The Wedding Glossary: Over 400 Terms Your Vendors Will Use, Defined by Someone Who’s Heard Them All – plus detailed charts and guides to help you during your wedding planning process.

Somewhere between signing your venue contract and your first caterer meeting, you’re going to encounter a word you’ve never heard before and nod like you know exactly what it means. We’ve all been there. Your venue coordinator says “attrition” and you smile politely. Your caterer mentions “the BEO” and you write it down to Google later. Your florist says “installation” and you picture someone hanging a shelf (which I mean, kinda??).

After 643+ weddings as both a photographer and certified wedding coordinator, I’ve heard every one of these terms hundreds of times — from both sides of the conversation. This glossary covers every vendor category you’ll encounter during planning, with real context from someone who’s been in the room when these terms actually mattered.

Bookmark this wedding glossary. Come back to it every time a vendor email makes you feel like you’re reading a foreign language. You’re not supposed to know all of this going in — that’s why we’re here.

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Wedding Glossary Table of Contents

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Venue & General Logistics

These are the terms you’ll hear during venue tours, in contracts, in general while planning, and in planning emails with your venue coordinator (not the same as a wedding coordinator). Some of them have real financial implications, so pay attention.

ADA Accessibility

Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. Venues are required to provide accessible pathways, restrooms, and seating for guests with mobility needs. Ask specifically about ceremony site accessibility, reception space, and restroom proximity — some historic or rural venues have limitations.

All-Inclusive Venue

A venue that provides most or all services in-house: catering, bar, tables, chairs, linens, coordination, and sometimes even a DJ, flowers or cake. Simplifies planning but limits vendor choice. Read the contract carefully — “all-inclusive” doesn’t always mean “everything included in the base price.” This is more common in destination locations like Hawaii, but some venues in WA do claim this kind of set up.

Attrition

A contract clause that outlines what happens if your actual guest count falls below the number you committed to. If your contract has an attrition clause, you’ll owe the venue for the guaranteed minimum even if fewer guests attend. This is most common with hotel room blocks and per-person catering minimums. Know your attrition percentage before you sign.

Bridal Suite / Getting Ready Suite

A private room (or rooms) at the venue designated for the wedding party to get dressed, have hair and makeup done, and decompress before the ceremony. Some venues include this in rental; others charge extra. Ask about mirror lighting and natural light — it matters for both getting ready photos and your makeup artist’s work. Also make sure this room has a full length mirror (or plan to bring one).

Capacity (Seated vs. Standing)

Every venue has two capacity numbers: seated (for dinner with tables) and standing (for cocktail-style). The seated number is always lower. Make sure you’re looking at seated capacity if you’re planning a sit-down dinner, because 200 standing does not mean 200 at tables. Cocktail only receptions are not common/standard.

Ceremony Site Fee

A separate charge some venues add for using a specific area for your ceremony, even if you’re already renting the venue for your reception. Not universal, but common at venues with dedicated ceremony gardens, chapels, or waterfront areas.

Curfew / Noise Curfew

The time your event must end and all amplified music must stop. In Snohomish County, residential areas typically enforce noise ordinances after 10 PM. Venues in unincorporated areas may have different rules. Ask about this before you book, because a 10 PM hard stop changes your entire reception timeline if you’re someone who loves to party. We can tell you though, it’s not likely you’ll find a venue that is willing to go later in WA state.

Day-of Contact

The venue staff member who will be your point person on the wedding day. This may or may not be the same person you’ve been emailing for months. Ask who it will be and introduce yourself before the wedding if possible.

Day-of Emergency Kit

A bag of supplies for wedding day crises. A well-stocked kit includes: sewing kit (needle, thread, safety pins in multiple sizes), stain remover pen, double-sided fashion tape, clear bandages and moleskin for blisters, pain reliever, antacid, tissues, bobby pins and hair ties, breath mints, deodorant, tampons/pads, phone charger and portable battery pack, small scissors, super glue (for broken heels and jewelry), lint roller, static guard spray, sunscreen, bug spray, blotting papers, and extra earring backs. Your coordinator should have one, but it’s always good to bring your own. This is a great thing to delegate: assign it to your person of honor and send them this list.

Exclusive Use

When you rent the entire venue and no other events are happening simultaneously. This means no strangers wandering through your cocktail hour, no competing music from an adjacent ballroom, and no shared restrooms. Worth asking about — some venues book multiple events on the same day. There are some that do tours for inquiring couples during weddings, host overnight guests on site who aren’t affiliated with you, other weddings happening on site, or even corporate events happening on the same day.

Flip / Room Flip

The transition period when a room is rearranged from one setup to another — typically from ceremony seating to reception layout. Some venues handle this themselves; others require your coordinator to manage it. A flip usually takes at least 60 minutes, during which your guests need somewhere to be (usually cocktail hour in a separate space). Factor this into your timeline.

Floor Plan / Layout

A visual diagram showing where tables, dance floor, DJ, bar, cake table, gift table, and other elements will be placed in your reception space. Your venue coordinator or wedding planner typically creates this. Review it before the wedding — where the DJ goes relative to the dance floor and dining tables matters more than you think.

Force Majeure

A contract clause covering “acts of God” or extraordinary circumstances beyond anyone’s control (natural disasters, pandemics, government orders). This clause defines what happens to your deposit and contract if the event literally cannot take place. Read this section carefully. Not all force majeure clauses are created equal. It’s very common for vendors to charge fees for a change due to this (yes, really).

Generator

A portable power source needed for outdoor venues, tented events, or locations without sufficient electrical capacity. If your venue requires a generator, budget for it as a separate rental — they’re not cheap, and you’ll need one powerful enough for DJ equipment, lighting, catering, and whatever else needs power. It is SO important for your DJ to check with the power setup before finalizing your gear setup (like lighting) with you so they’re not promising what they can’t deliver.

Getting Ready Location

Where you and your wedding party physically get dressed and prepared. This could be the venue’s bridal suite, a nearby hotel, an Airbnb, or a private home. Choose a location with good natural light, enough space for your hair and makeup team, and proximity to the ceremony site to avoid a stressful drive. Also make sure it has these 4 things.

In-House Catering

When the venue provides all food and beverage through their own kitchen and staff rather than allowing you to bring in an outside caterer. Many venues with in-house catering require you to use them exclusively (and then in turn may also require their in house bartending). This can simplify planning but limits your menu options, pricing and negotiating power.

Last Call

The time the bar stops serving alcohol. Typically 30 minutes before the event ends or per your contract’s timeline. Washington state liquor laws require bar service to end by 2 AM, but most wedding venues set last call much earlier (it’s a liability if they don’t).

Load-In / Load-Out

The designated times when vendors can access the venue to set up (load-in) and break down (load-out). Venues often have strict windows for this. Your florist, DJ, rental company, and caterer all need load-in time, and if the venue only gives you a 2-hour window, someone’s going to be waiting. Coordinate with your planner.

Marriage Certificate vs. Marriage License

These are two different documents and people confuse them constantly. The marriage license is obtained before the wedding and gives you legal permission to marry. The marriage certificate is the document you receive after the wedding, signed by your officiant and witnesses, confirming the marriage took place. Your officiant files the signed license with the county after the ceremony, and the county issues the official marriage certificate. The certificate is what you use for name changes, insurance updates, and legal documentation. In Washington state, the filed certificate is mailed to you by the county auditor’s office, typically within 2–6 weeks after the wedding. You’ll want to order at least 10 certified copies of this certificate.

Minimum Spend / F&B Minimum

The minimum dollar amount you must spend on food and beverage (f&b) at the venue. If your guest count doesn’t generate enough revenue to meet the minimum, you pay the difference. This is separate from a venue rental fee. Some venues waive the rental fee if you meet the F&B minimum; others charge both.

Name Change

The legal process of changing your last name after marriage. This is not automatic — getting married does not change your name. You must actively update your name with the Social Security Administration first (free, but you need your marriage certificate), then your state ID/driver’s license, then banks, employers, passport, insurance, and every other institution that has your name on file. The process takes 4–8 weeks minimum. Some couples skip it entirely, hyphenate, or create a new shared name. There’s no legal requirement to change your name after marriage.

Noise Ordinance

Local regulations that limit the volume and hours of amplified sound. In Snohomish County, noise complaints are governed by Chapter 10.01 of the Snohomish County Code. Practically speaking: if your venue is near residential properties, your DJ will need to manage volume, especially after 9–10 PM.

Preferred Vendor List

A list of vendors the venue recommends or requires you to choose from. Some venues have “preferred” lists (suggestions but not mandatory) while others have “exclusive” or “required” lists (you must choose from the list). Ask which it is before signing.

Rain Plan / Weather Contingency

The backup plan for what happens if weather prevents your outdoor ceremony or reception from happening as planned. Every outdoor PNW wedding needs one. This might be a covered patio, indoor space, tent, or an entirely different room. The decision point (when do you switch to Plan B) should be discussed with your coordinator and venue well before the wedding day. You may also need a heat plan, if the PNW decides it’s trying to outdo Arizona for a day or two.

Room Block

A group of hotel rooms reserved at a negotiated rate for your wedding guests. Hotels typically hold the block until a release date (often 30 days before the wedding), after which unreserved rooms return to general inventory. Watch the attrition clause — some hotels charge you if a certain percentage of rooms aren’t booked.

Setup / Breakdown

The physical preparation of the venue before your event (setup) and the dismantling of everything afterward (breakdown/strike). Ask your venue what’s included: do they set up tables and chairs, or is that on you? Who is responsible for cleanup? What’s the latest vendors can stay for breakdown?

Site Visit / Venue Tour

A walkthrough of the venue to see the space, ask questions, and envision your wedding day. We strongly recommend visiting during the same time of day and season as your wedding if possible. Lighting, temperature, and crowd noise all change drastically between a Saturday afternoon tour and a Saturday evening wedding.

Tent Rental

An outdoor covering for ceremonies or receptions. Types include pole tents (supported by center poles, draped ceiling), frame tents (no center poles, more usable space), clear-span tents (large, no interior supports), sailcloth tents (elegant, translucent fabric), and clear-top tents (see-through ceiling). Tent rentals typically include the structure, sidewalls, flooring, and lighting as separate line items. Budget $3,000–15,000+ depending on size and type.

Vendor Meals

Meals provided to your working vendors (photographers, DJ, coordinator, videographer, etc.) during the reception. Most contracts require hot vendor meals. These are typically a plated meal served or letting vendors through right after wedding party and then have them seated at a designated table during dinner service. We need to eat to function – photographing for 9+ hours without food is not sustainable. And as photographers – we need to be done eating when you are, so we don’t miss out on your mingling with your guests.

Venue Coordinator

A staff member employed by the venue who manages logistics from the venue’s perspective. This person handles facility operations, vendor load-in, setup compliance, and sometimes day-of logistics. A venue coordinator is NOT a wedding coordinator — their primary responsibility is to the venue, not to you. If you don’t have a personal wedding coordinator, the venue coordinator will not fill that role.

Wedding Gifts Given on the Wedding Day

Parent Gifts

Gifts given by the couple to their parents on the wedding day as a thank-you for their love, support, and often financial contribution. Common parent gifts include personalized photo frames, jewelry, watches, heartfelt letters, or custom artwork. These are often presented during the getting-ready portion of the day and make for emotional photo opportunities.

Wedding Party Gifts

Gifts given by the couple to their bridesmaids, groomsmen, and other attendants as a thank-you for their role in the wedding. Typically presented at the rehearsal dinner or during getting-ready. Popular options include personalized items, jewelry, experience gifts, or practical items they can use on the wedding day.

Gift to Your Partner

A private gift exchanged between the couple on the wedding day, often presented during getting-ready with a handwritten letter. These moments are intimate and deeply personal — we photograph them when invited to and always respect the couple’s privacy. Common gifts include watches, jewelry, custom artwork, love letters, or meaningful keepsakes.

Wedding Insurance

A policy that protects against financial loss from cancellation, damage, injury, or vendor no-shows. Two types: liability insurance (often required by venues to cover injury or property damage) and cancellation insurance (covers financial losses if you have to cancel or postpone). Both are worth having.

Witnesses

People who observe the signing of your marriage license and sign as witnesses to confirm the marriage took place. Washington state requires at least two witnesses. Your witnesses must be present at the ceremony and sign the license document afterward. Most couples ask their honor attendants to serve as witnesses, but any adult present can do it. Don’t forget this step — an unsigned license is an unfiled marriage.

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Pre- and Post- Wedding Events

Engagement Party

A celebration held shortly after the engagement announcement, typically hosted by family or friends. Casual to semi-formal. No gifts are expected (though people bring them anyway). It’s a chance for both families and friend groups to meet before the wedding.

Bridal Shower

A pre-wedding gathering (traditionally hosted by the maid of honor or bridesmaids) to celebrate the couple and “shower” them with gifts for their new home. Modern showers are evolving beyond the traditional women-only, gift-focused format — couples showers, experience-based showers, and co-ed celebrations are increasingly common.

Bachelor / Bachelorette Party

A pre-wedding celebration organized by the wedding party. Ranges from a wild weekend trip to a chill dinner with friends. There is no rulebook. Do what actually sounds fun to you, not what Instagram says you should do. The wedding party typically covers their own costs; the honoree’s expenses are often split among the group.

Bridesmaids’ Luncheon

A pre-wedding gathering (usually the day before the wedding or earlier that week) where the bride thanks the bridesmaids for their support. Often when the bride gives her wedding party gifts. Less common than it used to be, but a nice touch if your timeline allows.

Morning-After Brunch

A casual gathering the morning after the wedding for the couple, wedding party, and overnight guests. A chance to recap the night, share photos, open cards, and spend time with out-of-town guests before they head home. Usually low-key — eggs, coffee, and stories about what happened on the dance floor after midnight.

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Wedding Catering & Bartending

Catering is almost always the single largest line item in a wedding budget. Understanding these terms can save you thousands in surprises and help you read your catering proposal like a pro.

Action Station

A food station where a chef prepares dishes to order in front of guests. Think pasta stations, carving stations, or stir-fry stations. More interactive and engaging than a buffet, but also more expensive because you’re paying for a chef per station.

Banquet Event Order (BEO)

The detailed operational document from your caterer or venue that outlines everything about your food and beverage service: timeline, menu, guest count, room setup, bar service, and logistics. This is the document that tells the kitchen staff what to cook, how many to cook for, and when to serve it. Review it carefully before signing — it’s the blueprint for your reception.

Banquet Permit

In Washington state, if your venue doesn’t have a permanent liquor license and you’re serving alcohol, you may need a banquet permit from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB). The permit costs approximately $10 per day. The host (usually the couple or their family) is legally responsible for the event when a banquet permit is used.

Bar Trailer / Mobile Bar

A converted trailer, truck, van, or cart that serves as a self-contained bar setup, complete with taps, shelving, and a serving counter. Bar trailers are popular at outdoor and backyard weddings where a permanent bar doesn’t exist. They add visual charm and are fully equipped to handle bar service without any venue infrastructure. Some are converted horse trailers; some are custom-built. They’re great conversation pieces and photograph well as a backdrop.

Beer and Wine Only

A bar option that serves only beer and wine, no liquor. This is significantly less expensive than a full open bar and is a completely legitimate choice. Many couples do this and nobody complains.

Buffet

A self-serve dining style where food is arranged on tables and guests walk through and serve themselves once their tables are released by the coordinator or DJ/MC. Less formal than plated, usually less expensive per person, and allows more variety. The downside: your cocktail hour runs into dinner seamlessly, which can compress your timeline if not managed well.

