Wedding 101: The Top 10 Essential Wedding Terms You Need to Know. Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to decipher all the different terms and phrases that come with it. To help you navigate the world of weddings, we’ve put together a guide to some of the most common wedding terminology.
Save the Date
A save-the-date is a pre-invitation announcement that lets guests know the date and location of the wedding in advance, so they can make travel arrangements and block off the date on their calendars.
Wedding Invitations
The formal invitation to the wedding ceremony and reception. It typically includes details such as the date, time, location, dress code, and RSVP information.
RSVP
This stands for “Répondez s’il vous plaît,” which is French for “please respond.” It’s the request for guests to let the couple know whether or not they will be attending the wedding.
Prelude
The wedding prelude is a period of music that is played as guests arrive and are being seated before the actual wedding ceremony begins. The prelude usually starts about 15 minutes before the ceremony and sets the mood and tone for the wedding ceremony. Here’s what typically happens during a wedding prelude:
- The wedding guests arrive at the ceremony venue and are ushered to their seats by ushers or other attendants.
- Soft background music is played during this time to create a calm and welcoming atmosphere.
- The music played during the prelude may include classical music, popular songs, or music that has personal meaning to the couple.
- The prelude music is usually chosen by the couple, but they may also ask Duo d’Amore to recommend songs that fit the mood they are trying to create.
- The prelude music ends with a signal from the officiant or wedding planner, indicating that the ceremony is about to begin.
The wedding prelude is an important part of the wedding ceremony, as it helps guests relax and get into the mood for the ceremony. It’s also a chance for the couple to showcase their personalities and style through the music they choose.
Processional
A wedding processional is the part of the wedding ceremony where the wedding party enters the ceremony venue and takes their places before the bride’s grand entrance. Here’s how a typical wedding processional may go:
- The officiant takes their place at the front of the ceremony venue, accompanied by the groom his best man, enters from the side of the venue and takes his place at the altar.
- The bridesmaids and groomsmen enter the venue in pairs, starting with the bridesmaid and groomsman who will stand the farthest from the altar and working their way inwards. They walk slowly and in time with the music.
- The maid or matron of honor walks down the aisle alone, followed by the ring bearer and flower girl (if there are any).
- The music changes, and everyone stands as the bride enters the ceremony venue. She is usually escorted by her father or another close family member.
- The bride walks down the aisle, accompanied by the music and the cheers and applause of the guests. She joins the groom at the altar, and the wedding ceremony officially begins.
t’s worth noting that there are many variations of the wedding processional, depending on the couple’s cultural and religious background, personal preferences, and the size and formality of the wedding. The order of the processional can be customized to fit the needs of each couple.
Signing of the register
The signing of the register is a legal requirement for a marriage to be recognized. It takes about 5-8 minutes (depending on how may people are signing), and is an important part of the wedding ceremony that takes place after the exchange of vows and rings. Here’s how it usually goes:
- The couple and their witnesses (usually two people over the age of 18) move to a separate table or area where the marriage register is located.
- The officiant announces the signing of the register and invites the couple and their witnesses to come forward to sign their names.
- The couple and their witnesses sign the register, using a pen provided by the venue or the officiant.
- The officiant then countersigns the register, certifying that the marriage has taken place and that the couple is now legally married.
- The couple and their witnesses then return to the main area of the ceremony venue and continue with the wedding ceremony.
The signing of the register is typically accompanied by music, and it’s a special moment for the couple and their witnesses as they officially become legally married. In some cultures, the signing of the register is also followed by a toast or a congratulatory speech.
Officiant
The person who performs the wedding ceremony and legally pronounces the couple married. This can be a religious figure, a justice of the peace, or a friend or family member ordained for the occasion.
Reception
The party or celebration that follows the wedding ceremony. This is where guests can enjoy food, drinks, and dancing. Typically we perform more upbeat music for the reception.
Centrepieces
Decorative arrangements placed on tables at the reception. These can include flowers, candles, and other decorative elements.
Seating Chart
A plan that designates where each guest will sit during the reception. This is typically displayed on a board or chart near the entrance of the reception venue.
