Oregon Wedding Day's Essential Wedding Day Dictionary

Spotlight
A guide to all the terminology you'll encounter when planning your big day.
Written by
Mackenzie Sylvester

Published:

Oregon Bride Fall/Winter 2023

First Look

This is an opportunity to privately (with or without the photographer) see your significant other for the first time on your wedding day before the ceremony. Not only is it a calming, intimate moment and a magical photo opportunity, but the first look is a huge time-saver when it comes to taking wedding photos, allowing couples to enjoy more of their wedding day together.

Myla Li PhotosMyla Li Photos

Strike

The term “strike” is vendor talk for tear-down at the end of the night. Vendors will remove installations after the event. This removal will often need to be scheduled in a staggered manner among vendors, depending on the complexity and size of the event.

Cutting Cake

This is typically on display for the couple to cut into during the cake-cutting ceremony, but not meant to feed the entire guest count,” says Johannah Zuniga of Dream Cakes. If an enormous wedding cake for dessert isn’t a priority or in the budget for you, a small “cutting cake” to follow tradition, with a separate dessert for guests, can be a happy alternative.

Allison HarpAllison Harp

Styled Shoot

For styled photo shoots, wedding or elopement designs are created by wedding vendors to inspire real couples with ideas; they also give vendors the opportunity to showcase their work.

Sean Thomas PhotographySean Thomas Photography

Vendor Meals

These are meals provided for the wedding vendors at the event. This may include planners, photographers, videographers, musicians—anyone working at the event.

Toss Bouquet

The bouquet toss often leaves wedding bouquets a wilted mess—not ideal for preservation. “Your bridal bouquet is carefully arranged and often full of delicate stems that aren’t meant to be thrown around,” says Morgan Westerberg-Jackson of Blomstra Floral Co. “Toss bouquets often contain flowers that are a bit hardier and compact to make it easier to cast over your head.”

Marisa Vasquez PhotographyMarisa Vasquez Photography

Invitation Suite

This refers to the package of all the standard paper components that come with your invitations. The suite generally includes the invitations, the RSVP card, any details cards and envelopes— all tucked into one envelope.

Last Dance

Couples are generally so busy on their wedding day, they often don’t get a chance to just take it all in and be together. Unlike the first dance, with all eyes on you, a last dance offers couples a private moment to be together as their wedding day comes to a close, typically before the send-off. Plus, the occasion makes an amazing photo op.

Casi YostCasi Yost

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