Cake Cutting Fee

A per-person charge from the caterer for cutting, plating, and serving a cake that was made by an outside bakery. Typically $1–4 per guest. It feels like a ridiculous charge, but it covers the labor, plates, forks, and cleanup. Ask about this before you book your cake separately. And if you don’t opt for this, you’ll need a plan for who is cutting & plating your cake (and you want to make sure they know how specifically to cut & serve wedding cake and have a food handlers permit) … and you’ll need to provide the knife (different from the one you will use for photos), plates, gloves, and forks.

Cash Bar

Guests pay for their own drinks. This is perfectly acceptable in many cultures and budget situations, though it’s less common at full-service weddings in our market. If you’re going this route, consider having a sign that says “Bar is cash/card” so guests aren’t surprised – and please, please tell your guests on your wedding website so they’re not caught without any money on them.

Champagne Toast

Sparkling wine or cider (or actual Champagne, if your budget says so) poured for all guests to raise a glass during toasts – this is something you’d order and plan with your bartending staff. Some couples skip this entirely and let guests toast with whatever they’re already drinking (called “drink in hand”). Nobody has ever complained about toasting with a cocktail instead.

Champagne Wall / Champagne Display

A wall-mounted display of pre-poured champagne or sparkling wine that guests grab as they walk by — typically at the entrance to cocktail hour or the reception. Champagne walls are visually striking, serve as both décor and function, and create a natural flow as guests arrive. They photograph beautifully and eliminate the need for a formal champagne toast if you’d rather skip that tradition.

Cocktail Hour

The period between the ceremony and dinner (typically 60 to 90 minutes) when guests enjoy drinks and appetizers while the reception space is set up and the couple takes portraits (though usually only for family photos). This is your photographer’s only option for all family formals, wedding party portraits and couple portraits if you haven’t done a first look which means you’ll need at least 90 minutes if not 2 hours. You can’t cut time from this period, it’s a mandatory buffer)

Consumption Bar

A bar setup where you’re billed based on the actual number of drinks consumed rather than a per-person flat rate. Can be cheaper than a flat-rate bar if your crowd is light drinkers. Can also be terrifying if your college friends show up (and make sure you plan some budget increase wiggle room just in case people surprise you – we’ve had some couples have to extend their bar to the tune of an additional $1500).

Corkage Fee

A per-bottle fee charged by the caterer or venue for opening and serving wine or alcohol that you’ve purchased elsewhere. Typically $10–25 per bottle. Do the math — sometimes it’s cheaper to buy through the caterer even with markup.

Crudités

A fancy word for raw vegetables with dip. You’ll see this on catering menus as a cocktail hour option. It means exactly what it sounds like — veggie tray — but presented nicely.

Dietary Accommodations

Menu modifications for guests with food allergies, intolerances, or dietary restrictions (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, nut-free, kosher, halal, etc.). Collect this information on your RSVP card. A good caterer handles dietary needs without making those guests feel like an afterthought. Please make sure you confirm these with the caterer multiple times leading up to the wedding, including at a 48-72 hours pre-wedding check in.

Family-Style

Platters of food are placed at each table and guests pass them around and serve themselves. It’s communal, warm, and encourages conversation. More food waste than plated (you have to make extra to fill platters), but the vibe is worth it for many couples. It can cause some guests to not get some of the items on the menu (due to people over-serving themselves), so be aware.

Final Guarantee / Guaranteed Guest Count

The final headcount you give your caterer, usually due 7–14 days before the wedding. You pay for this number regardless of how many guests actually attend. Caterers typically prepare an additional 3–5% above the guarantee for safety margin.

Flat-Rate Bar / Open Bar

A bar setup where you pay a per-person, per-hour rate and guests drink as much as they want without paying. The most expensive bar option, but the most guest-friendly. Rates in the Seattle/Snohomish area typically run $40–75+ per person for a 4–5 hour open bar with full liquor.

Food Stations

Multiple themed food areas spread throughout the reception space. Think taco bar, sushi station, mac and cheese station, Mediterranean station, etc. Guests circulate and graze rather than sitting for a single course. Great for casual receptions and large guest counts.

Hors d’oeuvres / Passed Apps

Small bites served on trays by waitstaff during cocktail hour. More elegant than a buffet-style appetizer table and ensures food circulates to all guests. Budget for 4–6 pieces per person for a 1-hour cocktail hour if dinner follows immediately.

Kids’ Meal

A simplified, less expensive meal option for young guests. Most caterers offer chicken fingers, pasta, or similar kid-friendly fare at a reduced per-person cost. Specify this on your BEO so the caterer doesn’t prepare full adult meals for your 4-year-old ring bearer.

Late-Night Snack

Food served later in the evening, usually after the cake cutting, to fuel the dance floor. Pizza, sliders, tacos, french fries, donuts, ice cream, pretzels and espresso carts (coffee and energy drinks are never a bad choice) are all popular options. Budget an extra $10–20 per person. Your guests (and your DJ) will love you for it. Provide to-go boxes and bags for people to bring snacks home.

Menu Tasting

A sampling of your reception food, usually scheduled 4–6 weeks before the wedding. Most caterers include one tasting for the couple in the contract. This is your chance to finalize menu choices and ensure the food matches your expectations.

Plated Dinner

A formal dining style where each guest receives an individually plated, multi-course meal served by waitstaff. More expensive than buffet, more elegant, and gives you more control over portion sizes and presentation. Guests typically choose their entrée in advance via the RSVP card.

Per-Person Pricing

The cost of catering calculated per guest rather than as a flat fee. This is the most common pricing structure for wedding catering. When a caterer quotes “$95 per person,” that’s the food cost alone — service charge, tax, and gratuity are almost always added on top. In the Seattle/Snohomish area, plan for the all-in cost to be 30–40% above the quoted per-person price once service charge (~20–22%) and sales tax (~9–10.5%) are added.

Service Charge

A mandatory fee (typically 18–24%) added to your total catering bill. This is NOT a gratuity. In Washington state, the service charge covers the caterer’s operational costs: staffing, equipment, transport, admin, overhead. It does not go to your servers as a tip. Sales tax is charged on top of the service charge. This is the single most misunderstood line item on wedding invoices.

Signature Drinks / Specialty Cocktails

Custom cocktails created specifically for your wedding, often named after the couple, their pets, or their love story. Signature drinks can replace a full bar to simplify service and reduce costs. Display the recipe and name on a sign near the bar — it doubles as décor and keeps bartenders from explaining it 200 times.

Gratuity / Tips

A voluntary payment to service staff for their work at your event. This is separate from the service charge. Catering staff, bartenders, servers, your coordinator, HMUA artists, and transportation drivers customarily receive tips. Ask your caterer whether gratuity is included or separate before the wedding so you’re not scrambling with cash envelopes on the day.

Signature Cocktail

A custom drink created for your wedding, often reflecting your tastes or your wedding’s color palette. A fun personal touch and also a practical one: if you offer 1–2 signature cocktails alongside beer and wine, you can skip the full open bar and save significantly.

Vendor Meal (Catering Context)

The meal provided to your working vendors. Most vendor contracts require a hot meal during dinner service. Some caterers have specific vendor meals, some just have you include them in the catering guest count.

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Photography & Videography

This is our world, so you’re getting the most detailed section. These are the terms you’ll see in photographer and videographer contracts, websites, and consultations.

Album / Lay-Flat Album

A professionally printed, bound book of your wedding images. Lay-flat albums open completely flat so images can span two pages without a gutter crease. Albums are a physical, tangible way to experience your photos that a phone screen can’t replicate. Most photographers offer album design as an add-on.

Ambient Light / Available Light

The existing light in a scene without flash or artificial lighting added by the photographer. Window light during getting ready, candles at the reception, string lights on the dance floor — that’s all ambient light. Photographers who work well with ambient light produce images that feel more natural and true to the mood of the moment. We use ambient light when the lighting situation allows (outdoors/daytime).

Associate / Second Photographer

A second photographer who works alongside the lead photographer to provide additional coverage. This is different from a “second shooter” at some companies, where an associate may be a different (sometimes less experienced) photographer with the company you booked – you should know this from the moment you set up a meeting about your wedding before you book. Always ask whether the person you’re meeting is the person who will photograph your wedding, if not, make sure you meet them before you book and that they’re specifically named in the contract.

Backlighting

When the primary light source is behind the subject, creating a rim of light around them. Often used during golden hour portraits for a dreamy, ethereal effect. Your photographer should know how to expose for backlighting without turning your face into a silhouette (unless that’s what their vision is).

Blue Hour

The brief period after sunset when the sky turns a deep, saturated blue. Lasts about 20–30 minutes. Some photographers use this for dramatic nighttime portraits with off-camera flash. If your timeline allows, it’s worth stepping outside for 5 minutes during the reception.

Bokeh

The soft, out-of-focus quality in the background (or foreground) of an image, created by using a wide aperture lens. Bokeh turns distracting backgrounds into creamy, blurred shapes — string lights become glowing orbs, trees become soft washes of green, and that porta-potty 30 feet behind you disappears entirely. The quality of bokeh varies by lens. It’s one of the visual elements that makes professional photography look distinctly different from phone photos.

Boudoir Photography

Intimate, sensual portraits typically photographed before the wedding as a gift for your partner. Boudoir photographers specialize in creating a comfortable, empowering environment. This is a separate session from wedding photography.

Bridal/Wedding Party Portraits

Posed and candid photos of you with your wedding party. Usually photographed after the first look and before ceremony. These are different from family formals — bridal/wedding party portraits are the fun ones where personality comes through.

Bridal Portrait Session

A separate portrait session of the bride (or either partner) in their wedding attire, photographed before the wedding day. More common in Southern wedding traditions but occasionally requested in our market. The advantage is a relaxed, unhurried session with no timeline pressure.

Candid Photography

Unposed, unstaged images of real moments happening naturally. Your grandma wiping tears during the ceremony. Your partner’s face when they see you for the first time. The best friend ugly-crying during the toast. These are the images that will matter most in 20 years. We use a process called guided-posing that often creates these candid vibes in the in-between moments.

Color Integrity

Our editing philosophy at GSquared Weddings. It means your photos reflect reality: skin looks like skin, greens stay green, whites stay white. No orange skin tones, no blown-out highlights, no heavy-handed filters. Your skin tone is your identity, not a canvas for a preset.

Continuous Coverage

Uninterrupted photography from a set start time to a set end time with no breaks in coverage. This is how we work — 9 hours of continuous coverage means 9 hours of us there, photographing. Some photographers offer “split coverage” where they leave during dinner and come back for dancing; we don’t, because moments happen during dinner too.

Couple Portraits

Photos of just the two of you, also called bride-and-groom portraits or couple’s portraits. Usually photographed during golden hour or after the ceremony. This is the time for the romantic, magazine-worthy images.

Culling

The process of reviewing and selecting the best images from the thousands captured during your wedding day. This includes removing duplicates, misfires and unflattering blinks (think that one Queen Bee photo we all know by now), etc. We cull during editing, as the final step before delivery to make sure you get the most complete gallery to tell your wedding story. Oh, and we do make sure we include anything that would make a great blooper reel though, and we don’t cull with a heavy hand.

Detail Shots

Close-up photographs of the physical details of your wedding: rings, flowers, shoes, invitations, table settings, the back of your dress, your grandma’s brooch pinned to your bouquet. These images set the scene and tell the story of the intentional choices you made. Kate is a self-proclaimed detail whore – she is OBSESSED with these things. If you spent money or time on it, we will photograph it.

Documentary Photography / Photojournalistic

A style focused on capturing events as they naturally unfold without staging or direction from the photographer. The photographer observes and documents rather than poses and directs. This is one half of our documentary-editorial approach for 90%+ of your wedding day.

Drone Footage / Aerial Coverage

Video or photos captured from an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone). Provides sweeping, cinematic perspectives of your venue and ceremony that are impossible from ground level. Drone use requires FAA certification and may be restricted at some venues. Ask your videographer about this early. (GSquared does not offer this – it’s cost prohibitive for the rare times we could use it).

Editorial Photography

A style influenced by fashion and magazine photography, characterized by intentional composition, dynamic posing, and creative use of light and environment. The other half of our documentary-editorial approach. We blend this with documentary coverage so your wedding feels both real and stunning.

Engagement Session

A portrait session with your photographer before the wedding. Great if you want one, totally fine if you don’t. It’s an opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera and build rapport with your photographer. We include them in some packages and offer them as add-ons in others. No pressure either way.

Family Formals

Posed group photos of specific family combinations, typically photographed after the ceremony. A prepared list of groupings ensures nobody important gets missed. Thirty-five combinations is a comfortable standard for us and takes about 25-30 minutes. For us, you get access to your family grouping editable list (and a sample guide) from the moment you book so that you and your families make sure you think of every combination you want.

First Look

A private, pre-ceremony moment where the couple sees each other in their wedding attire for the first time. Takes the emotional edge off, opens up the timeline for more portrait time during golden hour, and gives you a quiet moment together before the day takes over. Not for everyone, and that’s completely fine – but we HIGHLY recommend it so you have more time with your friends and family and the day doesn’t feel like a photo session. Without a first look, you would have to have a 2 hour cocktail time, mandatory.

There are also variations:

Parent First Look

A private moment before the ceremony where a parent sees their child in wedding attire for the first time. These are some of the most emotionally intense moments of the day — a father seeing his daughter in her dress, a mother adjusting a tie. We watch for these instinctively, and they consistently produce some of the most treasured images in a gallery.

Wedding Party First Look

A staged reveal where the wedding party sees the bride/partner in their attire for the first time. These can be playful (the wedding party turning around dramatically) or emotional (genuine surprise reactions). They make great photos and are a fun energy boost before the ceremony.

Self First Look (Mirror Moment)

A private, quiet moment where the bride or partner sees themselves fully dressed for the first time — usually in a full-length mirror. There’s something powerful about seeing yourself in your wedding attire before anyone else does. We photograph this from a respectful distance, often capturing the reflection alongside the real moment.

Flash / Off-Camera Flash

Artificial lighting used by photographers, especially during dark receptions, evening portraits, and dance floor coverage. Off-camera flash (OCF) means the flash is positioned away from the camera for more natural-looking, directional light. Quality of flash work is one of the biggest differentiators between experienced and newer photographers. We LOVE our flash set up and will always use flash when indoors, or when it’s dark.

Flat Lay

A styled arrangement of wedding details (rings, invitation suite, jewelry, shoes, perfume, vow books, florals) photographed from directly above on a curated surface. One of the most common detail photos in wedding galleries. If you have specific items you want included, have them gathered in one place when your photographer arrives. We’ve also done the “end of night” flat lay when the evening sweetheart table calls for it.

Full Gallery vs. Curated Gallery

A full gallery includes every final, edited image from your wedding day. A curated gallery includes only a hand-selected subset. We deliver full galleries — no caps on image count (just a minimum of 50/hr). A typical full-day wedding produces 600–1,200+ final images – enough for you to find a new favorite every time you look through them.

Getting Ready Coverage

Photographs of the pre-ceremony preparation: hair and makeup, putting on the dress, buttoning cufflinks, reading letters to each other, first look with parents. This is where the day’s story begins. It’s also why our packages start at 9 hours — so you don’t have to choose which parts of your day get photographed.

Golden Hour

The period shortly before sunset when the light turns warm, soft, and directional. The most flattering natural light for portraits. In the PNW during peak wedding season (June–September), golden hour falls between roughly 7:30 PM and 8:45 PM depending on the date — later than most other regions because of our northern latitude. Your photographer should be building your evening timeline around this and will probably take you out for these photos for about 30 minutes.

