Wedding Glossary – Wedding Terms

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Empire Waistline

Empire: A waistline that starts just below the bust. An empire waistline can run straight across or curve down the sides to hit the small of the back.

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Fish Bowl Arrangement

Fish bowl: a centerpiece in which flowers are arranged in a glass bowl

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Elbow Veil

Elbow: a veil that's about two feet long and reaches to the bride's elbows.

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Madonna Veil

Madonna veil: a veil that falls just below the chin and is worn at informal weddings. Also known as a birdcage veil.

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Pantyhose

Pantyhose: A garment that combines both panty and stockings into a one piece waist-high garment that extends above the crotch, but not above the waist, to the toes, and is usually sheer rather than opaque.

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Flyaway Veil

Flyaway: a less formal veil, it has multiple layers and reaches just to the bride's shoulders.

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Emerald Cut

Emerald cut: A usually rectangular cut of jewel.

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Pillars

Pillars: plastic or wood separators used in a tiered cake.

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Mermaid Silhouette

Mermaid: slim-fitting dress silhouette that flares out at the knee.

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Fingertip Veil

Fingertip: a veil that falls just to the bride's fingertips.

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Collar Necklace

Collar Necklace: a necklace consisting of three or more strands of pearls fitting snugly around the neck, this style looks good with low necklines.

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Sheath Silhouette

Sheath: a modern dress silhouette with a narrow skirt that is form-fitting through the torso.

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Presentation Bouquet

Presentation: flowers with long stems arranged so that the bouquet is
cradled in the bride´s arms (think beauty pageant).

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Tuxedo

Tuxedo: A single- or double-breasted jacket that is worn at formal or semiformal evening weddings and is paired with matching trousers.

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Waltz Veil

Waltz: A veil that falls somewhere between the knee and the ankle. Also known as a Ballet veil.

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Juliet Cap (Headdress)

Juliet Cap: a skullcap (small round cap), often set with pearls or other gems, worn by women for semiformal or bridal wear. Usually decorated with pearls or semi-precious stones.

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Marzipan

Marzipan: A paste made of ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites that
used to mold edible flowers or fruit for cake decorations. It can also be rolled
and used as frosting, similar to fondant.

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Ascot Tie

Ascot tie: A wide necktie (almost like a scarf) that is looped over and held in place beneath the chin with a tie tack or stickpin. Worn with a wing-collar shirt and the daytime wedding cutaway jacket.

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Basque Waistline

Basque waistline: A waistline that is below the waist and dips down to a point in the front

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Trumpet Silhouette

Trumpet: Dress silhouette that is form-fitting over the bust, waist and hips and then flares out at the top of the thigh. Fuller at the bottom then an A-line. Not the same as a mermaid style that flares out lower at the knee.

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Necktie

Necktie: A standard, long, knotted necktie worn with a laydown collar. Also known as a four-in-hand tie.

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Flaw

Flaw: an imperfection of a stone.

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Illusion (fabric)

Illusion: fine netting used for veils, headpieces, and on the sleeves and necklines of dresses.

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Gore Skirt

Gore skirt: Nope, this has nothing to do with Al Gore! It´s a flared skirt that is fitted at the waist and full at the hem. There are no gathers or pleats at the top. All the fullness comes from the shape of the panels. A gore skirt has more flare than an A-line in the front.

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Short Glove

Short Glove: good for semi-formal or informal weddings. The end of the glove falls an inch or two above your wrist and is perfect paired with a long-sleeved dress. They often have one button, but there are two-button and four-button styles that end somewhere between your wrist and your elbow.

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Candalabra Flowers

Candelabra: A floral arrangement placed on a candelabra

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Notched Lapel

Notched lapel: A triangular indentation is cut where the lapel joins the collar; the least formal lapel style.

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Blusher Veil

Blusher: A short, single layer of veil material, it's usually worn over your face during the wedding ceremony and then flipped back over your hair when you kiss.

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Bunwrap (Headdress)

Bunwrap: a band that encircles an updo-type hairstyle.

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Extended Cathedral Train

Extended Cathedral: extends 12 feet or more from the waist. Also known as a monarch train.

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Tea Length Dress

Tea length: the dress´s hemline falls several inches above the ankles.

