Ganache - This is a mixture of chocolate and cream, used either to fill or garnish a wedding cake.
Garlands - These are flower and / or green leaves twirled into ropes or loops that are often hung from the likes of doorways, stairs and railings. The word can be interchangeable with wreath, but properly this is always circular, and a garland need not be so. A garland may also be worn by the bride as a headpiece. (See Wreath).
Groom's Cake - A smaller, second cake that may or may not be included in the wedding ceremony. If it is, then it is often served at the rehearsal dinner.
Gum Paste - This is a mixture of sugar, starch and gelatin. It's what many of those realistic looking flowers, fruits and ribbons are made of on a wedding cake.
Half Crown - An ornate headpiece for the bride which lies between a crown and tiara in size and weight.
Hattabin - These are the male friends and family of the groom at a Moslem wedding.
Honor Attendants - These are the best man and the maid (or matron or man) of honor.
Hora - A dance at a Jewish wedding where the bride and groom are lifted high on chairs.
Huppah - A flower bedecked canopy that is an essential part of a Jewish wedding.
Ikebana - This is an extremely dramatic and artistic form of flower arranging that originated in Japan, but is now popular all over the world and often seen at weddings.
Imam Zamin - This is a good luck tradition after a Moslem wedding where the mother of the bride ties a coin that is wrapped in silk around her daughter's arm.
Juliet Cap - This is a close fitting cap that is often decorated with precious stones sometimes worn as a bride's headpiece.
Ketubah - In Jewish weddings, this is the wedding contract between the bride and groom. It is usually highly decorated and often framed and put on a wall in the couple's home.
Koumbaro - This is the title of the best man in Eastern Orthodox Christian weddings. (See Crown).
Lace - A decorative mesh of interlaced threadwork which is plaited, knotted, looped and turned to make either simple or complicated patterns and raised work. There are many different styles of lace, which has a long history of romance, and in some form or other it is very often included on a wedding gown. Alencon, Chantilly, Spanish and Venise are just a few of the many lacework types available.
Latticework - An icing adornment on a wedding cake that zigzags.
Maid Of Honor - Known as the chief bridesmaid in some countries, she is the last bridesmaid to walk down the aisle before the bride herself. If the couple are exchanging wedding rings, then it is her duty to hold the ring destined for the groom, and hand it over to the bride at the right time, as the best man does in reverse. She will also hold onto the bouquets during the vows, and see that the bride's dress is properly turned out.
Man Of Honor - Some brides prefer to have a male friend attending to the duties of the maid of honor. If so, this is his title.
Mantilla - This is a Spanish word literally meaning 'little cloak.' It is a lace or tulle shawl that the bride can wear around her head and shoulders.
Marzipan - Made of sugar, egg whites and almonds, this substance can be used as a base for icing, or to mold decorative forms such as flowers from, on the wedding cake.
Matron Of Honor - This is the proper title given where the maid of honor is herself married
Oasis - This is the name of a specialist hard foam used by florists in bouquet holders or vases. Holes are made in it for the flower stems to fit into, as an oasis (as its name suggests) will preserve water for a long time. This will naturally allow for fresher looking flowers at the wedding.
Officiant - This is the cleric or secular official that carries out the ceremony. For non religious weddings, he or she might be a justice of the peace, magistrate or even the Captain of a ship (when onboard).
.