Highlight Film / Highlight Reel

A short (3–8 minute) edited video set to music that captures the emotional highlights of your wedding day. This is the video you’ll share with everyone and watch 400 times in the first month. It’s the most common videography deliverable.

High-Resolution

Image files at full size and quality, suitable for printing at any size without quality loss. All final gallery images from us are delivered in high resolution. “Web resolution” images are smaller files optimized for social media and email.

Lead Photographer

The primary photographer responsible for your wedding day. This is the person you met with, whose portfolio you fell in love with, and who directs the photography coverage. When comparing photographers, always confirm that the lead is the person you’re actually booking.

Lens Flare

A visual effect caused by light entering the lens at a specific angle, creating streaks or circles of light in the image. Can be distracting if unintentional, but gorgeous when used deliberately during backlit portraits.

Online Gallery / Proofing Gallery

The digital platform where your final images are hosted for viewing, sharing, and downloading. We use a private online gallery where you can view, download, and share images, as well as order prints (we keep our prices low but you don’t HAVE to order through us – we give you print rights and recommend where to print).

Photo Booth

A dedicated station (usually with a backdrop, props, and instant printing) where guests can take fun, candid photos during the reception. This is separate from your wedding photography. Photo booths are a great entertainment option for cocktail hour or reception. This is separate from your photographer, and the “second photographer” or assistant cannot and will not run this.

Printing Rights / Usage Rights

The legal permission to reproduce your images in print or digital formats. You receive full printing rights with your gallery from us. Print wherever you want, as large as you want, as many times as you want. No restrictions. Some photographers retain printing rights and require you to order through them — ask before you book.

Private Vow Reading

A moment before or after the ceremony where the couple reads personal vows to each other privately, without an audience. Some couples do this during the first look and use traditional vows during the ceremony. If your videographer is present, this audio can be used as voiceover in your wedding film — one of the most powerful video storytelling techniques.

RAW Files

The unprocessed, unedited image files straight from the camera. These are the digital equivalent of undeveloped film negatives. They require specialized software to view and process. Professional photographers do not typically deliver RAW files, and receiving them is not a benefit — it’s an unfinished product. We don’t release RAW files in any situation, ever.

Same-Day Edit (Video)

A short video produced and shown at the reception using footage captured earlier that day. Incredibly impactful but requires a dedicated editor working in real-time. This is a premium videography add-on.

Sneak Peek

A small preview of images (typically 3-5) delivered within 1–2 weeks of the wedding, before the full gallery is ready. This gives you something to share and obsess over while your photographer completes the full edit. At GSquared, we do sneak peeks within 48 hours of weddings close to home, and within 72-96 hours for destination weddings.

Sunset Portraits

The brief window during the reception when your photographer pulls you away from guests for 25–30 minutes to capture portraits in golden hour light. In the PNW during peak season, golden hour falls between 7:30–8:45 PM — often right during dinner or toasts. A photography-informed timeline accounts for this so you’re not missing out on what usually creates the most magical portraits from your wedding day.

Timeline

The minute-by-minute schedule for your wedding day that dictates when every major event happens. Photography-informed timelines account for light, travel between locations, portrait time, and family formal logistics. This is one of the most important documents of your wedding planning process.

Transparent Pricing

When a vendor publishes their pricing publicly so you can evaluate fit before initiating contact. We practice transparent pricing because we believe couples deserve to know what things cost upfront. Most wedding photographers do not publish pricing (they usually just put a range or a “starting at” — they require a consultation first.

True to Life

Our editing style at GSquared. It means we photograph and edit your wedding as it actually looked. Light and bright day? Your photos will reflect that. Dark and moody venue? Things will look deeper and moodier. We aren’t here to change your vision or your vibe.

Turnaround Time

The time between your wedding day and when you receive your final gallery. Typical turnaround for professional wedding photographers is 4–10 weeks. Ours is 12–16 weeks, with a sneak peek within 48-96 hours (as mentioned above). During peak season, turnaround may extend slightly because each wedding takes 60-260 hours of individual editing.

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Videographer

We don’t offer videography, but we strongly believe every couple should hire a videographer. Photos capture moments frozen in time. Video captures movement, sound, emotion, and context that photos simply can’t. Your dad’s voice cracking during his toast. Your partner’s hands shaking during the vows. The roar when the DJ drops your song. We have incredible friend-ors in the videography world and are always happy to recommend someone.

Here are the terms you’ll encounter when evaluating and booking a videographer:

Audio Sync

The process of matching audio (vows, toasts, music) to the corresponding video footage. Professional videographers capture audio from multiple sources — lapel mics on the officiant, ambient room mics, DJ board feeds — and sync them in post-production for clean, clear sound. Audio quality is one of the biggest differentiators between professional and amateur wedding video.

B-Roll

Supplemental footage that isn’t the main action: detail shots of the venue, close-ups of flowers, sweeping landscape shots, candles flickering, guests arriving, the dress hanging in the window. B-roll is what gives a wedding film its cinematic quality and visual texture. Without it, you’d just have a straight recording of events.

Cinematic

A filmmaking approach that uses techniques from narrative cinema: intentional camera movement, shallow depth of field, color grading, carefully selected music, and narrative pacing. Cinematic wedding films feel more like a short movie than a recording of your day. The finished product is heavily edited and artistically produced. Often the most expensive videography style.

Cinematographer vs. Videographer

Both capture video, but the terms signal different approaches. A videographer captures coverage of the day. A cinematographer approaches wedding video with a more cinematic, narrative style — color grading, audio design, intentional shot composition. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but ask what’s included in the final deliverable to understand the difference.

Content Creation (Video)

Short-form, social-media-ready video clips designed for Instagram Reels, TikTok, or other platforms. Many videographers now offer a content creation package as an add-on: quick, vertical edits delivered within days of the wedding so you can share while the excitement is fresh. These are separate from your formal wedding film and optimized for how people actually consume video on their phones. This can also be a whole separate vendor.

Documentary (Video)

A video style that captures the day as it unfolds with minimal interference or artistic manipulation. Documentary wedding video prioritizes real audio, chronological storytelling, and authentic moments over cinematic stylization. The goal is to make you feel like you’re reliving the day, not watching a movie about it. Less dramatic than cinematic, but often more emotionally resonant.

Documentary Film

A longer-form wedding video (typically 20–45 minutes) that covers the day in near-full chronological detail: getting ready, ceremony (often in its entirety), toasts, key reception moments, and send-off. This is the video equivalent of a full photo gallery — comprehensive rather than curated. Not all videographers offer this; ask specifically if full ceremony footage is important to you.

Drone Footage / Aerial Coverage

Video captured from an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone), providing sweeping, bird’s-eye perspectives of your venue, ceremony, and surrounding landscape. Particularly stunning at outdoor PNW venues with mountain, water, or forest backdrops. Drone operators must hold FAA Part 107 certification. Some venues and locations prohibit drone use — ask early. Weather, especially wind, can ground drone operations on the day.

Feature Film

The most comprehensive wedding video deliverable, typically 25–60 minutes. A feature film includes extended ceremony footage (sometimes complete), full toasts, key reception moments, and detailed getting ready coverage. Think of it as the long-form version of your day — the one you’ll watch on anniversaries when you want to relive everything, not just the highlights.

Highlight Film / Highlight Reel

A short, highly produced edit (typically 3–8 minutes) set to music that captures the emotional highlights of your wedding day. This is the video you’ll share on social media, watch 400 times in the first month, and show your friends. It’s the most common and most-requested videography deliverable. Not a comprehensive record of the day — it’s the emotional greatest hits.

Hype Film

A short, high-energy edit (typically 30–90 seconds) designed for social media sharing. Hype films are fast-paced, music-driven, and focused on the most visually exciting moments: the first look reaction, the kiss, the dance floor peak, the sparkler exit. Increasingly popular as a quick-turnaround deliverable (sometimes same-week or even same-day) for couples eager to share.

Journalistic (Video)

Similar to documentary style but with even less post-production intervention. Journalistic videography captures the day with minimal editing, no added music overlays on key moments, and real-time audio. The approach prioritizes truth over artistry — what you see and hear is exactly what happened. Less polished than cinematic but valued by couples who want the raw, unmanipulated record.

Music Licensing

The legal permission to use copyrighted songs in your wedding video. Professional videographers either use royalty-free music libraries, purchase sync licenses for specific songs, or use licensed music subscription services. If you have a specific song you want in your highlight film, ask your videographer early — licensing popular songs can be expensive or impossible, and using unlicensed music means your video may be muted or removed from social media platforms (and you and your videographer would be open to being sued by the artist and/or label).

Raw Footage

Unedited, ungraded video files straight from the camera. Raw footage is not a finished product — it has no color correction, no audio mixing, no music, and no storytelling structure. Some videographers offer raw footage as an add-on for couples who want everything captured, but understand that raw footage requires professional software and significant storage space. It’s the video equivalent of RAW photo files.

Same-Day Edit (SDE)

A short video (3–5 minutes) produced and screened at the reception using footage captured earlier that day. The videographer films the getting ready, ceremony, and early reception, then edits in real-time to present a finished piece before the night is over. Incredibly impactful and a genuine crowd moment. Requires a dedicated editor working at the venue during the reception. This is a premium add-on.

Teaser Film

A very short preview (30–60 seconds) delivered quickly after the wedding — often within a few days to a week. Similar to a photographer’s sneak peek but in video form. Gives you something to share immediately while your full film is in production. Not all videographers offer teasers; ask about turnaround time.

Voiceover / Narration

Audio from vows, toasts, letters, or interviews layered over video footage. A voiceover of your vows playing over footage of you getting ready, your guests arriving, and your partner waiting at the altar is one of the most emotionally powerful editing techniques in wedding videography. If this style appeals to you, ask your videographer about capturing private vow readings or pre-ceremony audio for this purpose.

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DJ & Entertainment

Your DJ or band controls the energy of your reception. These are the terms you’ll encounter when booking entertainment.

Band vs. DJ

A live band provides a dynamic, high-energy atmosphere with real instruments and vocals. A DJ provides broader song selection, smoother transitions, and lower cost. Both are great — it depends on your vibe and budget. Some couples do both: a band for dinner and early reception, DJ for late-night dancing.

Ceremony Musician

A musician or group that performs live music during the ceremony: prelude (as guests are seated), processional (walking down the aisle), and recessional (exiting). Common options include string quartets, solo guitarists, pianists, or vocalists. Separate from your reception DJ or band.

Dance Floor Lighting

Lighting effects used during the reception to enhance the dance floor. Includes color-changing LED lights, moving heads, laser effects, and spotlights. This can dramatically change the feel of your reception space. Ask your DJ about what’s included in their package.

Do Not Play List

A list of songs you absolutely do not want played at your reception. Just as important as your must-play list. If hearing “Chicken Dance” would ruin your evening, put it on this list.

Emcee / MC

The person who makes announcements during the reception: grand entrance introductions, toast introductions, cake cutting, bouquet toss, last dance. Usually your DJ, but could be a separate person. A great MC reads the room and keeps things moving without being obnoxious.

Gobo

A template placed inside a lighting fixture that projects a pattern, monogram, or design onto a surface (wall, ceiling, dance floor). Adds a personalized, dramatic visual element. Common at upscale weddings.

Lapel Mic / Wireless Mic

A small microphone that clips to clothing, used to capture audio during the ceremony (typically on the officiant). If your videographer is filming, a lapel mic is essential for capturing clear vow audio. Coordinate with your officiant and videographer to get this set up before the ceremony.

Lavalier Microphone / Lav Mic

A small clip-on microphone attached to the officiant’s collar or lapel to amplify their voice during the ceremony. Lav mics are nearly invisible in photos and provide clear audio for both guests and videographers. If you’re having your ceremony videographed, a lav mic on the officiant is essential for capturing vows clearly.

Must-Play List

A list of songs you definitely want played during the reception. Keep it reasonable — 10–15 must-plays gives your DJ room to read the crowd and adjust. A 50-song must-play list doesn’t give them flexibility to adapt to the energy in the room.

PA System / Sound System

The amplification equipment used for ceremony readings, toasts, and reception music. Outdoor ceremonies almost always need a PA system, even for small gatherings. Wind, ambient noise, and open space eat sound faster than you’d expect.

Sound Check

A pre-event test of all audio equipment to ensure everything works properly. Your DJ should arrive early enough to do this before guests arrive. For outdoor ceremonies, a sound check accounts for environmental factors like wind direction and distance.

Stand Mic / Podium Microphone

A microphone mounted on a floor stand or podium, used during the ceremony or for toasts at the reception. Stand mics are more visible in photos than lav mics but don’t require clipping to clothing, which some officiants prefer. If readers or multiple speakers will approach a fixed location, a stand mic is the practical choice. We personally have a strong distaste for stand mics during ceremony – we will not edit them out, so keep that in mind when making decisions.

Uplighting

LED lights placed around the perimeter of your reception space, typically along walls, that wash the room in color. Instantly transforms a plain room into something dramatic. Uplighting is one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost décor upgrades you can make.

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Floral, Rentals, & Décor

Floral, rental and décor terminology can feel like an entirely different language. These are the terms your florist, rental company, and designer will use.

Aisle Markers

Decorative elements placed along the ceremony aisle: petals, lanterns, flower arrangements, candles, or greenery clusters. They define the aisle boundaries and add visual interest to the ceremony space.

Arbor / Arch / Pergola

A freestanding structure at the ceremony site that frames the couple during vows. An arbor is typically wooden and arched, an arch can be metal or floral, and a pergola is a flat-topped open structure. Many venues provide one; others require you to rent or build one.

Bistro Lights / Market Lights / String Lights

Overhead string lighting with exposed bulbs, typically hung in a criss-cross or linear pattern above outdoor dining areas or dance floors. One of the most universally loved décor elements at PNW weddings. They photograph beautifully and instantly make any space feel warm and inviting.

Bouquet

A handheld arrangement of flowers carried by the bride and bridesmaids during the processional. Styles range from tightly structured (round, posy) to loose and organic (garden-style, cascading). The bridal bouquet is typically larger and more elaborate than bridesmaid bouquets.

Boutonniere

A small floral accent worn by the groom, groomsmen, fathers, and sometimes ushers. Traditionally pinned or secured with a magnet to the left lapel. Keep it proportional — a boutonniere should complement the suit, not compete with it.

Cascade / Trailing Bouquet

A bouquet with flowers and greenery that flow downward in a waterfall-like shape. Dramatic, romantic, and best suited for formal weddings. Heavier than a standard bouquet — your arms will know the difference by the end of portraits.

Centerpiece

The decorative arrangement at the center of each dining table. Can be floral, candle-based, greenery, or non-floral entirely (lanterns, books, framed photos). Height matters: if guests can’t see across the table, the centerpiece is too tall or needs to be elevated above eye level.

Ceremony Backdrop

A decorative element behind the altar or ceremony area that frames the couple during the ceremony. Floral arches, fabric draping, greenery walls, and custom signage are all common options. Your ceremony backdrop is also the background for every ceremony photo, so think about how it photographs.

Chair Cover / Chair Sash

A fabric cover that slips over a standard banquet chair to change its appearance, often paired with a decorative sash or bow. Largely fallen out of favor — most couples now rent a more attractive chair rather than covering a plain one. If your venue provides basic banquet chairs and upgraded rentals aren’t in budget, covers are still a legitimate option.

Charger

A large, decorative plate used as a base setting for dinnerware during formal dinners. The dinner plate sits on top of the charger. Chargers are removed after the main course. They’re a rental item, not provided by the caterer.

