Cake server: A cake knife used in the tradition of cutting the wedding cake.
Cake shapes: The Most Common Cake Shapes are Round, Oval, Square, Rectangular, Architectural, such as a pyramid or a Cinderella carriage, Petaled (like a flower in full bloom), Hexagonal (six-sized), Octagonal (eight-sided), Whimsical – such as tilted layers and rounded cupcake-looking toppings, very artistic and creative, Heart-shaped, Monogram-shaped – a big cake in the letter M, for your shared married name, or even sculpted into your monogrammed initials.
Cake top: Usually a statue or other collectable used to adorn the top of a wedding cake.
Calligraphy: This is an ornate highly stylized form of handwriting seen on expensive wedding invitations.
Canapes: Class of hors d'oeuvre that are always served on small pieces of bread.
Candelabra: A centerpiece created at the base, neck, or top of a multi-armed candelabra for candles and decorated with flowers.
Candle Lighters: These are children who light candles at the altar when the bride's mother (who is the official hostess of the ceremony) takes her seat. Sometimes these candle lighters are uniquely dressed.
Capacity charts: View square footage and seating configurations of the selected rooms within a hotel or resort.
Cap–Dolman Sleeve: The armhole begins in full fabric at the ribcage or waist, covering the arm, also called the ‘batwing.’
Cap Sleeves: The shortest sleeve style, it usually covers only the shoulder, though off-shoulder dresses sometimes also have small cap sleeves. A ‘pouf’ at shoulder, gathering under or against the very top of the arm.
Carat: The standard unit of weight for diamonds and most other gems.
Cascade Bouquet: Resembles a cascade or waterfall with the flowers flowing loosely downward in a free-flowing, loose appearance. Traditionally made using white flowers such as roses, stephanotis, and white or calla lilies.
Cash bar: An arrangement where guests are charged for each drink they order. As opposed to an open or hosted bar, where patrons get their drinks for free, with the host picking up the tab.
Cathedral: Large church for a couple to marry.
Cathedral veil: The longest of veils, this is three and a half yards in length.
Cathedral Train: Extends 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 feet from the waist.
Centerpiece: Used as the decoration for the center of the table at a wedding.
Centerpiece Cake: A specialty cake that takes the place of flowers as your table decorations.
CEO/BEO: "Catering Event Order" or "Banquet Event Order". Your caterer uses this document to carefully detail all the requirements of your function, including menu, audio/visual provisions, table setup, staffing requirements, etc.
Certified Diamond: Diamond that has been graded based on an internationally accepted system for color, clarity, cut and carat weight. The grading is performed by an independent gemmological organization, and the certificate details all of the characteristics that the diamond possesses, including and estimated retail replacement value for insurance purposes.
Chantilly: A web-like floral pattern on a lace background outlined with silk threads; soft to the touch.
Chapel Train: The most popular train for formal weddings, it extends 3-4 feet behind the gown.
Charter Flights: Organized on a private or small-group basis by tour operators; can offer significant savings over commercial flights.
Chocolate Ganache: A thick, delectable icing made of chocolate and heavy cream.
Chafing Dish: A dish used to keep hot foods warm before or during serving. Also often called food warmers, these dishes can either be kept warm by cooking fuel lamps or electricity.
Chantilly Lace: Delicate bobbin lace of scrolls and florals on a soft mesh background.
Chapel Train: The train on a wedding dress that extends 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 feet from the waist.
Chapel Veil: This is the name for a length of bridal veil that will reach the floor, extending two and a half yards from the headpiece.
Charger Plate: A large decorative plate, almost platter-sized, placed under the entree and salad plate to add color to your reception tables. A beautiful gold or silver leaf charger can add formality and flare to a simple table. It can also be a further way to incorporate your wedding color palette into your reception table.
Charmeuse: A lightweight, semi-lustrous fabric, much like satin.
Chatan (ha-TAN): The groom. In Yiddish, "Chossen."
Chef: The executive cook in the kitchen, with supporting cooking performed by line cooks. A sous chef is the second-in-command in a kitchen.
Chief Bridesmaid: See Maid Of Honor.
Chiffon: A sheer, transparent soft flowing fabric made from silk or rayon and used as an overlay for dresses. Also used as long neck scarves.
Chip (diamond): The place where a diamond has a tiny piece missing.
Choker Necklace: A single strand of pearls worn around the collar; the most classic style of pearl necklace, it looks good with a jewel or bateau neckline.
