Wedding Ceremony Dictionary

• Aisle: The path between seating areas that the wedding party and the bride walk down during the ceremony.
• Altar: The sacred or significant space where the wedding ceremony is conducted, often the focal point of the venue.
• Bouquet: A floral arrangement carried by the bride and sometimes bridesmaids during the ceremony.
• Boutonnière: A small flower or arrangement worn on the lapel of groomsmen and important male attendees, symbolizing their involvement.
• Canopy/Chuppah: A covering or structure under which Jewish wedding ceremonies are performed, symbolizing the couple's home.
• Ceremony Program: A pamphlet or booklet that outlines the order of the ceremony and names of participants.
• Cord of Three Strands: A Christian wedding tradition symbolizing the intertwining of the couple and God in their marriage.
• Exchange of Rings: The part of the ceremony where the couple places wedding bands on each other's fingers, symbolizing eternal love.
• Flower Girl: A young girl who walks down the aisle before the bride, scattering flower petals.
• Groomsmen: Male attendants to the groom, often friends or family members, who assist with the wedding preparations.
• Maid/Matron of Honor: The bride's chief attendant, responsible for helping the bride before and during the wedding.
• Officiant: The person authorized to perform the marriage ceremony, such as a priest, minister, or civil officer.
• Processional: The entrance of the wedding party into the ceremony venue.
• Recessional: The formal exit of the wedding party from the ceremony venue following the ceremony.
• Ring Bearer: A young boy who carries the wedding rings to the altar.
• Unity Candle: A candle-lighting ceremony symbolizing the joining of two families and the couple's commitment.
• Vows: Promises the couple makes to each other during the ceremony, outlining their commitment and love.
• Wedding March: Traditional music played during the processional and recessional.
• Witnesses: Individuals who sign the marriage certificate, legally attesting to the occurrence of the wedding.
• Arbor: A decorative structure often made of wood or metal, under which the couple stands during the outdoor ceremony. It may be adorned with flowers, fabric, or other decorations.
• Blessing of the Rings: A moment in some religious ceremonies where the rings are blessed by the officiant before being exchanged by the couple.
• Ceremonial Sand: Used in a sand ceremony, where different colored sands are layered in a vessel by the couple and sometimes their families, symbolizing unity and blended families.
• Convalidation: A ceremony in which a civil marriage is recognized by the church.
• Elopement: A small, intimate wedding ceremony, often conducted with few or no guests, sometimes in a secretive manner.
• Handfasting: An ancient Celtic ritual in which the couple's hands are tied together with a cord or ribbon to symbolize their binding together.
• Huppah: See Canopy/Chuppah.
• Interfaith Ceremony: A wedding ceremony that blends elements from multiple religious traditions to accommodate the beliefs of both partners.
• Jumping the Broom: A tradition originating from African culture where the couple jumps over a broom at the end of the ceremony to symbolize the sweeping away of the old and welcoming the new.
• Ketubah: A traditional Jewish marriage contract that outlines the groom's responsibilities to the bride.
• Lasso Ceremony: A Hispanic tradition where a lasso (usually a rosary or silk cord) is placed around the couple's shoulders by their godparents or parents, symbolizing their unity.
• Nuptial Mass: A Catholic wedding ceremony that includes the celebration of the Eucharist.
• Order of Service: Another term for Ceremony Program.
• Banns of Marriage: Announcements made in church of an impending marriage, traditionally to allow anyone knowing of a legal impediment to the marriage to come forward.
• Chuppah: The Jewish wedding canopy under which the couple stands during their ceremony, symbolizing the home they will build together.
• Dowry: A traditional concept where goods, money, or estate is transferred from the bride's family to the groom or groom's family, ostensibly for the bride.
• Escort Cards: Cards displayed at the reception entrance that direct guests to their assigned tables.
• Favor: A small gift given to guests as a gesture of gratitude from the couple.
• Garland Exchange (Jaimala/Varmala): A tradition in Indian weddings where the bride and groom exchange floral garlands, symbolizing their acceptance of each other.
• Hora: A traditional Jewish celebratory dance where the bride and groom are lifted on chairs by guests.
• Intercalation: The process of adding an additional month in some lunar calendars to align with solar cycles, relevant for setting dates in certain cultural wedding traditions.
• Jutti Chupai: A playful ritual in North Indian weddings where the bride's sisters hide the groom's shoes, and he must bribe them to get the shoes back.
• Koumbaro/Koumbara: The Eastern Orthodox equivalent of a best man or maid of honor, often involved in significant parts of the ceremony.
• Lei Exchange: A tradition in Hawaiian weddings where the bride and groom exchange leis, symbolizing their love and commitment.
• Mehndi: A pre-wedding ceremony in South Asian weddings where henna designs are applied to the bride's hands and feet.
• Nikah: The Islamic marriage ceremony.
• Oathing Stone: In Scottish tradition, the couple places their hands upon a stone while saying their vows, symbolizing their binding and the seriousness of their commitment.
• Pagri: In Indian weddings, a turban worn by the groom and sometimes exchanged among men as a sign of honor.
• Quaker Marriage Certificate: A document signed by all present at a Quaker wedding ceremony, serving as a witness to the union.
• Ring Warming: A ceremony where the wedding rings are passed among guests to imbue them with well-wishes and warmth before being exchanged by the couple.
• Saptapadi: Also known as the "Seven Steps," a crucial part of Hindu wedding ceremonies representing seven vows and aspirations of the couple, taken while making seven circles around a sacred fire.
• Trousseau: A collection of clothes, linens, and other belongings prepared by a bride for her marriage.
• Ushers: Members of the wedding party or special guests chosen to guide attendees to their seats before the ceremony begins.
• Vidai: A post-wedding ceremony in Hindu weddings, symbolizing the bride's farewell as she leaves her parents' home.
• Wine Ceremony: A symbolic act during the wedding where the couple either pours two wines into a single glass to drink or drinks from the same cup, representing the blending of their lives.
• Xenia: Ancient Greek concept of hospitality, symbolizing the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home, relevant in the context of accommodating wedding guests.
• Yuanfen: A Chinese concept referring to the fate or destiny that brings two people together, often invoked in the context of marriage.
• Zaffe: A traditional wedding march in Middle Eastern weddings, featuring music, dance, and sometimes even fireworks, to celebrate the couple.
• Processional Order: The predetermined sequence in which the wedding party enters during the processional.
• Quaich Ceremony: A Scottish tradition involving drinking from a Quaich or "love cup" to symbolize trust, love, and partnership.
• Readings: Selected texts or poems read out during the ceremony, often reflecting on love, marriage, or commitment.
• Signing of the Register: A legal requirement in some countries, where the couple and their witnesses sign the marriage register or certificate.
• Unity Candle Ceremony: See Unity Candle.
• Vow Renewal: A ceremony where a couple renews or reaffirms their wedding vows, often on an anniversary.
• Wedding Party: The group of people selected by the couple to participate in the ceremony, including bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, and ring bearers.
• Xylophone Processional: A unique and modern addition to some weddings where musicians play the xylophone or other instruments as part of the processional music.
• Yichud: A Jewish tradition where the newly married couple spends a few moments in seclusion immediately after the wedding ceremony.
• Zaffa: An Arabic wedding tradition involving a musical procession of drums, bagpipes, horns, belly dancers, and men carrying flaming swords to celebrate the couple's marriage.