Chiavari Chair

A formal, elegant chair with a slatted back, commonly used at wedding receptions. Available in gold, silver, white, natural wood, and other finishes. A step up from banquet chairs aesthetically, and a rental item.

Chuppah

A canopy used in Jewish wedding ceremonies, representing the home the couple will build together. Traditionally supported by four poles and covered with fabric or flowers. Can be held by loved ones during the ceremony or freestanding.

Corsage

A small floral arrangement worn by mothers, grandmothers, and other honored female guests. Traditionally worn on the wrist (wrist corsage) or pinned/clipped to clothing (pin-on or magnet corsage). A nice way to distinguish important family members.

Cross-Back Chair / Vineyard Chair

A wooden chair with an X-shaped back, popular at rustic, farm, and vineyard weddings. Warmer and more visually interesting than standard banquet chairs. Available in natural wood, whitewashed, or dark finishes. A rental item, typically $8–15 per chair.

Dance Floor (Portable / Rental)

A temporary dance floor installed over grass, carpet, or uneven surfaces. Essential for tented or outdoor weddings. Size it based on guest count: 3–4 square feet per guest who is likely to dance (usually 40–60% of your guest count at any given time).

Draping / Fabric Swag

Fabric hung from ceilings, walls, or structures to soften a space, add elegance, or disguise less-attractive structural elements. Common in barn venues, industrial spaces, and tented events. Adds significant cost but can completely transform a room.

Escort Card / Place Card

These are different things, and the wedding world confuses them constantly. An escort card tells a guest which table they’re seated at (displayed at the entrance to the reception). A place card tells a guest which specific seat at the table is theirs. Most weddings use escort cards (assigned tables) without place cards (assigned seats within the table).

Farm Table / Harvest Table

A long, rectangular wooden table used for dining, creating a communal, family-style atmosphere. Popular at rustic and outdoor weddings. Typically 8’ long and seats 8–10 guests.

Filler Flowers

Smaller, less expensive flowers used to fill space between focal flowers in arrangements. Baby’s breath, wax flower, and statice are common fillers. They add texture and volume without driving up costs.

Flower Crown

A wreath of flowers worn on the head. Popular for bohemian and garden-style weddings. Also popular for flower girls. Keep in mind: flower crowns wilt faster than bouquets because body heat rises, so ask your florist about hearty flower choices.

Flower Wall

A large-scale installation of flowers (real or silk) mounted on a wall or freestanding frame. Used as ceremony backdrops, photo booth backdrops, or statement décor pieces. Impressive but expensive — budget $1,500–10,000+ depending on size and flower type.

Garland

A strand of greenery, flowers, or both, used to drape along tables, mantels, staircases, or ceremony structures. Table garland running the length of a farm table with nestled candles is one of the most photographed reception details we see.

Ghost Chair

A transparent acrylic chair that adds a modern, ethereal look without visual clutter. Popular at contemporary and minimalist weddings. They photograph beautifully because they don’t compete with the table design.

Greenery

Non-floral foliage used in arrangements: eucalyptus, ferns, ivy, ruscus, olive branches, etc. Greenery-heavy designs are popular for their natural, organic feel and tend to be less expensive than flower-heavy designs.

Heater (Patio / Propane)

A portable heating unit for outdoor or tented events. PNW summer evenings can drop into the 50s after sunset. Budget 1 heater per 10–15 guests for outdoor spaces. Your rental company can advise on quantity based on venue layout.

Installation

A large-scale, custom-built floral or décor element that transforms a space: hanging floral chandeliers, greenery ceilings, ceremony arches, reception entrance features. Installations require more labor and design time, which is reflected in the cost. One dramatic installation can have more impact than a dozen centerpieces.

Linen / Table Linen

Tablecloths, napkins, and runners. Rental linens come in hundreds of colors, textures, and fabrics. The linen you choose sets the entire tone for your tablescape. Basic polyester is included at most venues; upgraded linens (velvet, lace, specialty fabrics) are a rental cost.

Choosing the right tablecloth size matters more than most couples realize. A too-short cloth looks cheap; a cloth that puddles on the floor looks intentional and luxurious. The chart below shows recommended sizes for full-length coverage (floor-length drop on all sides). Standard table height is 30 inches.

Round Table Linen Sizes (Floor-Length Drop)

Table Diameter	Seats	Tablecloth Size (Floor Drop)
36” (3’)	2–4	96” round
48” (4’)	4–6	108” round
60” (5’)	6–8	120” round
72” (6’)	8–10	132” round

Rectangular / Banquet Table Linen Sizes (Floor-Length Drop)

Table Size	Seats	Tablecloth Size (Floor Drop)
6’ x 30”	6–8	90” x 132”
8’ x 30”	8–10	90” x 156”
6’ farm table (36” wide)	6–8	96” x 132”
8’ farm table (36” wide)	8–10	96” x 156”

Cocktail / Highboy Table Linen Sizes (Floor-Length Drop)

Cocktail tables are 42” tall (12” taller than standard dining tables), so linens need to be significantly larger to reach the floor.

Table Top Diameter	Tablecloth Size (Floor Drop)
24” (2’)	108” round
30” (2.5’)	114” round or 120” round
36” (3’)	120” round

Note: “Floor drop” means the fabric reaches the floor on all sides. For cocktail tables, this is especially important — a short cloth on a highboy table exposes the base and legs, which defeats the purpose. When in doubt, go one size up. A little puddle on the floor looks intentional; a gap above the floor looks like a mistake.

Lounge Furniture

Sofas, armchairs, coffee tables, and rugs arranged to create casual seating areas at your reception. Common during cocktail hour or in outdoor spaces. A rental item that adds atmosphere and gives guests a place to rest outside of their assigned table.

Memorial Table / Memorial Display

A dedicated table, framed photo display, or other tribute honoring loved ones who have passed and can’t be present on the wedding day. Common elements include framed photos, candles, flowers, and a sign explaining the display. Some couples also honor absent loved ones with an empty chair at the ceremony, a charm on the bouquet, or a moment of silence. These are deeply personal, and we always photograph them with care.

Neon Sign

A custom LED or glass neon sign displayed at the reception, typically featuring the couple’s names, a hashtag, or a meaningful phrase. Popular as photo backdrops. These are often purchased (not rented) and can be reused as home décor.

Nosegay

A small, round, tightly arranged bouquet. Typically carried by bridesmaids or junior bridesmaids to contrast with the bride’s larger bouquet.

Pipe and Drape

A system of upright pipes and horizontal crossbars draped with fabric to create walls, dividers, or backdrops. Used to section off areas of a venue, hide unsightly walls or equipment, or create a ceremony backdrop in an open space. Common at hotel ballroom weddings.

Place Setting / Table Setting

The complete arrangement of dinnerware, glassware, and flatware at each guest’s seat. The formality of your place setting should match the formality of your meal. A casual buffet might use a simple fork, knife, and napkin. A formal multi-course plated dinner gets the full treatment.

Parasol

A decorative umbrella for outdoor ceremonies. Paper parasols are a popular ceremony prop but offer zero actual rain protection. For real PNW rain, skip the paper parasols and go with clear bubble umbrellas — functional, we can still see your face, and they photograph beautifully.

Pomander / Kissing Ball

A round ball of flowers suspended by a ribbon, often carried by flower girls as an alternative to a basket of petals.

Staging / Riser

A raised platform to elevate the head table, ceremony area, DJ/band, or speakers during toasts. A 12–24 inch riser makes a significant difference in visibility in large or flat spaces. Coordinate load-in logistics — these are heavy.

Table Numbers

Numbered identifiers placed at each table so guests can find their assigned seats using their escort card. Can be traditional numbered cards, creative alternatives (photos, locations, memorable dates), or unique displays.

Table Runner

A decorative strip of fabric running along the center of a table, either over or instead of a full tablecloth. Adds texture and visual interest, especially on farm tables where the wood grain is part of the aesthetic.

Tablescape

The complete visual presentation of a dining table: linens, chargers, plates, flatware, glassware, napkin fold, centerpiece, candles, table number, and menu card all working together as a cohesive design. When your florist or planner talks about “tablescape design,” they mean the whole picture, not just the flowers.

Toss Bouquet

A smaller, less expensive bouquet used for the bouquet toss instead of the bride’s actual bouquet. If you want to preserve your primary bouquet (or if it was expensive), ordering a separate toss bouquet from your florist is a practical move. They’re typically simpler in design.

Welcome Sign

A displayed sign at the entrance to your ceremony or reception welcoming guests. Usually includes the couple’s names, date, and sometimes the program or timeline. Acrylic, mirror, chalkboard, and wood are popular materials.

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Guest Management

A-List / B-List Invitations

A tiering strategy for managing your guest list when your venue has a firm capacity limit but your dream list exceeds it. A-list guests receive invitations first. As A-list declines come in, B-list guests are sent invitations. This is completely normal, not rude, and nearly every couple with a venue capacity under 200 does it. The key is timing: set your A-list RSVP deadline early enough that B-list invitations arrive at a natural time. Never tell B-list guests they were B-list.

Plus-One

An invitation extended to a guest’s romantic partner or companion. Standard etiquette says married couples, engaged couples, and cohabiting couples always get a plus-one. Beyond that, it’s your call and your budget. Giving all single guests a plus-one is generous but can add 20–40 people to your guest count. Specifying “and Guest” on the envelope indicates a plus-one is included; addressing only the named guest means it’s not. It’s also wise to specify if the invite includes children and who, specifically. A child-free wedding is absolutely acceptable.

RSVP Deadline

The date by which guests must confirm attendance. Set this 3–4 weeks before the wedding to give yourself time to finalize your guest count before your caterer’s final guarantee deadline. You will chase stragglers. Budget a week of follow-up emails and texts. Expect 10–20% of your guest list to not respond on time regardless of how clearly the deadline is printed.

Wedding Hashtag

A custom hashtag for guests to use when posting wedding photos on social media, making it easy for the couple to find all guest photos in one place. Display it on signage at the reception and on your wedding website. Check Instagram and TikTok before finalizing to make sure your hashtag isn’t already in use by someone else.

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Officiant & Ceremony

The ceremony is the only legally required part of a wedding. Everything else is a party. Here’s the terminology you’ll encounter.

Aisle

The walkway between seating areas that you walk down during the processional. Width matters — make sure there’s enough room for you, your dress, and whoever is escorting you without brushing decorations on either side.

Altar

The physical spot at the front of the ceremony where you and your partner exchange vows. Can be a structure (arch, chuppah), a designated area on a stage, or simply the place where your officiant stands.

Ceremony Programs

A printed document given to guests that outlines the order of the ceremony, identifies the wedding party, and sometimes includes readings, song lyrics, or cultural explanations. Not required, but a nice touch for ceremonies with traditions that guests may not be familiar with.

Civil Ceremony

A non-religious wedding ceremony performed by a legal official (judge, justice of the peace, or other authorized officiant). Takes place at a courthouse, venue, or any location.

Elopement

A wedding with no guests or very few guests (typically under 10), focusing on just the couple. Modern elopements can be elaborate — full décor, professional photography, and beautiful locations — just without a large guest list.

First Kiss

The moment during the ceremony when the officiant invites the couple to kiss for the first time as married partners. This is one of the most photographed moments of the day and the eruption of guest reaction immediately after is often just as powerful. Your photographer will be positioned to capture both the kiss and the crowd’s response.

Handfasting

A ceremony tradition where the couple’s hands are bound together with ribbon, cord, or fabric, symbolizing their union. The origin of “tying the knot.”

Interfaith Ceremony

A ceremony that incorporates elements from two different religious or spiritual traditions to honor both partners’ backgrounds.

Intimate Wedding

A wedding with a smaller guest count (typically 20–75), prioritizing close relationships over a large celebration. Not the same as an elopement or micro wedding, but smaller than a traditional wedding.

Marriage License

The legal document required to get married. In Washington state, you apply in person at any county auditor’s office. The fee is approximately $70 (varies slightly by county). There’s a 3-day waiting period between obtaining the license and the ceremony, and the license is valid for 60 days. Both partners must be present to apply. You do not need to be a Washington resident.

Micro Wedding

A very small wedding, typically 10–30 guests. Larger than an elopement but much smaller than a traditional wedding. Micro weddings often invest heavily in quality over quantity — higher-end food, florals, and photography for fewer guests.

Officiant / Celebrant

The person who legally performs your marriage ceremony. Must be ordained, authorized by the state, or a judge. In Washington state, almost anyone can get ordained online and perform a legal marriage. Your officiant can be a religious leader, a professional celebrant, or your best friend who got ordained for the occasion.

Pet Attendant

A person (professional or volunteer) designated to manage your pet during the wedding. If your dog is walking down the aisle, someone needs to wrangle them before and after that 45-second moment of glory. A pet attendant handles transport to and from the venue, keeps the pet calm and hydrated, manages bathroom breaks, and removes the pet from the venue after their moment so you’re not worrying about your golden retriever eating the cake table during toasts. Professional pet attendant services exist in the Seattle area and are worth every penny if your pet is part of the day. Some venues have pet policies — ask before you plan your dog’s grand entrance.

Prelude

Background music played as guests arrive and are seated before the ceremony begins. Sets the tone. This is a great role for a family member who plays an instrument.

Processional

The formal entrance of the wedding party and the bride/brides/groom/grooms down the aisle. The music that accompanies this entrance is also called the processional.

Pronouncement / Declaration

The moment during the ceremony when the officiant legally declares you married. “By the power vested in me…” That part.

Readings

Passages from literature, poetry, religious texts, or original writing read aloud during the ceremony by chosen guests or the officiant. A way to personalize the ceremony and involve loved ones.

Recessional

The couple’s exit from the ceremony space after being pronounced married, followed by the wedding party. The music that plays during this exit is the recessional. This is the joyful, celebratory walk — one of our favorite moments to photograph.

Ring Exchange

The part of the ceremony where the couple exchanges wedding rings. Usually accompanied by ring vows.

Sand Ceremony / Unity Ceremony

A symbolic ritual during the ceremony representing the joining of two lives. Sand ceremonies involve pouring different colored sands into one vessel. Other unity ceremonies include candle lighting, wine blending, tree planting, or handfasting. Entirely optional and not legally significant.

Secular Ceremony

A non-religious ceremony with no reference to any religious tradition, text, or deity. Common for couples who want a personal, non-denominational celebration.

Self-Uniting / Self-Solemnizing

In some states, couples can legally marry themselves without an officiant. Washington state does not currently allow self-solemnizing marriages — you need an authorized officiant.

Vows

The promises the couple makes to each other during (or before, privately) the ceremony. Can be traditional religious vows, secular vows, or personally written vows. If you’re writing your own, give yourselves a word count guideline so you’re in the same ballpark — three minutes of heartfelt vows followed by seven minutes of reading from a novel is a mismatch. Keep in mind, some officiants charge an additional fee if you’ll be writing your own vows.

Vow Books

Small decorative books or cards where the couple writes their personal vows to read during the ceremony. Vow books are a popular detail item for photographers to capture alongside rings and other personal elements. They also become a keepsake you can revisit on anniversaries. If you’re writing your own vows, having them in a vow book looks and feels more intentional than reading from your phone.

Wedding Band (Ring)

The ring exchanged during the ceremony and worn daily after the wedding, as distinct from the engagement ring. Wedding bands range from simple metal bands to diamond-set, engraved, or custom-designed rings. “Wedding band” can also refer to the musical group hired for your reception — context makes the distinction clear, but it’s worth knowing both meanings exist when searching online or talking to vendors.

