As you meet with vendors for your wedding, you’ll notice they use a range of unique terms to describe their offerings, services, and terms. To ensure that you seamlessly navigate these conversations and comprehensively grasp the details provided by your vendors, we’ve compiled a list of wedding industry lingo terms along with their descriptions. This will give you the knowledge needed to overcome any potential communication barriers and enhance your understanding of the services being offered.

  • ASSOCIATE SHOOTER

A photographer that works under the lead photographer’s brand as an independent contractor. The associate’s pricing is often cheaper than the lead photographer’s pricing – who is typically the business owner.

  • ATTRITION

The amount of hotel rooms you must book within your contracted hotel room block to avoid penalty costs. The attrition penalty is typically the difference between the rooms you booked and the attrition limit.

  • BEO

An event where guests are expected to wear formal attire, including a tuxedo or floor length gown.

  • BRIDAL PREVIEW/TRIAL

A designated time to discuss and practice hair and makeup services to achieve the look that will be executed on the day of your event.

  • BUSTLE

A hidden set of buttons, hooks, or loops that transforms and gathers materials of a long, flowing gown into a more manageable length for dancing.

  • CAKE LAYERS

Layers of sheet cake that make up a single cake or one tier of cake. Layers are separated by a filling such as buttercream, cream cheese icing, or ganache.

  • CAKE TIERS

Different sizes of full cakes that are stacked on top of one another. Each tier is a separate cake made up of multiple layers. Each layer is separated by cake boards and structural pieces.

  • CANDELEBRA

A decorative stand or centerpiece that holds several candles at once, usually in a symmetrical or tiered arrangement. Candelabras can be made from materials like metal, crystal, or glass, and can be adorned with flowers, greenery, or other embellishments. A fancy stop on the wedding industry lingo list.

  • CASH BAR

A cash bar operates like any other commercial bar experience: guests order a beverage and are expected to pay as well as tip the bar staff after each round.

  • CHARGER PLATE

Also known as a service plate or underplate, is a decorative base setting used during each dining course of plated meals during an event.

  • COCKTAIL HOUR

The time between a wedding ceremony and reception. Guests utilize this time to find seats, grab a drink, and eat appetizers while they wait for the couple to make their grand entrance.

  • COPYRIGHT

In photography, copyright means that the photographer owns any image they have taken. As a copyright owner, photographers have the right to make, sell or otherwise distribute copies, adapt, and publicly display their work. Similar copyrights exist for videographers.

  • DRY WEDDING

A wedding that does not serve or include alcohol.

  • DRY HIRE BAR SERVICE

The hosts of the event provide the alcohol and all other amenities like water, soda, ice, glassware, and napkins. The hired beverage company provides the bar, staff, and service.

  • EVENT INSURANCE

A liability policy required of the hosts to cover the couple, guests, personal property, and vendors of the event.

  • FIRST LOOK

The moment a couple sees each other prior to the ceremony. This is typically captured by a photographer to gather reaction images and allow time prior to the ceremony for other photos.

  • FLOOR PLAN

A visual representation of the layout of the wedding venue, including the placement of tables, chairs, dance floor, and other important elements.

  • GOLDEN HOUR

This is a photographer/videographer term referring to a pre-sunset time when the natural light is ideal for taking outdoor photos.

  • GRAND ENTRANCE

Typically after the ceremony and/or cocktail hour, the grand entrance introduces the newly-wed couple, their wedding party, and cues guests the reception is starting.

  • HAMU

Abbreviation for hair and makeup.

  • HYBRID BAR

A mix of open and cash bar – typically with a set bar tab amount previously paid. Once that amount is used, guests pay with cash.

  • IN-HOUSE

This typically refers to services or amenities that are provided by the venue. For example, an in-house caterer would be a catering company that is associated with the wedding venue and operates on-site. Similarly, an in-house coordinator would be a wedding planner or coordinator who is employed by the venue to manage events and logistics.