By understanding the different wedding terms and phrases, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the planning process and make your wedding day a success. Whether you’re a bride, groom, or guest, these wedding terms will help you feel more confident and informed.
What string ensembles do you offer?
The solo violin
The smallest bowed string instrument in the violin family is the violin. It is also the quietest instrument, but that does not mean that it cannot produce a sound. Don’t forget that violin soloists regularly perform with a 50-100 piece orchestra, in a large hall seating 2000 or more people, and the solo violin can be heard over the entire orchestra, and at the very back of the concert hall. How? This comes down to the skill of the violinist, and positioning. This is why at wedding ceremonies for example we often are quite picky about the exact spot where our violinists and ensembles perform, no matter if the string ensemble is outdoors or indoors a single violinist is a great choice.
Duo d’Amore’s solo violinist is a great option for those who want live music but have a smaller budget. The solo violinist performs classical pieces, contemporary pieces, and a mix of both. Their music is perfect for wedding ceremonies, cocktail receptions, and intimate dinners.
The solo cello
Like the solo violin, a solo cellist is a great option for slightly smaller wedding ceremonies and receptions. Larger than the violin, it is very resonant, and can play an equally wide range of music. Clients that hire the solo cello and solo violin for weddings and events often have a guest list of under 50, but not necessarily so.
The violin and cello duo
The violin and cello duo, or string duet, is made up of one violin player and one cello player, and is our most requested string ensemble for hire. Having both the violin, which is able to play soaring melodies, and the cello which is able to anchor and often accompany, while having an even larger sound it is no wonder that this is our most popular string ensemble. I like to imagine that the violin is like the right hand of the piano and the cello is the left had of the piano, together they can play almost anything, and that is another reason that it is our most popular ensembles.
Duo d’Amore’s violin and cello duo is a popular choice for weddings. The duo consists of a violinist and a cellist who play together, creating a beautiful, harmonious sound. The duo’s repertoire includes classical pieces, contemporary pieces, and a mix of both. Their music is perfect for wedding ceremonies, cocktail receptions, and dinner parties.
What size of group/event would you recommend for a violin and cello duo string ensemble?
The short answer is we often recommend the violin and cello duo for between 50-150 guests, but when mic’s, we have performed for over 600, so it all depends. The more that we know about the type of event that you are hosting, the easier it is for us to recommend a string ensemble that will sound the best and fit with the wedding or special event that you are planning. Contact us here https://duodamore.com/contact-us/
The String Trio
The string trio is made up of the violin and cello, with the addition of a third filler instrument, such as a violin or viola.
What size of group/event would you recommend for a violin and cello duo string ensemble?
This larger string ensemble is suited for events with over 200 guests, and larger venues in general. With a slightly larger sound than the violin and cello duo, but not as large or rich sound as the string quartet, the string trio fits right in the middle of the string ensembles that we offer.
String quartet wedding ensembles
Our string quartet is the largest wedding ensemble that we have for hire. The string quartet has a long and rich history. It dates back to the classical period of music in the 18th century. Additionally, during this time, composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven wrote some of the most famous string quartet works. In the 19th century, the string quartet continued to be an important genre, with composers such as Schubert and Brahms producing some of their most notable works in this format. Also, during this time, the string quartet also began to be used for more private, intimate occasions such as weddings. For all of these events, timing and tempo are crucial. We would be happy to consult with you on planning any one of these.
What cities and areas do we serve?
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Banff
- Canmore
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Winnipeg
- Toronto/GTA
- Peterborough
- Saskatoon
- Mississauga
- Oakville
- Burlington
- Hamilton
- Niagara
- London
- Kitchener
- Waterloo
- Cambridge
- Caledon
- Vaughan
- Owen Sound
- Collingwood
- Ottawa
- Gatineau
- Wakefield
- Kanata
- North Gower
- Montreal
- Halifax
- Charlottetown
By understanding the different wedding terms and phrases, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the planning process. Whether you’re a bride, groom, or guest, these wedding terms will help you feel more confident and informed. We hope you have enjoyed Wedding 101: The Top 10 Essential Wedding Terms You Need to Know. Read wedding and event reviews here
