Other important people at the wedding are:

 Guests (noun)
The people who attend the wedding
 Officiator (noun)
The person who performs the ceremony and officially marries the bride
and groom
 Photographer (noun)
Someone hired by the bride and groom to take pictures
 Wedding planner (noun)
Someone hired to plan the wedding and who takes care of logistical details
on the big day
 Witness (noun)
Someone who observes the ceremony and signs the marriage certificate
 Usher (noun)
The person who takes care of seating the guests before the ceremony
 Wedding Attire
Attire mean clothing. One of the best parts of a
wedding is dressing up in fancy clothes and
admiring the clothes worn by the bride and other
members of the wedding party. Let's take a look at
some vocabulary for clothing.
 Bridesmaid's dress (noun)
It is traditional for bridesmaids to wear matching
dresses
 Bouquet (noun)
Flowers carried by the bride
 Engagement ring (noun)
The ring given to the bride when the groom first
asks to marry her
 Lace (noun)
Cotton or silk that has been woven into a special
pattern. Often used to decorate the bride's dress
 Sequins (noun)
Sparkly disks often used to decorate the bride's
dress
 Suit (noun)
A combination of jacket and trousers worn on
formal occasions. At a wedding, typically worn
by the groom
 Train (noun)
A long piece of fabric at the back of the bride's
dress that trails along the ground
 Tuxedo (noun)
A black suit worn by men at very formal
occasions
 Wedding gown (noun)
A more formal word for the bride's dress
 Wedding ring (noun)
The ring exchanged by the bride and groom
during the ceremony. Sometimes called a
wedding band
 Veil (noun)
A piece of transparent material that covers the
bride's face at the start of the ceremony
 The Ceremony
The two most common wedding ceremonies in
English-speaking countries are civil
ceremonies and traditional white weddings. Civil
ceremonies are not religious and are held at
a marriage bureau, a government office that has
the authority to conduct weddings. Marriage
bureaus are also called registry offices.
A traditional white wedding can be held in a
church, synagogue, temple, or other religious
places. Some couples prefer to get married outside
and have the ceremony in a beautiful natural
location such as a park or garden. White weddings
have this name because the bride usually wears a
white dress at these ceremonies. Let's look at
some other vocabulary for the ceremony.
 Aisle (noun). The passage in the middle of a
church or temple. It is traditional for the bride
to walk down the aisle with her father or
another close relative.
 Confetti (noun). Small pieces of paper thrown
by the guests after the ceremony for good
luck. Sometimes rice is thrown instead of
confetti.
 To exchange vows (verb). The bride and
groom each make a speech where they speak
about their feelings for each other. When they
do so, they are said to be exchanging vows.
 To say "I do" (verb). When the officiator
asks the couple if they are ready to accept the
responsibilities of marriage, it is traditional for
the bride and groom to say, "I do."
 To swear (verb). To promise. Often the
officiator will ask the couple if they swear to
protect one another.
 Wedding bells (noun). At a white wedding,
after the ceremony bells will ring. This is a
sign that the couple is officially married.
 Other expressions you may hear at a
wedding are:
 Please rise. (Please stand up, because the ceremony
is about to begin.)
 Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded
husband? and Do you take this woman to be your
lawfully wedded wife? (Are you ready to accept the
responsibilities of marriage?)
 You may now kiss the bride. (The most romantic
part of the ceremony.)
 I now pronounce you husband and
wife. (Pronounce here means "officially announce.")
This marks the end of the ceremony and is usually
met with applause.)
 The Reception
After the ceremony, it is traditional to celebrate the marriage
with a party (called "the reception"). Wedding receptions
usually involve a special meal followed by speeches, music
and dancing. Useful words for the reception are:
 Band or live band (noun)
A group of musicians hired to play music
 Buffet (noun)
A meal where guests serve themselves
 Champagne (noun)
It is traditional to celebrate with this fizzy drink
 Dance floor (noun)
The place where dancing takes place
 DJ (noun)
If there isn't a band, there will probably be a DJ.
Sometimes the DJ will take requests, meaning that you
can ask for songs that you would like to hear.
 First dance (noun)
The first dance is another very romantic party of the
wedding. This is the first time the couple dances together
as husband and wife.
 Hors d'oeuvres (noun)
Light snacks, typically eaten before the meal
 To make a speech (verb)
It is traditional for members of the wedding party to say
a few words about the bride and groom. Usually the best
man, the maid of honor and the groom make speeches.
 Reception venue (noun)
The place where the party is held
 Sit down meal (noun)
At formal weddings, guests will be seated by name at
tables and waiters and waitresses will bring them their
food.
 To toast or to make a toast (verb)
To clink glasses in celebration of the couple.
 To throw the bouquet (verb)
It is traditional for the bride to throw the bouquet over
her shoulder. The person who catches the bouquet is said
to be the next person to get married.
 Wedding cake (verb)
The traditional dessert at a wedding. Usually the
wedding cake has miniature figurines of the bride and
groom on top.
 Other Wedding Vocabulary and
Expressions
Here is some other vocabulary you might need at the
wedding!
 Wedding invitation (noun)
The invitation the bride and groom send out inviting
people to their wedding
 Bachelor party (noun)
A party for the groom and his friends. Usually takes
place a few weeks or months before the wedding. In
Britain, this party is called a stag party or a stag do.
 Bachelorette party (noun)
A party for the bride and her friends. Usually takes
place a few weeks or months before the wedding. In
Britain, this party is called a hen party or a hen do.
 Bridal shower (noun)
A party for the bride and her family and friends. At the
bridal shower it is traditional to give gifts. Usually the
bridal shower is more relaxed than the bachelorette
party.
 To propose (verb)
To ask someone if they would like to marry you. Other
expressions that describe this are to get down on one
knee and to pop the question.
 To elope (verb)
To get married in secret, without telling anyone
 Engaged (adjective)
A man or a woman who is going to get married
 Fiancé (noun)
After he proposes, but before he is married, the groom
is referred to as the fiancé.
 Fiancée (noun)
Before the wedding, the bride is referred to as the
fiancée. (Pronounced the same as fiancé.)
 Honeymoon (noun)
A special trip taken by the bride and groom after the
wedding. The verb is to go on honeymoon.
 Newlyweds (noun)
Refers to a couple that has just gotten married
 Wedding gift (noun)
The present you give to the bride and groom.