The planning glossary
The words venues, suppliers and well-meaning relatives use, in plain English, and which tab helps with each.
D
- Deposit and balance
- How most suppliers are paid: a deposit to book the date, and the rest (the balance) a set time before the wedding.
- Drinks reception
- The stretch between the ceremony and the wedding breakfast, with drinks and canapés while photos are taken.
E
- Evening guests
- Guests invited to the evening party only, not the ceremony or the wedding breakfast.
F
- First dance
- The couple's first dance together as a married couple, usually the start of the evening party.
G
- Gift list
- A list of presents or funds the couple would like, usually kept with a shop or gift-list service. Also called a registry.
- Giving notice
- The legal step before a civil or most non-Anglican weddings in England and Wales: you each tell your local register office you plan to marry.
- Golden hour
- The hour or so before sunset, when the light is soft and warm, and the photographer's favourite time for couple portraits.
M
- Master of ceremonies (toastmaster)
- The person who announces each part of the reception: dinner being served, the speeches, the cake.
O
- Order of service
- The printed booklet guests are given at the ceremony, listing the music, readings, vows and hymns in order.
P
- Plus-one
- An invitation for a guest to bring someone of their choice, who may not be named on the invitation.
R
- Receiving line
- A line of the couple, and sometimes their parents, greeting each guest as they go in to the meal.
- Registrar
- The official who conducts a civil ceremony and registers the marriage.
- RSVP
- The reply to an invitation, from the French “répondez s'il vous plaît”: please reply.
- Running order
- The timed plan for the day: what happens when, where, and who needs to be there. Also called the order of the day.
S
- Save the date
- An early heads-up, sent before the invitations, telling guests the date and place so they can keep it free.
- Speeches
- The toasts given at the reception, traditionally by the father of the bride, the groom and the best man, though anyone can speak.
- Supplier
- Anyone you book for the day: the photographer, florist, caterer, band, hair and make-up, cake maker and so on.
T
- Table plan
- The seating chart, usually shown at the entrance to the dining room, telling each guest which table they're on.
- Thank-you cards
- Notes sent after the wedding thanking each guest for coming and for their gift.
- Top table
- The table where the couple sit during the wedding breakfast, traditionally with their parents and the wedding party.
U
- Ushers
- Helpers who greet guests at the ceremony, show them to their seats and hand out the order of service.
V
- Venue coordinator
- The venue's own planner, who runs the day on site: the rooms, the food and the timings.
W
- Wedding breakfast
- The first meal a couple eat together once married: usually the sit-down meal after the ceremony and drinks, whatever time of day it is.
- Wedding favours
- Small thank-you gifts for guests, usually left at each place setting.