  • INSTALLATION

A floral design created on-site by a floral team that requires additional creation time. These are typically large floral pieces, hanging on a backdrop or on an arbor.

  • INVITATION SUITE

All of the paper goods pieces that come with a wedding invitation including the wedding invitation, response card, information card, and often includes wedding stationery.

  • LIVE PAINTING

A unique stop on the wedding industry lingo list where a custom work of art is created by a painter on-site (live) to entertain guests while they watch the progress. Often completed by the end of the evening for the newlyweds as a keepsake and displayed.

  • MAID OF HONOR (MOH)

The title for an unmarried woman acting as the principal bridesmaid at a wedding. This role is typically filled by a sister or best friend.

  • MATRON OF HONOR

Similar to the Maid of Honor, but this role is given to the married woman acting as a principal bridesmaid.

  • MOOD BOARD

A curated collection of photos that convey the look and vibe to be created for the event design.

  • OPEN BAR

Drinks have been prepaid by the host. Guests are not obligated to pay for items ordered but may tip. These are paid at an hourly rate plus a bartending fee, and rates can increase based on the quality of the beer, liquor, or wine.

  • PLUS ONE

This is a term on your wedding invitation that gives an invited guest the opportunity to bring someone of their choosing.

  • PRELUDE

Music that is played before the ceremony while guests arrive.

  • PRODUCTION

Customized services tailored to events to convey the concept that include lighting, sound, stages, dance floors, trusses, etc.

  • RECESSIONAL

The song that is played as the ceremony concludes.

  • RETAINER

Otherwise referred to as a “deposit”, a fee paid ahead of time to secure vendor services.

  • SECOND ARTIST FEES

Hair and makeup admin fees for sourcing and hiring trustworthy artists if the primary company does not have the staff or team to accommodate the amount of people within a given timeframe.

  • SECOND SHOOTER

A second wedding photographer that works alongside the main photographer, to photograph different angles or moments as the primary photographer and assist throughout the event. Pricing may vary depending on talent, packages, and hours.

  • SEND OFF

This takes place at the end of the wedding reception. Guests gather outside and can use props to create a festive atmosphere. The send-off signifies the end of the wedding celebration and the beginning of your new journey together.

  • SHEET CAKE

A large rectangular cake often served at receptions. It’s a simple and classic cake that can feed a large number of guests making it a cost effective choice. The cake can be cut into individual slices or served as a dessert buffet.

  • SHOT LIST

This refers to the list of desired photos you would like the photographer or videographer to capture at your wedding events.

  • STYLED SHOOT

A staged shoot that involves the same elements of a real wedding but is based on inspiration that is created by a team of wedding professionals. These are used to build content that is used on social media or branding purposes to highlight the level of execution and services companies are capable of.

  • VENDOR MEAL

This meal is provided to the vendors working at the wedding. It’s a piece of wedding industry lingo that shows appreciation to vendors for their hard work and ensure they have the energy to perform their duties throughout the event. 

  • VENUE MANAGER/COORDINATOR

A person that ensures each event runs smoothly at their assigned location. They are responsible for the logistics and operations aspects that are related to the venue.

  • WEDDING COORDINATOR

A person who is hired by the couple and whose primary role is to ensure that the event runs smoothly on the day of the event. Their involvement starts closer to the wedding date, often a few weeks before to finalize details and create a timeline for the wedding day.

  • WEDDING PLANNER

A person who is hired by the couple and is involved through the entire wedding planning process, not just day of coordinating. They are there from the early stages of planning through the execution of the event. Their job begins several months or even a year in advance. Some of their responsibilities may include budget creation and management, recommending and coordinating vendors and negotiating contracts, decor set up and tear down as well as overall theme, managing RSVPs, guest lists, timeline and table seating.

Enjoy Wedding Industry Lingo? Ready to start finding vendors for your wedding? Check out our collection of Kansas City Wedding Vendors.