Wedding Program

A printed guide given to guests outlining the ceremony order, identifying the wedding party, acknowledging family members, and explaining any cultural or religious traditions guests may not be familiar with. Programs are especially helpful at multicultural ceremonies where guests may not know what to expect.

Youth Attendants

Children or teenagers who participate in the wedding party but aren’t bridesmaids or groomsmen. Youth attendants are typically ages 9–17 — too old for flower girl or ring bearer, too young for a full adult role. They might walk down the aisle, stand with the wedding party during the ceremony, help with the guest book, or hand out programs. It’s a meaningful way to include younger siblings, nieces, nephews, or children from blended families without the responsibilities (or wardrobe costs) of a full bridesmaid or groomsman role. Their attire usually coordinates with the wedding party but doesn’t need to match exactly.

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Coordination & Planning

Understanding the differences between planners and coordinators will save you money, stress, and miscommunication.

Childcare / On-Site Childcare

A dedicated childcare service provided at the wedding venue for young guests. This can range from a professional nanny or babysitter watching kids in a separate room to a fully staffed kids’ area with activities, games, and age-appropriate entertainment. On-site childcare allows parents to relax and enjoy the reception knowing their kids are supervised, fed, and entertained nearby. It’s a thoughtful (and increasingly popular) addition, especially for weddings with a large number of families. Some couples hire a childcare service for the ceremony and dinner only, then let kids join the dance floor. Others provide childcare for the entire event. Budget $25–50 per hour per caregiver, with one caregiver for every 3–4 children recommended. This is NOT a coordinators job – you need to hire someone.

Day-of Coordinator

A professional who takes your existing plans, confirms details with vendors, creates a master timeline, and manages logistics on the wedding day itself. They do not help with planning, design, or vendor selection during the months of engagement. Misleading name — a good day-of coordinator actually starts working 4–6 weeks before the wedding. We offer this through our True North Coordination service.

Event Designer / Wedding Designer

A creative professional who conceptualizes the overall visual look and feel of your wedding: color palette, floral style, linen choices, signage, lighting, and spatial flow. Some work independently; others are part of a full-service planning team. A designer is not a coordinator — they design the vision but may not execute it on the day.

Final Walkthrough

A pre-wedding meeting (usually 1–2 weeks before) where you, your coordinator, and key vendors visit the venue to finalize logistics: where everything goes, what time vendors arrive, how the flip works, and any last-minute changes. If your coordinator isn’t doing a final walkthrough, that’s a concern.

Floor Plan

A scaled diagram of your reception layout showing table placement, dance floor, DJ/band, bar(s), cake table, gift table, photo booth, and guest flow. Your coordinator or venue creates this. Review it before the wedding — small changes on paper prevent big problems on the day.

Full-Service Planner

A professional involved from engagement through wedding day: budget management, vendor sourcing and contracting, design direction, timeline creation, rehearsal management, and day-of execution. The most comprehensive (and most expensive) level of planning support. Worth every penny if it’s in your budget.

Month-of Coordinator

Steps in approximately 6–8 weeks before the wedding to learn your plans, confirm vendors, create the timeline, manage the rehearsal, and execute the wedding day. More involved than day-of but less than full-service. This is the level of coordination most couples in our market need.

Partial Planner

A planning professional who helps with select aspects of wedding planning (often design direction and vendor sourcing) but doesn’t manage every detail the way a full-service planner does. You maintain more control and do more of the legwork yourself.

Rehearsal

A practice run of the ceremony, typically held the day before the wedding. The officiant walks the wedding party through the processional, ceremony flow, and recessional so everyone knows where to stand and when to walk. Strongly recommended. Things go much smoother when nobody is guessing.

Rehearsal Dinner

A dinner hosted by the couple or their families the evening before the wedding, typically after the ceremony rehearsal. Traditionally hosted by the groom’s family, but modern etiquette is flexible. Usually includes the wedding party, immediate family, and out-of-town guests.

Run of Show / Day-of Timeline

The minute-by-minute schedule for the wedding day. Every vendor should receive a copy. This document dictates when hair and makeup starts, when the photographer arrives, when the ceremony begins, when dinner is served, when toasts happen, and when the last dance plays. It’s the single most important logistics document of your wedding.

Setup Plan / Setup Guide

A detailed, visual document that tells your setup team exactly how to arrange every element at the venue. A good setup plan goes far beyond “put the centerpieces on the tables.” It organizes items into labeled bins by location (ceremony area, cocktail hour space, reception tables, cake table, gift table, restrooms, etc.), includes a reference photo or diagram showing exactly how each area should look when complete, notes which items are rentals vs. personal vs. floral (so the strike team knows where everything goes afterward), identifies who is assigned to set up each area, and specifies timing: what needs to be in place before the ceremony, what gets added during the flip, and what goes out after dinner.

For example: “Bin 3 — Cocktail Hour. Contents: 2 signage easels, welcome sign, signature cocktail sign, guest book, pen set, Polaroid camera + film. Setup by: Maid of Honor. Timing: Before guest arrival. Reference photo attached.” If your venue has a tight load-in window or your coordinator isn’t managing setup, this document is the difference between a smooth morning and a frantic text chain at 11 AM asking “where do the table numbers go?”

Strike / Strike Down / Strike Plan

The process of breaking down, cleaning up, and dispersing all items to their correct destinations after the wedding is over. The strike plan answers: Who is packing up the card box, gifts, and personal items? Where are the rental items going — does the rental company pick up that night or the next morning? Who is responsible for collecting leftover florals, signage, cake stands, and décor? What time does everything need to be cleared from the venue? A good coordinator builds a strike plan in advance and assigns specific people to specific tasks so nothing gets left behind, lost, or accidentally thrown away. Without a plan, you end up with your exhausted maid of honor loading centerpieces into her trunk at midnight while your uncle tries to figure out whose cake stand this is. The strike process is one of the most overlooked logistics details in wedding planning, and one of the biggest reasons to have a coordinator.

Timeline Buffer

Built-in padding between events in your wedding day timeline to absorb delays without derailing everything downstream. Things will run late. Getting ready always takes longer than planned. The ceremony rarely starts on time. Toasts go long. A good timeline has 15–30 minute buffers at key transition points: between getting ready and the ceremony, between the ceremony and cocktail hour, and between dinner and dancing. Without buffers, one delay cascades through the entire evening.

Tipping / Vendor Gratuity

A voluntary cash payment given to your wedding vendors and their staff for their service. Tipping practices in the wedding industry vary by vendor category, region, and whether a service charge is already included in your contract. Common recipients include catering and bar staff, hair and makeup artists, transportation drivers (shuttle, limo), DJ or band members, and your coordinator or planner. Photographers, florists, and officiants who own their businesses are not typically expected to receive tips, though they are always appreciated.

We recommend preparing tips in labeled envelopes before the wedding day and designating one trusted person (a parent, wedding party member, or coordinator) to distribute them.

Pro tip: create a tip sign-out sheet — a simple list where each vendor signs when they receive their envelope. This ensures every tip reaches the right person, prevents envelopes from getting lost in the chaos, and gives you a record. Without a system, envelopes get left on a table, stuffed into a purse that goes home with the wrong person, or handed to a vendor’s assistant who may or may not pass it along. Some of our favorite coordinators already do this, standard.

Wedding Binder / Day-of Binder

A physical binder (or organized digital folder) containing every critical document and detail for your wedding day, assembled for your coordinator or designated point person. A thorough wedding binder includes: a printed copy of the master timeline with every vendor’s arrival and departure times; a complete vendor contact list with cell phone numbers for every vendor and their day-of contact (not just their office line); copies of all vendor contracts with key terms highlighted (end times, overtime rates, restrictions); the final floor plan and room layout; the family formal photo list; ceremony order and any readings or special rituals; reception event order (grand entrance, toasts, dances, cake cutting, exit); seating chart and table assignments; a list of VIPs and anyone with special needs (dietary, accessibility, family dynamics to be aware of); transportation details and parking instructions; the setup plan and strike plan; emergency contact numbers for the couple, wedding party, and family members; and any venue-specific rules or restrictions.

Your should have this assembled and reviewed well before the wedding day, and then hand it off to your coordinator. If you don’t have a coordinator, assign a trusted, organized family member or friend to carry it. This binder is the single source of truth when something comes up and you’re not available to answer questions — because you shouldn’t be answering logistics questions on your wedding day.

Vendor Coordination Meeting / Final Details Meeting

A meeting (usually 2–4 weeks before the wedding) between the couple and their coordinator to finalize every detail: timeline, floor plan, vendor confirmations, family formal list, ceremony logistics, reception event order, setup plan, strike plan, and any outstanding decisions. If you don’t have a coordinator, schedule individual final meetings with your venue, caterer, DJ, and photographer. Do not assume everyone knows the plan — confirm it in writing.

Vendor Load-In Schedule

A coordinated schedule staggering when each vendor arrives at the venue. If your venue gives a 4-hour setup window, you can’t have the rental company, florist, caterer, DJ, and photographer all arriving simultaneously competing for space and parking. A load-in schedule assigns specific windows: rentals first, then florals, then caterer, then DJ, then photographer. Your coordinator builds this; your venue coordinator approves it.

Wedding Packing List

A comprehensive, itemized list of every single thing that needs to travel from your home (or storage, or various family members’ houses) to the venue on wedding day. This goes well beyond “dress, rings, vows” and anything else on your photographers “Day of List”. A thorough packing list includes: all personal items (attire, shoes, jewelry, HAMU products for touch-ups, undergarments, emergency kit); all décor and signage (welcome sign, seating chart, card box, table numbers, cake topper, any DIY elements); all paper goods (programs, menus, escort cards, guest book); gifts and cards for the wedding party, parents, and each other; vendor-specific items (cake stand if you own it, cake-cutting set, toasting flutes, unity ceremony supplies); and miscellaneous (marriage license — do not forget the marriage license — day-of emergency kit, phone chargers, snacks).

Each item should be assigned three things: where it goes once it arrives at the venue (bridal suite, ceremony area, reception, kitchen, etc.), who is responsible for transporting it, and what vehicle it’s traveling in. Splitting items across multiple cars without tracking who has what is how your cake topper ends up in your uncle’s trunk 45 minutes away when it’s time to cut the cake. Your coordinator should review this list with you at the final walkthrough and confirm every item has an owner, a destination, and a ride.

Welcome Event / Welcome Party

An informal gathering the night before the wedding (sometimes two nights before) for out-of-town guests. Usually casual: a brewery, restaurant, or backyard hangout. A chance for guests from different parts of your life to meet before the wedding day.

Venue Rules / Venue Restrictions

The specific policies and limitations your venue enforces for events. Every venue has them, they’re usually buried in the contract or a separate rules document, and not knowing them in advance causes preventable problems on the wedding day. Common venue rules include: noise curfews and amplified music cutoff times; restrictions on how décor can be attached (no nails, no tape on walls, no hanging from certain structures); whether open flames (candles) are permitted or if LED alternatives are required; designated vendor parking and load-in areas; where vendors can store their equipment during the event; where and when vendor meals can be eaten; restrictions on confetti, rice, birdseed, or other toss materials; sparkler and firework policies; pet policies; smoking areas; and end-of-night cleanup requirements.

Ask your venue for their complete rules document during the booking process, not the week before the wedding. Review it with your coordinator, florist, DJ, and photographer so everyone knows the boundaries before they arrive. Then communicate the relevant rules to your wedding party and family: if the venue doesn’t allow open flames but your aunt is planning to bring 40 candles from home, that’s a conversation to have in advance. Your coordinator should include a venue rules summary in the wedding binder and flag any restrictions that affect specific vendors in their individual timelines.

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Post-Wedding

Dress Preservation / Dress Cleaning

Professional cleaning and archival preservation of your wedding dress. Preservation involves cleaning, treating stains (wine, grass, makeup, sweat), and sealing in an acid-free box to prevent yellowing. The sooner after the wedding, the better — stains set over time. Budget $200–$500 depending on the dress. Even if you don’t plan to keep it forever, cleaning promptly protects resale or donation value.

Thank You Cards

Written notes of gratitude sent to every guest who attended and/or gave a gift. Traditional etiquette says within 3 months of the wedding. Handwritten is the standard. Mention the specific gift by name. Start writing them before the wedding for early gifts to avoid a 200-card backlog.

Vendor Reviews

Written reviews left on platforms like WeddingWire, The Knot, Google, and Zola after the wedding. Reviews directly affect our ability to reach future couples. A specific, detailed review (mention what made the experience great, not just “they were amazing”) is worth more than a five-star rating with no text. If you had a great experience, please leave a review — it costs you nothing and means everything to small businesses like ours.

Album Design Consultation

The process of selecting images and designing the layout of your printed wedding album. Your photographer provides design proofs for review before printing. Most photographers include 1–2 rounds of revisions. Albums can be ordered during or after gallery delivery — many couples wait until the initial excitement settles before curating an album.

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Bakery & Dessert

Cake is more complicated than it looks. Here’s what you need to know when talking to your baker.

Buttercream

Frosting made from butter, sugar, and cream. Soft, creamy, and delicious. The most common (and generally most popular) wedding cake frosting. Can be smooth, textured, or piped into decorative patterns.

Cake-Cutting Fee

A per-person charge from your caterer for cutting, plating, and serving a cake that was provided by an outside bakery. Typically $1–4 per guest. This covers the labor of slicing, plating each piece, adding any garnish, distributing to tables, and cleaning up afterward. It feels absurd to pay someone to cut a cake, but it’s standard across the catering industry. Ask about this before you book your cake separately from your caterer — sometimes it’s cheaper to order cake through the caterer and skip the fee entirely.

Cake-Cutting Set / Cake Knife and Server

The two-piece serving set used by the couple to cut and serve the first slice of wedding cake: a large knife for cutting and a flat, triangular server for lifting slices. These are often decorative and personalized — engraved with names, dates, or designs. Many couples purchase a keepsake set they’ll use on anniversaries. Your venue or caterer may provide a basic set if you don’t bring your own – but don’t depend on them to do so.

Cake Tasting

A sampling session with your baker to choose flavors, fillings, and frosting. Usually scheduled 2–3 months before the wedding. Come hungry and don’t be shy about saying what you don’t like.

Cake Topper

The decorative element on top of the wedding cake. Ranges from traditional figurines to laser-cut acrylic, fresh flowers, or personalized items (your dog as a cake topper? We’ve seen it, and it was great).

Cutting Cake

The cake used for the traditional cake-cutting ceremony and photos. If you’re serving a large guest count, the cutting cake is often a beautifully decorated display cake, while sheet cakes cut in the kitchen feed the guests.

Dessert Table / Dessert Bar

An assortment of desserts displayed on a table: cupcakes, cookies, macarons, donuts, brownies, mini pies, and more. A popular alternative or addition to a traditional wedding cake. Gives guests variety and creates a visually stunning display.

Drip Cake

A cake decorated with a drip of ganache, caramel, or glaze running down the sides. Modern, playful, and photogenic.

Dummy Cake / Display Cake

A non-edible foam cake covered in fondant or buttercream for display purposes. Used when a couple wants an elaborate visual display but is serving sheet cake or a dessert bar to guests.

Fondant

A smooth, pliable sugar dough that’s rolled flat and draped over cake for a flawless, porcelain-like finish. Looks stunning in photos but many people prefer the taste of buttercream (although I do know a baker that makes an AMAZING fondant that is delicious). Can be dyed, sculpted, and shaped into intricate designs.

Ganache

A rich mixture of chocolate and cream used as a filling, frosting, or glaze. Dense, glossy, and decadent.