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Crown (Headdress)

Crown: similar to a tiara, but is a full circle rather than a half-circle. It sits on your head and is usually decorated with rhinestones, beads or pearls. Looks especially good with short hairstyles.

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Opera Glove

Opera Glove: featuring 16 buttons, this glove is worn only at formal weddings, and usually with strapless or sleeveless or spaghetti-strap-style gowns. It goes all the way up to the upper part of your bicep.

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Girdle (diamond)

Girdle: The outer edge or the widest part of the diamond forming a band around the stone.

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Tussy Mussy

Tussy Mussy: a silver carrying cone for flowers made popular in Victorian
times, often used by brides to carry a nosegay-type nosegay.

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Ballet Veil

Ballet: A veil that falls somewhere between the knee and the ankle. Also known as a Waltz veil.

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Leg O´ Mutton Sleeves

Leg o´ Mutton Sleeves: sleeves that are very full at the shoulder and narrow to become very fitted at the forearm.

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Semi-Cathedral Train

Semi-cathedral: extends 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 feet from the waist.

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Wing Collar

Wing collar: A band that encircles the neck with turned-down points in front. The most formal choice and the collar style most often worn with tuxedo jackets.

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Cathedral Veil

Cathedral: The most formal veil, it's usually three and a half yards long. Also known as the ‘royal veil.'

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Fitted Sleeves

Fitted Sleeves: sleeves that fit very close to the arm.

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Shantung

Shantung: similar to raw silk, it has a rough texture with irregular "nubbies" throughout the fabric.

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Chip (diamond)

Chip: the place where a diamond has a tiny piece missing

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Blemish (on a diamond)

Blemish: An imperfection on the exterior of a diamond, such as a scratch or chip.

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Ganache

Ganache: A rich chocolate mixture made by combining chopped semisweet chocolate cream, it has a consistency denser than mousse but not as dense as fudge. It can be used as a cake glaze or as a filling, and will melt in very humid weather.

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Reinforced Hosiery

Reinforced: The stress areas such as the toe or panty portion have been strengthened with yarns of heavier weight.

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Dotted Swiss (cake decoration)

Dotted swiss: A piping technique for cake frosting that makes tiny dots
in patterns that resemble a dotted swiss fabric.

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Glimmer Hosiery

Glimmer: Sheer or opaque hose which have high reflection properties from the yarn, mainly from a trilobal yarn which gives the glimmer effect by reflecting the light.

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Strapless Bodice

Strapless: A bodice style that comes around from under the arms. Can be straight across in the front or in a sweetheart style.

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Cummerbund

Cummerbund: These are pleated swatches of silk or satin worn around the waist and covering the trouser´s waistband.

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Bow Tie

Bow tie: A short tie shaped like a bow that can be worn with a wing or laydown collar. Most bow ties adjust to fit al neck sizes and are available in a variety of widths, colors, and patterns to match the vest or cummerbund, though black is classiest and doesn't scream ‘high school prom'. Be sure to get a real bow tie and not a clip-on.

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Stockings

Stockings: Hosiery that go all the way up to the upper thigh and have to be held up with garters or a garter belt.

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Matte Hosiery

Matte: Hosiery with a dull finish.

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Gum Paste

Gum paste: A paste made from powdered sugar, starch and soaked gum tragacanth
that is used to make realistic-looking fruits and flowers for cake garnishes.
Gum paste decorations are edible and will last for a long time if you want to
keep them but they don´t taste as good as marzipan.

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Sleeve Band Bodice

Sleeve band: A bodice style that has a band of fabric extending up from the bodice, going around the top of the arm. In some designs, this can be used in place of a sleeve.

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Satin-Back Shantung

Satin-Back Shantung: A reversible fabric with a slightly irregular surface on one side and a high luster satin on the other. Available in silk and polyester.

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Point (diamond)

Point: One-hundredth of a carat.

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Vest

Vests: Worn in place of a cummerbund to cover the trouser waistband. It´s often worn with a coordinating bow tie. Some are adjustable at the neck and waist with an open back, while others have a fully covered back.

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Full Dress Jacket

Full Dress Jacket: Usually worn at very formal weddings (read: evening), these jackets are short in front and have two long tails in the back.

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Knee Highs

Knee Highs: Short hosiery that comes up to just below the knee. They are styled with elastic tops and stay up without the help of garters.

