Can You Define All 10 of These Wedding Terms? (Play With Your Fiancé)

insightmediamgmt
Jun 20
6 min read

If you’ve been planning your wedding for a few months, you’ve probably found yourself saying things like, “Do we want a sweetheart table or a king’s table?” or “I don’t know if I want a cathedral-length veil.” And somewhere, your fiancé is probably nodding along... pretending to know what any of that means.

Wedding planning has its own language—and if you’ve been deep in Pinterest boards, timelines, and color palettes, chances are you’ve picked up more than you think. So now it’s time to test your skills (and your partner’s) with a quiz that’ll reveal just how fluent in “wedding” you really are.

Bonus points if you make your fiancé take it blind and score their answers.

The Quiz: Can You Define These 10 Wedding Terms?

1. Bustle

What does it mean to "bustle" a wedding dress?

A) A dance move from the '80s

B) A part of the train that gets lifted and secured after the ceremony

C) The feeling of absolute chaos during wedding week

wedding guest rustic barn wedding jefferson Georgia ceremony under a tree natural outdoor elegant barn chic southern Chapman Hill events venue engaged couple getting married planning coordinator — A joyous couple enters a beautifully decorated reception hall hand in hand, ready to celebrate their new chapter together.

2. Charger

In the wedding world, a charger is:

A) That thing you can never find when your phone is on 2%

B) A large decorative plate placed beneath the dinner plate at a formal table setting

C) Someone who dances their way to the open bar

3. First Look

What is a “first look”?

A) The first wedding dress you tried on

B) A private moment where the couple sees each other before the ceremony

C) A type of editorial photography

photo - @valentino_lauren @kchesbro | floral - @jldesignsweddings | coordinator - @georgiadollevents

4. Sweetheart Table

What’s a sweetheart table?

A) A dessert display with candy and mini pies

B) A table just for the couple at the reception

C) The table where your most PDA-prone guests are seated

photo - @k_p_photo | coordination - @georgiadollevents | floral - @bloomandivyweddings | HAMU - @lavenderluxebridal

5. Nosegay

Let’s talk flowers—what’s a nosegay?

A) A bouquet made of herbs and compact blooms, often carried by bridesmaids or used for presentation

B) A small boutonniere worn by the groom

C) A term your great-aunt uses that you nod and smile at without asking questions

Photo - @kaitvictoriaphoto | Florals - @designhouseofflowers

6. Corkage Fee

What’s a corkage fee?

A) A fine for opening too many wine bottles before dinner

B) A fee charged by the venue when you bring your own alcohol instead of using their bar service

C) A penalty for using glitter-covered corks

7. Flat Lay

Photographers love this. What is a flat lay?

A) A way to creatively arrange and photograph wedding details (like rings, invites, shoes) from above

B) A type of wedding hairstyle

C) What you do on the couch after a full weekend of venue tours

Photo - @karahunter_photography | Planner @georgiadollevents | Floral - @bloomandivyweddings

8. Banquet Captain

Who’s the banquet captain?

A) The person responsible for managing the dinner service and coordinating staff during the reception

B) The friend most likely to dominate the toasts

C) The one who leads the conga line

Photo - @ae.videography.photography | Coordinator - @georgiadollevents | Florals - @florals.sophialynn

9. Processional

What does the processional refer to?

A) The formal walk down the aisle at the beginning of the ceremony

B) The order of dances during the reception

C) That moment when everyone lines up for a sparkler exit

Photo: John & Kym Creative Co

10. Gobo Lighting

Fancy term alert: what is gobo lighting?

A) A designer candle

B) A type of light fixture that projects patterns or monograms onto a wall, floor, or ceiling

C) Something your DJ invented to upsell you on his package

Photo - @sabrinakthomasphotography | Floral - @pannelldesigns_events | Planning/Coordination - @georgiadollevents | Rentals - @barronsrentals | DJ - @ptp_dj

Answer Key

B – A bustle is the clever way your wedding dress’s train is lifted and secured after the ceremony so you can move freely at the reception. It’s part fashion, part engineering.
B – A charger is a decorative base plate that sits beneath your dinner plate. It's more for show than function, but it instantly elevates a tablescape.
B – A first look is a special, private moment where the couple sees each other before the ceremony. Great for nerves and photos.
B – A sweetheart table is a cozy setup at the reception just for the couple. No bridesmaids, no groomsmen—just you two and a couple of toasts.
A – A nosegay is a small, round bouquet made of tightly packed blooms and herbs. It’s traditional and timeless, often used for mothers, grandmothers, or bridesmaids.
B – A corkage fee is what a venue charges if you bring your own wine or champagne. It covers the cost of service, glasses, and cleanup.
A – A flat lay is a photographer’s dream: carefully arranged wedding items (rings, invites, perfume, shoes) photographed from above for those dreamy detail shots.
A – The banquet captain is a behind-the-scenes hero, coordinating food service and making sure dinner flows smoothly at your reception.
A – The processional is the official walk down the aisle—starting with the wedding party and ending with the bride or couple.
B – Gobo lighting uses metal or glass stencils inside lights to project patterns like stars, vines, or your monogram onto surfaces at your venue.

Your Score: Let’s See How Wedding-Savvy You Really Are

8–10 Correct: Certified Wedding Whisperer

You’ve probably got spreadsheets, backup plans, and three Pinterest boards for floral design. You know what you’re doing—and your vendors are probably a little bit afraid of how organized you are. You’re on track for a smooth, stunning day.

5–7 Correct: Impressive

You’re picking things up fast, and it shows. A few more venue visits and vendor meetings and you’ll be dropping terms like “cascading bouquet” and “day-of timeline” like a pro.

0–4 Correct: You’re the Fiancé, Aren’t You?

Or maybe the sibling of the bride. Or the friend who got dragged to a bridal show. Either way, welcome to the wedding world—time to start learning what you’ve signed up for.

Why This Stuff Actually Matters

Sure, it’s fun to test your wedding lingo, but knowing these terms is more than just showing off. Understanding the details means smoother conversations with your vendors, fewer surprises, and more confidence as you make big decisions for your day.

At Chapman Hill Weddings + Events in Jefferson, Georgia, we love seeing couples who come prepared—but we also love helping decode the wedding world for those who don’t know a bustle from a buffet line. Our team is here to walk you through every unfamiliar term and behind-the-scenes moment, so you can feel confident and calm from planning to party.

Want more wedding planning fun (and a little wisdom)? Keep an eye on our blog at Chapman Hill Weddings + Events—where we spill the tea, share tips, and help make your big day as stress-free and joy-filled as possible.

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