Groom’s Cake

A secondary cake reflecting the groom’s personality or interests, traditionally served at the rehearsal dinner. Less common today but still a fun tradition for couples who want it.

Naked Cake

A cake with little to no frosting on the exterior, exposing the layers. The “undone” look works well for rustic and garden weddings. Keep in mind: naked cakes dry out faster, so talk to your baker about timing.

Semi-Naked Cake

A cake with a thin, sheer layer of frosting that lets the cake layers peek through. The middle ground between a fully frosted and naked cake.

Slice / Serving Size

The standard wedding cake slice is typically 1” x 2” x 4” (about the width of your index finger, two inches deep, and four inches tall). This is significantly smaller than a birthday cake slice — it’s a dessert course, not a main event. Your baker calculates servings based on this standard. If you want larger slices, you’ll need a bigger cake (or supplement with sheet cake).

Cake Serving Estimates by Tier Size

These are approximate serving counts based on standard 1” x 2” x 4” wedding slices and 4” tall tiers. Actual counts vary by baker.

Cake Configuration	Tier Sizes	Approximate Servings
Single tier	6” round	12
Single tier	8” round	24
Single tier	10” round	38
Two tier	6” + 10”	50
Two tier	8” + 10”	62
Two tier	8” + 12”	80
Three tier	6” + 8” + 10”	74
Three tier	6” + 8” + 12”	92
Three tier	6” + 10” + 14”	130
Three tier	8” + 10” + 14”	142

If your guest count exceeds what your display cake can serve, supplement with sheet cake cut in the kitchen. Nobody will know the difference, your cake display stays beautiful, and you’ll save significantly on per-slice cost. Your baker can match the flavor and frosting of the display cake for the sheet cake backup.

Sheet Cake

A flat, rectangular cake baked in a sheet pan, cut and served in slices from the kitchen. Less expensive than tiered cakes and a practical way to serve large guest counts. Nobody needs to know your stunning cutting cake isn’t feeding all 200 guests.

Sugar Flowers / Gum Paste Flowers

Edible flowers made from sugar paste or gum paste, often nearly indistinguishable from real flowers. A premium add-on that adds cost but lasts indefinitely (unlike real flowers on a cake that wilt under lights).

Tiered Cake

A multi-layered cake with stacked or separated tiers. The classic wedding cake silhouette. Each tier can be a different flavor.

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Cultural & Religious Wedding Tradition Wedding Glossary

The Seattle and Snohomish County area is home to incredibly diverse communities, and we’ve had the privilege of documenting weddings across many cultural traditions over 640+ weddings. This section covers some of the cultural ceremonies and traditions you may encounter or choose to incorporate into your wedding. This is not exhaustive — every family brings their own variations, and the most meaningful weddings are the ones where you honor the traditions that feel right to you.

These are not authoritative religious or cultural guides — families should always consult with their own cultural and religious advisors for specifics.

Jewish Wedding Traditions

Chuppah

A canopy under which the Jewish wedding ceremony takes place, symbolizing the home the couple will build together. A chuppah can be simple (a tallit draped over four poles) or elaborate (a floral-covered arch). It’s open on all sides, symbolizing hospitality and the welcome of friends and family.

Hora

A celebratory circle dance performed at Jewish weddings, typically to the song “Hava Nagila.” The couple (and often their parents) are lifted on chairs while guests dance in concentric circles around them. The hora is high-energy, joyful, and a photographer’s dream — but it happens fast and the lighting is usually challenging. Let your photographer know it’s coming so they can be in position.

Ketubah

A Jewish marriage contract, traditionally written in Aramaic, that outlines the couple’s commitments to each other. Modern ketubahs are often beautifully illustrated works of art that couples frame and display in their homes. The ketubah is signed before the ceremony, usually with two witnesses, and makes for meaningful detail photographs.

Breaking of the Glass

At the conclusion of a Jewish ceremony, the groom (or both partners) stomps on a glass wrapped in cloth, and guests shout “Mazel tov!” The tradition carries multiple interpretations — from remembering the destruction of the Temple to symbolizing the fragility of relationships. Photographically, this is the exclamation point of the ceremony — the stomp, the shatter, the eruption of joy. We’re always ready for it.

Bedeken

The veiling ceremony in Jewish tradition, where the groom places the veil over the bride’s face before the ceremony. This is an intimate, emotional moment — often the first time the couple sees each other that day. It’s typically private or semi-private with close family.

Tisch

A pre-ceremony gathering in Jewish tradition where the groom sits with male guests for singing, toasting, and signing the ketubah. The tisch is lively and joyful, and leads into the bedeken.

Yichud

A brief period of private seclusion for the couple immediately after the ceremony in Jewish tradition. Historically, this was the symbolic consummation of the marriage; today it’s simply a few quiet minutes alone together before joining the reception. We step away and give you this time.

Persian Wedding Traditions

Sofreh Aghd

The ceremonial spread that serves as the centerpiece of a Persian (Iranian) wedding ceremony. “Sofreh” means “spread” and “aghd” means “ceremony.” The sofreh is an elaborately decorated table or floor arrangement featuring symbolic items: a mirror (representing light and the couple’s future), candelabras, honey (for sweetness), decorated eggs and nuts (for fertility), herbs and spices (for protection), sweets, a holy or poetry book, and rose water. The sofreh aghd is practiced in over 95% of Persian weddings regardless of religious background, as it is a cultural rather than religious tradition. During the ceremony, happily married women hold a silk cloth (the sugar cloth) over the couple’s heads while others grind sugar cones over it, symbolizing sweetness raining down on the marriage. The bride traditionally doesn’t say “yes” until the officiant asks three times. After vows, the couple feeds each other honey with their pinky fingers. The sofreh is visually stunning and photographs beautifully.

Aroosi

The reception portion of a Persian wedding. The aroosi is typically a large, formal celebration with dinner, dancing, and music. Persian receptions are known for being lavish, high-energy celebrations that can last well into the night.

Knife Dance (Raghse Chaghoo)

A Persian reception tradition where guests “steal” the cake-cutting knife and dance with it, requiring the couple to “buy” it back — usually with a kiss or a dance. It’s playful, entertaining, and extends the cake-cutting moment into a crowd-involving celebration.

South Asian / Indian Wedding Traditions

Mehndi / Henna

A pre-wedding ceremony where intricate henna designs are applied to the bride’s (and sometimes the wedding party’s) hands and feet. Mehndi parties are celebratory events in their own right, often held 1–2 days before the wedding with music, food, and dancing. The henna designs are meaningful and take hours to apply.

Baraat

The groom’s processional entrance in Hindu and Sikh weddings, often arriving on horseback, in a decorated car, or dancing with family and friends to live dhol drumming. The baraat is loud, joyful, and chaotic in the best way. It’s one of the most photogenic and energetic moments of any wedding we document.

Mandap

The decorated canopy or structure under which the Hindu wedding ceremony takes place, similar in concept to a chuppah. The mandap is typically ornate with flowers, fabric, and pillars, and the couple sits or stands inside it during the ceremony.

Pheras / Saptapadi

The ceremonial circling of a sacred fire during a Hindu wedding ceremony. The couple walks around the fire (typically seven times), with each circle representing a vow or blessing. Also called Saptapadi (“seven steps”). This is the central ritual that makes the marriage sacred and binding.

Vidaai

The bride’s emotional farewell to her family at the end of an Indian wedding ceremony. The bride leaves with her husband’s family, often throwing rice or grains over her shoulder to symbolize prosperity for her parents’ home. This is one of the most emotional moments we photograph at South Asian weddings.

Sangeet

A pre-wedding celebration in South Asian weddings featuring music, dance performances, and sometimes choreographed numbers by family members and the wedding party. Sangeets are full events with their own venue, décor, and catering — essentially a pre-wedding party centered around performance and celebration.

East Asian Wedding Traditions

Tea Ceremony

A traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, and other East Asian wedding ritual where the couple serves tea to their parents, grandparents, and elder relatives in order of seniority. Each elder offers blessings and often gifts (jewelry, red envelopes with money). Tea ceremonies are intimate, emotionally rich, and typically held privately with close family before or after the main ceremony. They photograph beautifully in quiet, well-lit spaces.

Gate Crashing / Door Games

A lighthearted Chinese wedding tradition where the groom must complete challenges or games set up by the bridesmaids before being allowed to “collect” the bride. Challenges can include physical tasks, trivia about the bride, eating unpleasant foods, or performing songs. It’s comedic, high-energy, and typically happens during the morning getting-ready portion of the day.

Red Envelopes (Hong Bao / Lai See)

Monetary gifts given in red envelopes at Chinese weddings, symbolizing good luck and prosperity. Red envelopes are given by guests to the couple and by the couple to service staff and attendants. If you’re attending a Chinese wedding, cash in a red envelope is the traditional and preferred gift.

Hispanic / Latin Wedding Traditions

Arras

Thirteen gold coins presented by the groom to the bride during a Catholic or Latin wedding ceremony, symbolizing his commitment to provide for the household. The coins are blessed by the officiant and may be carried by a designated member of the wedding party.

Lazo / Lasso

A ceremonial rope, rosary, or floral garland placed in a figure-eight shape around the couple’s shoulders during a Catholic or Latin wedding ceremony, symbolizing their unity and unbreakable bond. The lazo is placed by the padrinos (godparents/sponsors) and remains on the couple for the duration of the ceremony.

Padrinos / Madrinas

Sponsors or godparents who play honored roles in a Latin wedding ceremony and often contribute financially to specific elements of the wedding (the arras, the lazo, the Bible, etc.). Having padrinos is a way of honoring important relationships and involving community in the celebration.

La Hora Loca

A Latin American reception tradition (“the crazy hour”) featuring surprise entertainment, costumed performers, glow sticks, noisemakers, masks, and high-energy music. La hora loca typically erupts in the later part of the reception and turns the energy up to a completely different level. It’s wild, fun, and makes for incredible photos.

El Vals / Waltz

The couple’s first dance at a Latin wedding, often a waltz or other choreographed dance. In Quinceañera and some wedding traditions, the waltz involves the couple and may extend to include parents and the wedding party.

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Stationery & Paper

Paper goods are everywhere in wedding planning. Here’s the vocabulary your stationer and designer will use.

Belly Band

A decorative strip of paper, vellum, or ribbon that wraps around an invitation suite, holding all the pieces together. Adds a polished, layered look.

Calligraphy

Decorative handwriting used for envelope addressing, signage, escort cards, and place cards. Hand calligraphy is done by a professional calligrapher; digital calligraphy mimics the look using fonts. Both are valid.

Details Card / Enclosure Card

A small card included in the invitation suite with practical information: hotel accommodation details, transportation, dress code, wedding website URL, or registry information.

Embossing / Debossing

Embossing creates a raised design pressed into paper from behind. Debossing creates an indented design pressed into the front of the paper. Both add tactile texture and a high-end feel.

Envelope Liner

A decorative paper or patterned insert inside the envelope of your invitation. Adds a surprise element when the envelope is opened. Can coordinate with your wedding colors or theme.

Escort Card

A card displayed at the reception entrance that tells each guest which table they’re assigned to. Not the same as a place card (which assigns a specific seat at the table). Escort cards can be displayed on a table, hung on a wall, or incorporated into creative displays.

Foil Stamping

A printing technique that applies metallic foil (gold, silver, rose gold, copper) to paper using heat and pressure. Creates a luxurious, reflective finish.

Guest Book

A book, canvas, or creative alternative for guests to sign and leave messages. Alternatives include photo guest books (Polaroid photos with written messages), fingerprint trees, record albums, and more.

Invitation Suite

The complete set of printed materials sent to guests: outer envelope, inner envelope (optional), invitation, RSVP card with envelope, details card, and any additional inserts. The “suite” is the full package.

Letterpress

A printing technique where inked type is physically pressed into thick paper, creating a debossed impression. The tactile quality of letterpress is distinctive and luxurious. More expensive than digital printing.

Menu Card

A printed card placed at each place setting or displayed on the table listing the dinner options for the meal. Adds a polished touch and helps guests with dietary restrictions identify their options.

Place Card

A card at a specific seat telling that guest this is their assigned spot. Different from an escort card (which only assigns a table). Place cards are used when you want to control who sits next to whom.

RSVP Card / Response Card

The card included in the invitation suite for guests to confirm their attendance and meal choice. Always include a deadline. Always include a pre-addressed, stamped return envelope (or a clear path to your wedding website RSVP). Expect to chase 15–20% of your guest list for responses regardless.

Save the Date

A pre-invitation announcement sent 6–12 months before the wedding, giving guests advance notice of the date so they can plan travel and schedule accordingly. Not required, but especially helpful for destination weddings, holiday weekends, and out-of-town guests.

Seating Chart

A displayed chart at the reception entrance showing all table assignments at once. An alternative to individual escort cards. Can be a framed print, acrylic sign, mirror, or digital display.

Vellum

A translucent, semi-sheer paper used for invitation overlays, wraps, or envelope liners. Adds an elegant, layered quality.

Wax Seal

A decorative seal made from melted wax, pressed with a custom stamp, used to close envelopes or embellish invitation suites. A tactile, old-world detail that photographs beautifully.

Wedding Website

A dedicated website with wedding details: schedule, venue directions, accommodations, RSVP functionality, registry links, FAQ, and travel information. Services like The Knot, Zola, and Minted offer free wedding website builders. Put everything on here so you’re not answering the same questions 85 times. Especially make sure you’re using sample photos of your dress code, so people can visually see the vibe and won’t under or over-dress.

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Attire & Beauty Wedding Glossary

Terms you’ll encounter at dress shops, suit fittings, and with your hair and makeup team.

A-Line

A dress silhouette that’s fitted at the bodice and gradually flares from the waist, forming a soft “A” shape. Universally flattering and works for almost every body type and venue style.

Alterations

Adjustments made to your wedding dress by a seamstress or tailor to achieve a custom fit. Budget $200–$800+ for alterations depending on complexity. Start 2–3 months before the wedding.

Ball Gown

A formal dress silhouette with a fitted bodice and a dramatic, full skirt. The most traditional wedding dress shape. Requires space to move, sit, and get into cars. Beautiful but not practical for every venue.

Birdcage Veil

A short veil made of French netting that covers part of the face, typically ending at the chin or nose. Popular for vintage-inspired or modern, fashion-forward bridal looks.

Blusher

The portion of a veil that covers the face before the ceremony. Traditionally lifted by the father of the bride or the partner during the ceremony. Not all veils have blushers.

Bodice

The upper portion of a wedding dress from the waist up, including the neckline, bust, and waistline. Fit of the bodice is the most important element of dress alterations.

Bustle

A series of hooks, buttons, or ties that gather and lift the train of a wedding dress for easier movement during the reception. French bustles tuck under the dress; American bustles attach on the outside and create visible draping. Your seamstress determines which bustle style works best for your dress. Practice bustling before the wedding day.

Cathedral Veil

A veil that extends 6–8 feet or more beyond the dress, creating a dramatic, formal effect. Makes a stunning processional but needs to be removed or bustled for the reception.

Chapel Train

A dress train that extends 3–4 feet from the waist. A popular middle-ground between a sweep train and a cathedral train.

Convertible Dress

A wedding dress that can be transformed between looks, typically with a detachable skirt, sleeves, or overskirt. Ceremony drama, reception mobility.

Crinoline

A stiff petticoat worn under a ball gown or full-skirted dress to maintain volume and shape. Your bridal stylist will help you determine if your dress needs one.

Fingertip Veil

A veil that falls to the fingertips when arms are at the sides. A versatile, popular length that works with most dress styles.

