Wedding planning glossary

The hotel's deadline for booking under your wedding room-block arrangement. It is a separate date from the invitation reply deadline.

A formal dress code traditionally calling for a tuxedo or formal evening dress.

A gathered arrangement of flowers, often carried during the ceremony.

A small flower arrangement worn on a jacket lapel.

A meal service where guests choose food from shared serving stations.

A bar where guests pay for their own drinks.

The service that prepares or supplies food and drink for an event.

The main decoration placed in the center of a reception table.

The part of the wedding in which the couple exchange vows or complete the marriage rite.

An invitation covering the ceremony without automatically including the reception. Separate guest instructions help make the scope clear.

A period for drinks and light food, often between the ceremony and dinner.

A vendor's stated scope and amount for your event. Keep it distinct from an early budget estimate and read the booking terms.

Money kept aside in a budget for costs that were not planned or turn out higher.

Organizing suppliers, timing and practical details so the wedding plan can run on the day.

An advance payment used to reserve a date or service. Refund terms depend on the agreement.

A wedding held away from the couple's usual home area, often requiring guest travel.

An extra invitation card for information such as travel, lodging or a wedding website.

A guest's food-related need that the caterer must account for. Ask how the vendor collects and handles this information.

The confirmed number of people attending. Caterers and seating plans use this figure after outstanding replies have been followed up.

One quoted amount for a service or event rather than a charge multiplied by the guest count. Check what the amount includes.

A drawing showing how tables, chairs and other spaces fit inside the venue.

Planning support that covers many parts of a wedding from early planning through the event. The contract sets the actual scope.

A tip paid for service. Check whether a quote already includes it.

People grouped together for invitation and reply tracking, such as a couple or family. Household groups also help when drafting table assignments.

The names of people a couple plans to invite, often tracked with replies and meal choices.

A main table for the couple and, if they choose, members of the wedding party.

An extra card sent with the main invitation. It can carry reception, accommodation or travel details that would crowd the main card.

The main wedding invitation and any matching cards sent with it.

The least amount of spending or service a supplier requires under its booking terms.

A period outside a venue's busiest booking dates. Availability and quotes can change by season, so compare the actual dates being offered.

The person who conducts the ceremony. Rules on who may legally do so depend on the location.

A bar where the host pays for drinks covered by the agreed package.

The extra charge for keeping a booked service beyond its agreed hours. Ask vendors how extra time is calculated before signing.

The dates and amounts due under a vendor agreement. Track the deposit and remaining balance against the written terms.

A price quoted for each guest rather than for the event as a whole.

Cards at specific seats naming the guests meant to sit there.

A meal served to guests at their seats on individual plates.

An invitation for a guest to bring one other person.

The agreed alternative for an outdoor event in bad weather. It should name the usable backup space and when the decision will be made.

The gathering after the ceremony, often with food, speeches and dancing.

A meal before the wedding, usually after the ceremony practice, for the couple and invited family or wedding party.

The list of hired items needed for the event, including quantities. A backyard plan may need furniture, linens and facilities a venue normally supplies.

The agreement's terms for moving a booked service to another date. Ask for unclear conditions to be explained in writing.

A card guests return to confirm attendance and any requested details.

A group of hotel rooms set aside for wedding guests under agreed booking terms.

A request for guests to reply and say whether they will attend.

Early notices asking guests to keep the wedding date free, sent before the invitation.

A display or plan showing guests which table or seat they have been assigned.

An extra amount charged for service under a supplier's terms. It is not always a tip.

The time available to deliver and arrange event equipment before guests arrive. Confirm it with rental suppliers and your event schedule.

Transport arranged between wedding locations or guest accommodation. Details should tell guests the boarding place, departure time and any booking requirement.

A table set for the couple alone at the reception.

A number used to identify a table so guests can find it.

A schedule of planning deadlines or events during the wedding day.

The place where a ceremony or reception is held.

The people chosen to support the couple in roles such as attendants during the wedding.