Glossary Of Wedding Terms And Definitions part - 4

Pages or Page Boys - These are small children (usually boys) who follow the bride down the aisle carrying some of her train. They can also be known as train bearers.

Pillars - These are the supports used to prop up the varying tiers of a multi-tiered wedding cake. They may be made from cardboard, plastic or wood. They are also known as columns.

Piping - This is a way of making shapes like bows, leaves, stars, flowers, or design patterns using icing. A pastry bag is filled with soft icing, then squeezed through a selection of different shaped tips onto the wedding cake, where it hardens. Royal icing is often used for this, as it can easily be colored and is not strongly flavored.

Pomander - This is a round ball completely covered by flower blooms. They are carried by flower girls in the bridal procession who hold them by a ribbon.

Posies - These are the small and roundly shaped flower bouquets that are tightly packed and also will include greenery, which can often be sweet smelling herbs. They are held together by a twine or sometimes a wire. A posy can also be known as a nosegay, as these are similar but generally a proper posy is slightly smaller.

Pouf - This is a piece of netting that is gathered up and attached to a headpiece or comb, to allow for extra height to the veil.

Presentation - This is an elegant bouquet of long stemmed flowers that the bride carries in her arms.

Qazi - This is the title of the cleric who holds a Muslim wedding ceremony.

Ring Bearer - This is a usually a small boy, sometimes a little girl, who walks down the aisle as part of the bridal procession carrying an ornamental cushion that has two rings tied to it. (Not the actual wedding rings).

Rukhsat - A ritual tradition in Muslim weddings where the father of the bride gives her hand in marriage to her groom, on the promise that he will look after her.

Semi-formal - At these weddings; a less restrictive choice of clothing applies, but you still can't get away with much.

Shower - A spray of long stemmed flowers, often mixed with ivies that cascades downwards as the bride holds it in her hands.

Silk - This expensive, lustrous, and fine but strong natural thread is used for the most costly of wedding gowns. Many different weaves are available, which are used for different parts of the gown as they vary in density, suppleness, and sheen. Satin, Organza, Chiffon, Shantung, and Velvet are some examples.

Snood - A snood is an knitted net the bride may wear at the back of her head to enclose her hair.

Stroller Coat - This is a semiformal jacket colored gray or black that resembles a tuxedo, but worn for daytime weddings.

Tails - This is an abbreviation for the tail coat worn for formal evening weddings.

Tiara - One of the headpiece options for the bride, a tiara is a thin jeweled semi-circular coronet with a higher front and sloping sides worn at the top of the head. Or if it is regular in height, then it may be worn at an angle.

Tiers - These are the numerous layers of a wedding cake, usually differing in size, they are supported in place by pillars. (See Pillars).

Topiary - This is the skilled art of clipping or trimming foliage or flower arrangements so that they take on the shapes of animals, lettering, numbers, or various but precise geometric forms.

Tossing Bouquet - A copy of the bride's bouquet which she throws over her shoulder towards bridesmaids and other female guests after the wedding ceremony. Traditionally, whoever catches this bouquet will be the next to wed.

Train - This is a long (or extremely long) extension to a wedding gown or other dress that trails along the floor behind the wearer.

Tulle - This is a fine mesh used for bridal veils, and sometimes in wedding gowns. Tulle is either made from nylon, silk or rayon (artificial silk).

Tux or Tuxedo - This is a formal or semi-formal men's black evening jacket that may be either single-breasted (1-4 buttons) or double-breasted (2-6 buttons).

Vows - At the very heart of the wedding ceremony, the vows exchanged between the bride and groom are promises of future loyalty, love, trust and support. There are many different ways to word these sentiments, some couples prefer to write their own, use traditional vows, or combine the traditional with some extra tweaking of their own. Vows may either be spoken as a statement or in response to the officiant's question, and may be the same said by both or individual to each.

Waistcoat (Vest) - For ultra-formal evening weddings, the gentlemen might wear a white tie and waistcoat.

Wali - These are representatives of the bride at a Muslim wedding.

Walima - This is the Muslim name for a wedding reception.

Wing Collar - This is the most formal type of collar, shirts with this are the standard choice for wearing with a tuxedo.

Wreath - A circle of flowers and / or leaves that is often decorated with ribbons and bows. Wreaths are generally used as a centerpiece of a decorated area, or are seen above doorways. A small wreath may also be worn by the bride atop her head, if she so wishes. It may also be referred to as a garland though there are differences. (See Garlands).

Yichud - This is a period of time in a Jewish wedding which occurs immediately after the ceremony. During this time the bride and groom are allowed to be alone together.

So, that's a collection of wedding terms given a meaning to. If you're having a wedding soon, then good luck for the big day, you're probably nervous, maybe been dieting. And if it is a simple affair, without much pomp and finery, don't let that worry you. All the extra stuff is only a way of showing celebration; people with more money will naturally spend more (Scrooges aside).

But all this doesn't necessarily reflect on the true magic of the occasion, which is the love between a man and a woman, that can shine through any setting, grand or humble. Money can't buy that, and never will.