Fit-and-Flare

A dress silhouette that’s fitted through the bodice and hips, then flares out softly below the hips. More subtle than a mermaid but still figure-defining.

Groomswear Terminology

Suit vs. Tuxedo

The fundamental distinction: a suit has matching fabric on the lapels, collar, and body. A tuxedo has satin or silk-faced lapels, buttons, and sometimes a satin stripe down the trouser leg. Tuxedos are more formal. For most weddings in the PNW, a well-fitted suit is perfectly appropriate. Tuxedos are typically reserved for black-tie or formal evening weddings.

Lapel Styles: Notch, Peak, and Shawl

The three lapel shapes on suits and tuxedos. Notch lapels (a V-shaped notch where lapel meets collar) are the most common and versatile. Peak lapels (pointed upward) are more formal and add a broader, more powerful silhouette. Shawl lapels (smooth, rounded, no notch) are traditionally found on tuxedos and dinner jackets and read as the most formal.

Single-Breasted vs. Double-Breasted

Single-breasted jackets have one column of buttons and a narrow front overlap — the most common modern cut. Double-breasted jackets have two parallel columns of buttons and a wider overlap, creating a bolder, more structured silhouette. Double-breasted is more formal and works best on taller or broader frames.

Slim Fit / Modern Fit / Classic Fit

The three main suit silhouettes. Slim fit is narrower through the body and legs — contemporary and popular with younger grooms. Modern fit is slightly more room than slim but still tailored. Classic fit is the most generous cut with a traditional, relaxed silhouette. The right fit depends on your body type and personal style, not trends.

Boutonniere Placement

The boutonniere is always pinned to the left lapel, stem down, with the flower head at roughly the same height as the pocket square or breast pocket. Your florist or coordinator can pin it; it takes about 30 seconds if you know what you’re doing.

Pocket Square

A decorative fabric square folded and placed in the breast pocket of a suit or tuxedo jacket. Pocket squares come in various folds (flat/presidential, puff, pointed, multi-point) and can match or complement the tie, boutonniere, or wedding party colors. They’re a small detail that makes a noticeable difference in photos.

Tie vs. Bow Tie

Neckties are standard for suits and less formal settings. Bow ties are traditionally paired with tuxedos but work with suits for a more distinct, personality-driven look. Both photograph well. Choose based on formality and personal style, not obligation.

Tie Bar / Tie Clip

A small metal bar that clips across the tie to secure it to the shirt placket. Functional (keeps the tie from flipping in wind) and decorative. Position it between the third and fourth button of your shirt for the most polished look. Monogrammed or custom tie bars are a popular groomsmen gift.

Cufflinks

Decorative fasteners for French cuff (double cuff) dress shirts, worn instead of standard buttons. Cufflinks are a detail item that photographs well in flat lays and can be personalized — engraved initials, meaningful symbols, or family heirlooms. Standard barrel cuff shirts don’t require cufflinks.

Suspenders / Braces

Straps worn over the shoulders to hold trousers up, used instead of a belt. Suspenders create a clean silhouette under a jacket (no belt buckle bump) and are especially popular for vest-only looks without a jacket. They come in clip-on and button-on styles; button-on are more traditional and secure.

Vest / Waistcoat

A sleeveless garment worn over the dress shirt and under the suit jacket. Vests add a layer of formality and allow the groom to remove the jacket later without looking underdressed. Common for three-piece suit looks. A waistcoat is the same thing — just the British term.

Suit Measurements

Key measurements for suit fitting: chest (around the fullest part), shoulders (seam to seam across the back), sleeve length (shoulder seam to wrist), jacket length (base of collar to hem), waist (at the trouser waistband), inseam (crotch to ankle), and outseam (waist to ankle). If renting, get measured in person. If buying, invest in tailoring — an off-the-rack suit that’s been tailored will look better than an expensive one that hasn’t.

HMUA (Hair and Makeup)

Industry shorthand for hair and makeup services. Your HMUA team typically arrives 3–5 hours before the ceremony to service the bride, bridal party, and family members. Always schedule a trial run before the wedding.

Makeup Styles

Natural Makeup

A minimal, “no-makeup makeup” look that enhances your features without heavy coverage. Focuses on even skin tone, subtle eye definition, soft lip color, and a dewy or fresh finish. Photographs cleanly and holds up well in natural light. Popular for outdoor and garden ceremonies.

Soft Glam

A polished, elevated version of natural makeup with more definition — smoky or blended eyeshadow, fuller lashes, defined brows, and a luminous finish. Soft glam is the most popular bridal makeup style we see because it reads beautifully both in person and in photos without looking overdone.

Full Glam

A bold, high-impact makeup look with dramatic eyes (smoky shadow, winged liner, full lash strips), contoured and highlighted skin, and strong lip color. Full glam is ideal for evening receptions, dramatic venue settings, and couples who want their makeup to be a statement. It photographs with high contrast and impact.

Airbrush Makeup

A makeup application technique using a specialized airbrush gun to spray a fine mist of foundation onto the skin. Creates a smooth, flawless, long-wearing finish that holds up well in heat, humidity, and through tears. Popular for brides who want all-day coverage that won’t transfer onto clothing.

Hair Styles

Updo

Hair styled completely off the neck and shoulders — classic buns, chignons, French twists, or textured updos. Updos photograph cleanly from all angles, showcase the back of your dress and any jewelry, and hold up well all day. Best for strapless or detailed-neckline dresses.

Half-Up Half-Down

A style where the top section of hair is pulled back or pinned while the rest falls naturally. Versatile, romantic, and works with most dress necklines and face shapes. The most popular bridal hair style we see.

Soft Waves / Hollywood Waves

Loose, flowing waves or more structured, vintage-inspired finger waves. Soft waves feel relaxed and natural; Hollywood waves are more sculpted and glamorous. Both photograph beautifully in motion — a breeze or a spin on the dance floor adds life to these styles in images.

Braided Styles

Any style incorporating braids — from boho fishtail braids to woven crown braids to small accent braids worked into an updo. Braids add texture and visual interest and are especially popular for outdoor and garden weddings.

Hair Trial / Makeup Trial

A pre-wedding appointment with your HAMU artist to test styles, products, and timing. Usually scheduled 1–2 months before the wedding. Bring reference photos and your headpiece/veil. This is the time to speak up about what you don’t like.

Illusion Neckline

A neckline with a sheer fabric panel (tulle, lace, or mesh) that creates the appearance of bare skin while providing coverage. Common on modest dresses or as an alternative to strapless.

Men’s Grooming / Groom’s Grooming

Professional grooming services for the groom and groomsmen — haircuts, beard trims, shaves, facials, and skincare. Increasingly popular and absolutely worth it. A clean, fresh haircut 3–5 days before the wedding (not the day of — give it a few days to settle) makes a noticeable difference in photos. Beard and skin care in the weeks leading up ensures everything looks sharp.

Mermaid

A dress silhouette that hugs the body from bust to knee and flares dramatically below the knee. Form-fitting and glamorous. Not the most comfortable for dancing but makes a statement.

Sheath

A slim, straight dress silhouette that follows the body’s natural lines. Minimal structure, effortlessly elegant. Works well for beach, garden, and modern weddings.

Steamer

A device that uses steam to remove wrinkles from fabric. Your wedding dress will arrive wrinkled from travel and storage. A garment steamer (not an iron — never an iron) is essential. Your HAMU team, coordinator, or venue may have one. Ask in advance.

Sweep Train

The shortest train length, extending about a foot beyond the hem. Subtle, romantic, and easy to manage without bustling.

Sweetheart Neckline

A neckline with a heart-shaped dip at the center of the bustline. One of the most popular necklines for wedding dresses. Flattering on most body types and pairs well with veils and necklaces.

Train

The portion of a wedding dress that extends past the feet, trailing behind the bride. Lengths range from sweep (minimal) to monarch (12+ feet). Will need bustling for the reception.

Veil

A fabric headpiece, typically tulle, that covers the face, hair, or extends behind the bride. Available in many lengths: birdcage, shoulder, elbow, fingertip, chapel, cathedral, and royal.

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Reception & Timeline

The reception is where the party happens. These terms relate to the events, traditions, and logistics of the post-ceremony celebration.

Anniversary Dance

A reception activity where all married couples join the dance floor, and the DJ progressively eliminates couples by years married. The last couple standing (married the longest) wins a small prize or the bridal bouquet. A sweet way to honor long marriages in the room.

Bouquet Toss

The tradition where the bride throws her bouquet over her shoulder to a group of single guests. The catcher is said to be the next to marry. Some couples skip this; some love it. If you’re doing it, consider having your florist make a smaller toss bouquet so you can keep your bridal bouquet.

Card Box

A container for guests to place cards (usually containing cash or gift cards) at the reception. Ranges from simple boxes to elaborate custom displays. Have someone you trust take it home at the end of the night.

Dessert Bar / Candy Bar / Popcorn Bar

Self-serve stations featuring an assortment of sweets, candy, or flavored popcorn that guests can enjoy during the reception and/or take home as favors. These supplement or replace a traditional wedding cake and add a visual and interactive element. Styled well, dessert bars photograph beautifully and give guests variety. Popcorn bars with custom flavors are a fun, budget-friendly option.

Dollar Dance / Money Dance

A tradition where guests pay a dollar (or more) to dance briefly with the bride or groom. Cultural traditions vary — in some cultures, money is pinned to the couple’s clothing. Not universal, but meaningful for many families.

Exit / Send-off

The couple’s departure from the reception. Popular send-off options include sparkler exits, confetti, bubbles, ribbon wands, dried flower petals, and glow sticks. If you’re doing sparklers, use 20-inch sparklers (they burn longer), have a designated lighter, and for the love of everything, have a fire safety plan.

Favors / Wedding Favors

Small gifts given to guests as a thank-you for attending. Edible favors (cookies, candy, local honey, hot sauce) tend to be the most appreciated. Many couples are skipping favors entirely, and nobody minds.

First Dance

The couple’s first dance together as a married couple. Usually happens early in the reception, either before or after dinner. Can be choreographed, improvised, or a simple slow dance. Do whatever makes you comfortable.

Garter Toss

The tradition where the groom removes a garter from the bride’s leg and tosses it to single male guests. Declining in popularity. Skip it if it makes you uncomfortable — your wedding, your rules.

Getaway Car

The vehicle the couple departs in at the end of the reception. Classic cars, vintage trucks, limousines, or your regular car with a “Just Married” sign are all options. Coordinate with your photographer for departure photos.

Grand Entrance

The couple’s (and sometimes the wedding party’s) dramatic entrance into the reception space, usually announced by the DJ. Music choice matters — this sets the energy for the rest of the night.

Guest Book

See Stationery section. The guest book is typically set up at the reception entrance and available throughout the evening.

Head Table

A long table at the front of the reception where the couple and their wedding party sit facing the guests. The traditional option. An alternative is a sweetheart table for just the couple.

Hora

A traditional Jewish celebration dance where the couple is lifted on chairs above the crowd. Energetic, joyful, and an incredible moment to photograph. If you’re doing this, warn your photographer — we need to be ready.

King’s Table

A single, long table where all guests are seated together. Works for intimate weddings of 20–40 guests. Creates a communal, dinner-party feel.

Last Dance

The final song of the reception before the couple departs. A private moment on the dance floor that’s become increasingly popular as a meaningful bookend to the evening. Often slow and emotional. One of our favorite moments to photograph.

Live Caricature Artist

An artist who draws quick, exaggerated portraits of guests during the reception. Caricatures double as entertainment and a take-home favor. Artists typically work at a station during cocktail hour or the reception. Each drawing takes 3–5 minutes per guest or couple.

Live Guest Portrait Painting

A variation of live wedding painting where the artist creates small individual or couple portraits of guests rather than a single large scene. Guests sit for a quick portrait session and take the painting home as a favor. More interactive than a single-scene painting.

Live Wedding Painting

A professional artist who creates a painting of your wedding in real time during the ceremony or reception. The finished piece becomes both a performance for guests to watch and a one-of-a-kind keepsake. Live painters typically work from a visible easel and complete the painting within 3–4 hours. Popular subjects include the ceremony moment, the first dance, or a wide reception scene.

Parent Dances

The father-daughter dance and mother-son dance (or any combination of parent and child). Typically happen after the first dance. Can be emotional, funny, choreographed, or simple. Choose songs that mean something to you.

Shoe Game
This is a reception game where the couple removes their shoes, and gives one to their partner. They sit back to back on chairs, and are instructed not to look at eachother and to answer the questions by holding up the shoe for the person that most resembles/is the answer to that question. Then, the DJ or MC asks questions. The final question is usually something like “Who do you love the most”, and then the game is over and we move on into the next part of the reception once shoes are back on. This game was more popular in the last 2010s.

Sparkler Exit

A send-off where guests line up holding lit sparklers, creating a tunnel of light for the couple to walk or run through. Use long sparklers (20–36 inch) without paper, designate someone to light them (you’ll want several torch lighters and multiple sober people assigned to this) in coordinated waves, and have a bucket of sand or water for disposal. Your photographer will need time to set up for this, and most photographers like to give instructions to the guests before starting.

Sweetheart Table

A small table for just the couple, separate from the wedding party and family tables. Gives you a moment to breathe, eat together, and observe the room. An increasingly popular alternative to a head table.

Toasts / Speeches

Formal remarks made by the best man, maid of honor, parents, or other honored guests during the reception, usually during or after dinner. Give your speakers a time guideline (3–5 minutes) and make sure the DJ has a mic ready.

Yard Games / Lawn Games

Outdoor games set up for guests during cocktail hour, reception, or between events — cornhole, giant Jenga, croquet, bocce ball, ring toss, ladder toss, etc. Popular at barn, farm, and outdoor venue weddings. They give guests something to do during transitions and create candid photo opportunities. Arrange them in a visible but out-of-the-way area so they don’t compete with the main event flow.

Welcome Bags

Bags filled with snacks, water, and local goodies placed in guest hotel rooms. Common for destination weddings and weddings with many out-of-town guests. A thoughtful touch, not a requirement.

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Contracts & Financial Wedding Glossary

These are the terms that show up in the fine print. Understanding them can save you money and prevent surprises. This is not legal advice. Please always reach out to a lawyer with any questions or concerns about contracts.

A La Carte

When services or items are priced individually rather than bundled into a package. Gives you flexibility to choose only what you want, but can add up quickly.

Addendum / Rider

An addition or modification to an existing contract. If you add a service, change a date, or modify terms after signing the original contract, those changes are documented in an addendum. Both parties sign it.

Balance Due

The remaining amount owed after your deposit/retainer has been paid. Most vendor contracts specify when the balance is due (often 2–4 weeks before the wedding or on the wedding day).

Cancellation Clause

The section of a contract that outlines what happens if you cancel the event: how much of your deposit is refundable, at what point the full balance becomes due, and any penalties. Read this section carefully before signing.

Certificate of Insurance (COI)

A document from your vendor’s insurance company proving they carry liability coverage. Many venues require photographers, caterers, and other vendors to provide a COI before the event. Standard practice — any professional vendor should be able to provide one.

Custom Quote

A personalized proposal from a vendor based on your specific needs, rather than a standard package. Common when your requirements don’t fit neatly into existing packages or when you need modifications.

Deposit vs. Retainer

These are legally different. A deposit is a down payment that may be partially refundable under certain conditions. A retainer is a payment that reserves the vendor’s time and is typically non-refundable because the vendor has turned away other business to hold your date. Read your contract to know which one you’re paying.