Chupah - (hoo-PAH): It is usually a fabric whose with four corners attached to four poles and stretched over the couple. The wedding canopy to cover the couple that symbolizes the couple's new home and the presence of god.
Circular Skirt: The hem on this skirt forms a circle and is not gathered at the waist.
Clarity: A stone´s relative position on a flawless to imperfect scale, and one of the four C´s of diamonds. Clarity characteristics are classified as inclusions (internal) or blemishes (external). The size, number, position, nature, and color or relief of characteristics determine the clarity grade. Very few diamonds are flawless.
Classic bouquet: A bunch of flowers that can be made into a bouquet holder, wired, or hand-tied.
Cloud (diamond): A group of tiny white inclusions that result in a milky or cloudy appearance.
Cocktail Hour: Following the wedding ceremony and prior to the wedding reception, drinks -- both alcoholic and non-alcoholic -- and hors d'oeuvres may be offered to guests as they mingle before sitting down to the reception meal. This time generally serves as a graceful interlude between the two events and an appropriate time to take any photographs of the bride and groom and wedding party.
Collar Necklace: A necklace consisting of three or more strands of pearls fitting snugly around the neck, this style looks good with low necklines.
Color (diamond): Grading color in the normal range involves deciding how closely a stone´s body color approaches colorlessness. Most diamonds have at least a trace of yellow or brown body color. With the exception of some natural fancy colors, such as blue, pink, purple, or red, the colorless grade is the most valuable. One of the four C´s of diamonds.
Comb: A Bridal headpiece that is held to the head with comb teeth that is usually decorated with flowers.
Complimentary Wedding: Offered by many chain resorts to couples who commit to a minimum-night stay or bring a certain number of guests to the company's property; often includes services of the on-site wedding coordinator, flowers, Champagne, and a wedding cake.
Composite Bouquet: A handmade bouquet in which different petals or buds are wired together on a single stem, creating the illusion of one giant flower.
Control Top: Pantyhose with spandex in the top for soft girdle or "control" effect for thighs, stomach and hips.
Cornelli: An elaborate piping technique for icing that yields a lace-like pattern on a wedding cake.
Corsage: A single flower bloom or a small spray of blooms which are attached to a lace and pinned to either the front of a woman's dress, or at her wrist. Orchids and gardenias are among the most popular flower choices for corsages, and at weddings they are usually only worn by close female friends and relatives of the bride and groom.
Corset: A form-fitting, strapless or spaghetti-strap bodice with boning and lace-up or snap closures.
Cotton fiber (invitations): 100% cotton paper, considered the most formal and elegant paper stock for wedding invitations.
Court train: The train extends 1-2 feet behind the gown.
Crepe: A lightly crinkled textured fabric.
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.
Croquenbouche: A wedding cake formed with cream puffs.
Crosswyck: This collar style crosses in front and is fastened with a shiny button.
Crown: Similar to a tiara, it is a headpiece made of stones and beads that the bride may choose to wear.
Crown (diamond): The top of a diamond above the girdle. Consists of a large flat area on top called a table, and several facets below it.
Crudite: A pre-dinner snack, often a raw seasonal vegetable with a dipping sauce.
Cubic Zirconia: A man-made crystal, resembling a colorless and flawless diamond. High quality stones that are cut and set like genuine mined diamond. Created using minerals from the earth which are melted at a very high temperature and then cooled into crystals. A great option for bridal jewelry, bridesmaid jewelry, and honeymoon jewelry. Available in a variety of colors.
Cuff links: Decorative jewelry used to close cuffs.
Culet: The smallest facet at the bottom of the diamond.
Cummerbund: This is a broad sash worn around a man's waist on top of his shirt but under the jacket.
Cutaway Jacket: Jacket which tapers from the front waist button to a long, wide back tail; accessories include a wing-collar shirt with an ascot and a coordinating vest. Worn by the groom for formal daytime weddings, they're usually gray or black and come with matching striped trousers.
Cut (diamond): The proportions and finish of a polished diamond (also called make). Cut can also mean shape, as in emerald cut or marquise cut. Proportions are the size and angle relationships between the facets and different parts of the stone. Finish includes polish and details of facet shape and placement. One of the four C´s of diamonds.
Cut-outs: See-through effect created by lace appliqué with the fabric cut out beneath. |
Unique Wedding Favor Ideas