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Fountain Veil

Fountain: a veil that is gathered at the crown of the head to create a cascading effect around the face, it usually falls to the shoulders or fingerips.

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Basque Neckline

Basque: A neckline that follows the collar bone.

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Crepe-Back Satin

Crepe-Back Satin: A lightly textured reversible fabric with crepe on one side and a high luster satin on the other. Very slinky and flows well.

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Brocade

Brocade: an intricately woven jacquard fabric with a raised overall interwoven design giving an embossed effect. The embossed effect is often highlighted by contrasting metallic yarns.

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GIA (Gemological Institute of America)

GIA: Gemological Institute of America, an organization that sets and upholds standards for grading diamonds and other precious stones.

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Double Tier Veil

Double Tier: A veil of two layers (either two veils or a veil and a blusher), usually of different lengths.

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Euro Tie

Euro tie: A long, knotted, square-bottom necktie worn with a wing or laydown collar shirt.

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Modified Sheath Silhouette

Modified sheath: Dress silhouette that is form-fitting through the torso. It is narrow in the front of the skirt, like the sheath, but flares out below the hips in the back to finish in a small train.

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Bodice

Bodice: The close-fitting upper part of a dress.

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Garland

Garland: a woven rope or strand flower arrangement often used to adorn pews, staircases and doorways.

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Sheer-to-waist Hosiery

Sheer-to-Waist: Pantyhose without visible panty line or reinforcement in the panty portion. It is an all-sheer garment from waist to toe.

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Topiary Arrangement

Topiary: Flowers or foliage trained and trimmed into geometric shapes,
often resembling miniature trees or animals.

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Boutonnieres

Boutonniere: A single bloom or one or more buds worn by men on the lapel
of their jackets. Usually worn by grooms, attendants, ushers, and the bride´s
and groom´s fathers.

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Cascade Bouquet

Cascade: resembles a cascade or waterfall with the flowers flowing downward
in a free-flowing, loose appearance. Traditionally made using white flowers
such as roses, stephanotis, and white or calla lilies.

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Cathedral Train

Cathedral: extends 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 feet from the waist.

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Alencon Lace

Alencon: A mesh lace background that has been re-embroidered to outline the pattern. Traditionally used in wedding gowns, this lace usually has a scalloped border that can be used as an accent and along the hem.

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Head (diamond)

Head: The prongs that hold a diamond in its setting.

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Silk

Silk: a strong smooth fabric, it used to be a more expensive fabric, but is now now available in less expensive blends.

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Poet Sleeve

Poet sleeve: A sleeve that is fitted at the top and fuller at the bottom, where it is gathered into a cuff.

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Fitted Sleeve

Fitted sleeve: A close fitting sleeve with no fullness or pouf at the top. There are various lengths: cap, short, above elbow, below elbow, ¾ length, and long.

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Tiffany (diamond)

Tiffany: A simple 2-3mm ring setting with a head that holds a single diamond.

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Inclusion

Inclusion: an imperfection internal (inside) to the diamond.

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Torte

Torte: A dense cake

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Opaque Hosiery

Opaque: Stockings or pantyhose made of yarn which give them heavier, less see-thru appearance.

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Detatchable Train

Detatchable train: An extension of fabric that attaches to the wedding gown to make a trailing extension of the gown. It can then be detached at the reception to avoid bustling the dress.

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Silhouette (dress)

Silhouette: the general outline and style of a dress.

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Taffeta

Taffeta:: crisp and smooth, good for full dresses. Can be matte or shiny.

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Sheer Hosiery

Sheers: Hosiery that is see-through; dress sheers are hosiery to be worn for daytime glamour. Evening sheers are hosiery to be worn for special occasions.

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Sandaltoe Hosiery

Sandaltoe: This is a nude toe, meaning no heavier yarn in the toe than is in the leg. Good to wear with open-toed shoes.

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Comb

Comb: a headpiece that is held to the head with comb teeth and can be decorated with either a veil or flowers and beads.

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Halter Neckline

Halter Neckline: a neckline that scoops down in front and ties behind the neck, leaving the arms bare. Think of Marilyn Monroe´s white dress from The Seven Year Itch.

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Boning

Boning: Flat plastic inserts sewn into a bodice´s understructure. Boning gives shape and support. It allows for a smoother appearance around a body´s curves because it stiffens the outside fabric and prevents creases at the waistline.

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