Force Majeure (Contract)

A contract clause that addresses circumstances beyond anyone’s control that prevent the event from happening (natural disasters, pandemics, government restrictions). This clause defines what happens to payments and obligations. After 2020, this clause has become much more detailed in wedding contracts. Read it.

Hourly Rate

A pricing structure where you pay per hour of service. Common for DJs, coordinators, and some photographers. Always clarify what happens if the event runs longer than contracted — overtime rates apply.

Invoice

A formal document from a vendor requesting payment for services. Should itemize all charges, taxes, and fees.

Liability / Indemnification

Contract language that determines who is responsible if something goes wrong (injury, property damage, etc.). Venues and vendors each carry their own liability insurance. Your wedding insurance covers your liability as the event host.

Minimum Spend

The minimum dollar amount you must spend with a vendor or venue. If you don’t reach the minimum, you pay the difference. Common with caterers and venues for food and beverage.

Overtime Rate

The additional hourly fee charged when your event runs beyond the contracted time. Always ask what the overtime rate is before you book. Ours is outlined in our contract so there are no surprises.

Package

A bundled collection of services at a set price. Packages typically offer a better value than buying each service a la carte. Compare what’s included in each package, not just the total price.

Payment Plan / Payment Schedule

The timeline and structure for paying your vendor balance. Many vendors offer monthly installment plans between booking and the wedding date. We offer this because we want this investment to be manageable, not stressful.

Sales Tax

Washington state sales tax applies to most wedding services. In the Snohomish County and greater Seattle area, the rate is approximately 8.5–10.5% depending on location. Some vendors include tax in their quoted price; others add it on top. Always ask.

Service Agreement / Contract

The legal document between you and your vendor that outlines services, timeline, payment terms, cancellation policy, and rights. Read every contract before signing. If something is promised verbally but isn’t in the contract, it doesn’t exist.

Setup / Breakdown Fee

A separate charge for the physical setup and teardown of equipment, décor, or rentals. Not all vendors include this in their quoted price.

Travel Fee

An additional charge for vendors traveling beyond their standard service area. Usually based on mileage, gas, or the need for overnight accommodation. Ask about this early if your venue is remote.

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Seattle Area Events & Wedding Shows

One of the most efficient ways to venue-shop and meet vendors is attending a local wedding show, tour, or open house. The greater Seattle and Snohomish County area has several annual events that have been running for multiple years. Here are the established recurring events in western Washington:

My Snohomish Wedding Tour

The annual self-guided venue tour organized by the Snohomish Wedding Guild, typically held the last Sunday in May or the first Sunday in June. Now in its 17th+ year, the tour features 10–15 Snohomish County venues with 100+ wedding vendors showcased across all locations. Check-in begins at Belle Chapel. Tickets are $12/person. Free engagement guide and swag bag included. GSquared Weddings has participated in this tour for years and been a member since 2014 (served on the board in 2017-2018).
Website: mysnohomishwedding.com/wedding-tour

Seattle Wedding Show

The largest wedding show in the Pacific Northwest, held annually in late January or early February at the Seattle Convention Center (now in its 35th+ year). Features 400+ vendors, fashion shows, expert panels, and live demonstrations. The biggest single-day vendor-meeting opportunity in the region.
Website: weddingshow.com

Seattle Bridal & Wedding Expo

An annual bridal expo held at the Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center, typically in the spring (May). Features local and regional vendors across all wedding categories. Free passes are often available online.
Website: bridalshowswa.com

Puyallup Wedding Show

An annual wedding show held at the Washington State Fair Event Center in Puyallup, typically with a fall date (November) and a spring date (February). Good for couples in the South King County, Pierce County, and Thurston County areas. Running for 5+ years.
Website: puyallupweddingshow.com

Tacoma Wedding + Event Show

A South Puget Sound regional wedding show produced by South Sound Wedding & Event, held annually in January in downtown Tacoma. Running for nearly two decades (formerly known as the South Sound Wedding Shows). Covers South King, Pierce, Thurston, and Kitsap counties.
Website: tacomaweddingandeventshow.com

Woodinville Venue Collective Wedding Showcase

A curated annual showcase (typically spring) where a collection of Woodinville’s premier wedding venues open their doors simultaneously. Venues include Chateau Lill, Columbia Collective, JM Cellars, Willows Lodge, and others. Includes shuttle transportation between venues, wine and food at each stop, and vendors showcased at each location. More intimate and upscale than a convention-center expo.
Website: Search “Woodinville Venue Collective” on Eventbrite for current year tickets

Whatcom County Wedding Showcase

An annual wedding expo at the Ferndale Events Center (Whatcom County), typically held in March. The largest wedding expo in Whatcom County, featuring 40+ vendors. Good for couples planning weddings in Bellingham and the northern Puget Sound area.
Website: https://whatcomshowcase.com/

Marysville Wedding Show

A smaller, locally focused annual wedding show at the Marysville Opera House featuring vendors from the Marysville, Lake Stevens, and north Snohomish County area. A good option if you’re planning a wedding in the northern part of the county.

West Sound / Kitsap Wedding Show

An annual wedding event focused on West Sound and Kitsap County vendors, typically branded as “Vows & Vibes.” Features 70+ wedding vendors from the peninsula and west side of the Sound. Good for couples planning weddings at Kitsap County venues.
Kitsap show: https://www.kitsapweddingexpo.com/

Note: Individual venues throughout the region also hold their own open houses and showcases throughout the year, particularly in January through March and again in September through November. Follow your favorite venues on social media for announcements, or check Eventbrite for “wedding showcase” events in the Seattle/Snohomish/Woodinville area.

Wedding Tour (Self-Guided)

An organized event where multiple wedding venues in a region open simultaneously for couples to visit at their own pace. The Snohomish Wedding Tour (typically the last Sunday in May or the first Sunday in June) is one of the best-known in the PNW, featuring 10+ venues across Snohomish County. Tours are free, self-guided, and one of the most efficient ways to venue-shop — you can visit 5–10 venues in a single afternoon and compare them while the impressions are fresh. Arrive early, wear comfortable shoes, bring a notebook or use your phone to record quick notes at each stop and follow these wedding show tips.

Venue Open House

An event hosted by a single venue where engaged couples can tour the space, meet preferred vendors, see sample setups, and ask questions. Open houses are more relaxed than private tours and often include food tastings, floral displays, and table mockups so you can visualize your wedding in the space. Some venues host open houses monthly; others do them seasonally. Check venue websites and social media for dates.

Wedding Show / Bridal Show / Bridal Expo

A large-scale event (usually at a convention center or hotel ballroom) where dozens to hundreds of wedding vendors set up booths for couples to browse. Wedding shows are useful for discovering vendors you didn’t know existed and getting a feel for different styles and price ranges. The downside: sensory overload, aggressive sales tactics from some vendors, and the expectation that you’ll provide your contact info (expect follow-up emails). Go in with a list of what you’re looking for and don’t feel pressured to commit to anything on the spot.

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PNW-Specific Wedding Glossary Terms

Wedding glossary terms and concepts specific to planning a wedding in the Pacific Northwest. You won’t find these in national glossaries because they only matter here.

Barn Wedding

A wedding held at one of the many barn or farmstead venues across Snohomish County and the broader PNW. Barn venues range from fully renovated with climate control to rustic open-air structures. Ask about heating/cooling, restroom facilities, and whether the barn has been updated to support vendor power needs.

Clear Bubble Umbrella

The specific type of umbrella we recommend for rainy PNW weddings. Clear so we can still see your face in photos, dome-shaped so it doesn’t drip onto your dress. Buy a dozen and distribute them. Your photos will thank you.

Farm Wedding

Similar to a barn wedding but may take place on an active or former farm property. PNW farm weddings often feature rolling hills, mountain views, and rustic charm. Ask about livestock, mud, and insect management in your planning — they’re farms.

Golden Hour (PNW)

Falls between approximately 7:30 PM and 8:45 PM during summer wedding season due to our northern latitude. Later than most other regions. Your timeline needs to account for this — if dinner starts at 6 PM and toasts run until 7:15 PM, your golden hour portrait window is tight.

Junuary

The cold, rainy weather pattern that regularly hits western Washington in June, making early summer feel like late winter (it’s like another round of fake spring). If you’re planning a June wedding here, have a rain plan. Junuary does not care about your Pinterest board.

Mountain Wedding

A wedding at a venue with mountain views — Cascades, Olympics, or foothills. Common at lodges, ski resorts, and mountaintop venues. Beautiful but often remote, which affects vendor travel, guest accommodations, and cell service.

Peak Season

May through September in the PNW. This is when the vast majority of weddings happen, pricing is highest, and vendors book furthest in advance. Saturday dates during peak season book 10–18 months out.

Rain Plan (PNW)

Not a “just in case” — it’s a “you will probably need this.” Even in July and August, there’s a 15–25% chance of rain on any given day. May, June, and September are 30–50%. Every outdoor PNW wedding needs a concrete rain plan with a specific decision point and a backup location.

Shoulder/Off Season

April and October in the PNW. Weather is less predictable, but venue pricing is often lower and availability is better. October can be spectacular with fall foliage. April is a gamble.

Vineyard / Winery Wedding

A wedding at one of the many winery or vineyard venues in the PNW, particularly in Woodinville, Walla Walla, or the Yakima Valley. Tasting rooms and barrel rooms often double as ceremony and reception spaces. Ask about cork-age fees and whether you can bring in outside alcohol.

Washington State Marriage License

Required for legal marriage. Apply in person at any county auditor’s office. Fee: approximately $70. Three-day waiting period. Valid for 60 days. Both partners must be present. No residency requirement.

Waterfront Wedding

A wedding at a venue with water views — Puget Sound, lakes, rivers, or the coast. Wind is the factor everyone forgets. Waterfront venues are gorgeous but exposed. Secure everything lightweight, plan for hair management, and make sure your officiant has a mic.

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Bookmark This Wedding Glossary

Save this wedding glossary and come back to it whenever a vendor email sends you to Google. Nobody expects you to know all of this going in — you’re planning a wedding, not earning a degree in event management. But understanding the language makes you a more confident planner and a better advocate for what you actually want on your wedding day.

And if there’s a term we missed or something that still doesn’t make sense in this wedding glossary, reach out. That’s what 640+ weddings and a certified coordinator brain are for.

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Oh, and a quick note, if you hear vendors talking about having a “wedding hangover”:

Wedding Hangover

Not what you think — no alcohol involved. A wedding hangover is the physical and emotional exhaustion vendors (and couples) experience the day after a wedding. For photographers, it’s the result of 9–12+ hours on your feet, carrying 15–20 pounds of gear, often in heat or rain, while maintaining intense mental focus the entire time. You forget to drink water. You eat one vendor meal in a 10-hour day. You process hundreds of micro-decisions per hour. The next morning, your body reminds you of all of it: sore feet, aching shoulders, brain fog, and a level of fatigue that feels medically significant despite zero drinks consumed. It’s real, it’s universal among wedding vendors, and it’s why most experienced photographers don’t book three-in-a-row wedding weekends (we’ll often do 2, but not 3 – anymore at least!). Recovery is part of the job — you just don’t see it.

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Quick Wedding Glossary Terms FAQ:

What is a first look at a wedding?

A first look is a private, pre-ceremony moment where the couple sees each other in their wedding attire for the first time. It provides a quiet, emotional moment together, takes the edge off nerves, and opens up the timeline for more portrait time during golden hour.

What is attrition in a wedding venue contract?

Attrition is a contract clause that outlines financial penalties if your actual guest count or spending falls below the guaranteed minimum. If your contract guarantees 150 guests but only 120 attend, you may owe the venue for the 30 unused spots.

What is a BEO for a wedding?

A BEO (Banquet Event Order) is a detailed operational document from your caterer or venue outlining the event timeline, menu, guest count, room setup, bar service, and logistics. It’s the master blueprint for your reception and should be reviewed carefully.

What is the difference between a service charge and gratuity at a wedding?

A service charge is a mandatory fee (typically 18–24%) covering operational costs and is NOT a tip for your servers. Gratuity is a voluntary tip for service staff. In Washington state, sales tax is charged on top of the service charge. Always ask your caterer whether gratuity is included or separate.

What are family formals at a wedding?

Family formals are posed group photos of specific family combinations, typically taken after the ceremony. Most couples plan 20–35 groupings, which takes 25–30 minutes with an organized photographer.

What does transparent pricing mean for wedding vendors?

Transparent pricing means a vendor publishes pricing publicly so couples can evaluate budget fit before initiating contact. Most wedding vendors withhold pricing until after a consultation, or are only willing to share a range or “starting at” price.

What is the difference between a deposit and a retainer?

A deposit may be partially refundable under certain conditions. A retainer is typically non-refundable and reserves the vendor’s time exclusively for your date. These are legally different terms. Read your contract to know which you’re paying.

What is golden hour for wedding photos?

Golden hour is the period shortly before sunset when light turns warm and soft. In the Pacific Northwest during summer wedding season, golden hour falls between approximately 7:30 PM and 8:45 PM due to our northern latitude.

What is a day-of coordinator vs. a wedding planner?

A full-service planner manages everything from engagement through the wedding day. A day-of coordinator steps in near the end of planning to finalize details, create the master timeline, and execute on the wedding day. Most couples in our market need at least a day-of coordinator.

What does Color Integrity mean in wedding photography?

Color Integrity is an editing philosophy where photos reflect reality: skin looks like skin, greens stay green, whites stay white. No orange skin tones, no blown-out highlights, no heavy-handed filters that make your wedding look like someone else’s.

What is Junuary?

Junuary is a weather pattern in western Washington where June delivers cold, rainy conditions that feel more like winter than summer. It catches couples planning June weddings off guard. Always have a rain plan for PNW weddings.

What is an escort card vs. a place card?

An escort card tells a guest which table they’re assigned to and is displayed at the reception entrance. A place card tells a guest which specific seat at the table is theirs. Most weddings use escort cards without place cards.

What is the hora at a wedding?

The hora is a celebratory circle dance performed at Jewish weddings, typically to the song “Hava Nagila.” The couple and often their parents are lifted on chairs while guests dance in circles around them. It’s a high-energy, joyful tradition and one of the most memorable moments at a Jewish wedding reception.

What is a sofreh aghd at a Persian wedding?

A sofreh aghd is the ceremonial spread at the center of a Persian wedding ceremony. It’s an elaborately decorated table or floor arrangement with symbolic items including a mirror, candelabras, honey, decorated eggs, herbs, sweets, and a holy or poetry book — each representing blessings for the couple’s marriage. The tradition is cultural rather than religious and is practiced in over 95% of Persian weddings.

What is a baraat at an Indian wedding?

A baraat is the groom’s processional entrance at a Hindu or Sikh wedding. The groom often arrives on horseback or in a decorated vehicle, dancing with family and friends to live dhol drumming. It’s one of the most energetic and photogenic moments at a South Asian wedding.

What is a tea ceremony at a wedding?

A tea ceremony is a traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, and other East Asian wedding ritual where the couple serves tea to parents, grandparents, and elder relatives in order of seniority. Each elder offers blessings and often gifts such as jewelry or red envelopes with money. Tea ceremonies are intimate, emotionally rich, and typically held privately with close family.

What are wedding shows near Seattle?

The major recurring wedding shows in the greater Seattle area include the Seattle Wedding Show (35+ years, held at the Seattle Convention Center in January/February), the Seattle Bridal & Wedding Expo (Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center, typically spring), the My Snohomish Wedding Tour (17+ years, last Sunday in May or first Sunday in June), and the Woodinville Venue Collective Wedding Showcase (spring). The Tacoma Wedding + Event Show and Puyallup Wedding Show serve the South Sound region.