter off of bride and throws to all of the single guys. The couple that catches the bouquet and garter are said to be the next to get married, and the guy has to put the garter on the girl who caught the bouquet, with good luck attached to how high he puts it up her leg.
Got more of your own? Add them to the comments below!
