All the Wedding Abbreviations and Lingo You Need to Know

As you're planning your wedding day, there may be times when you feel like you're learning an entirely new language. The wedding industry has terminology and lingo all its own, and in particular, abbreviations that you'll find in articles, on wedding-related forums and in online or text conversations with vendors and fellow engaged couples. If you feel like you need a dictionary to remember all of these wedding abbreviations, you're in luck! We've created a guide to every single acronym you need to know so you can confidently speak the language of wedding planning.

AHR

What it stands for: At-home reception
What it means: A wedding celebration that takes place at a private home, whether it be the couple's, their parents' or another loved one's

AI

What it stands for: All-inclusive
What it means: A wedding venue that offers in-house catering and other services in addition to space rental

BIL

What it stands for: Brother-in-law
What it means: The brother of one's spouse

BM

What it stands for: Best man, bridesmaid or bridesman
What it means: This can refer to the best man (chief groomsman), a bridesmaid (member of the bridal party), or a bridesman (member of the bridal party)

BP

What it stands for: Bridal party
What it means: A bride's side of the wedding party, which can include bridesmaids, bridesmen, maid of honor, matron of honor, flower girl and other honor attendants

B-pics

What it stands for: Boudoir pictures
What it means: Intimate photos meant to be shared between romantic partners

CF

What it stands for: Child free
What it means: A wedding or event where children are not invited.

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DIY

What it stands for: Do it yourself
What it means: A project made by oneself, rather than purchasing the item

DOC

What it stands for: Day-of coordinator
What it means: A wedding planner who focuses on ensuring the big day runs smoothly.

DW

What it stands for: Destination wedding
What it means: A wedding that takes place somewhere other than a couple's hometown or city of residence.

DS

What it stands for: Dear spouse
What it means: A married partner

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EP

What it stands for: Engagement party
What it means: A celebration that takes place shortly after an engagement, often thrown by the couple's parents, family members and/or friends

EPs or E-pics

What it stands for: Engagement pictures
What it means: Photos of the engaged couple wearing non-wedding attire, taken in the months before the big day

ER or E-ring

What it stands for: Engagement ring
What it means: The ring presented during a proposal

FBIL

What it stands for: Future brother-in-law
What it means: The brother of one's future spouse

FG

What it stands for: Flower girl
What it means: A young attendant who traditionally scatters flower petals along the aisle during the wedding ceremony

FFIL

What it stands for: Future father-in-law
What it means: The father of one's future spouse

FI

What it stands for: Fiancé, fiancée or future intended
What it means: The person to whom one is engaged to be married

FIL

What it stands for: Father-in-law
What it means: The father of one's spouse

FILs

What it stands for: Future in-laws
What it means: The family members of one's future spouse

FMIL

What it stands for: Future mother-in-law
What it means: The mother of one's future spouse

FNF

What it stands for: Friends and family
What it means: Loved ones

FOB

What it stands for: Father of the bride
What it means: The father (or father figure) of a person who identifies as a bride

FOG

What it stands for: Father of the groom
What it means: The father (or father figure) of a person who identifies as a groom

FS

What it stands for: Future spouse
What it means: The person to whom one is engaged to be married

FSIL

What it stands for: Future sister-in-law
What it means: The sister of one's future spouse

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GM

What it stands for: Groomsman
What it means: A member of the wedding party who stands beside the groom on the wedding day

HM

What it stands for: Honeymoon
What it means: A trip taken by the newlyweds after the wedding day

IHO

What it stands for: In honor of
What it means: A way to show respect for someone (example: "We're going to play 'Butterfly Kisses' IHO my dad.")

ILs

What it stands for: In-laws
What it means: Family members of one's future spouse

JP or JOP

What it stands for: Justice of the Peace
What it means: A judicial officer who can legally perform a wedding

LDR

What it stands for: Long-distance relationship
What it means: A relationship where the two partners live in different cities, states or countries

LTBM

What it stands for: Living together before marriage
What it means: When an unmarried live in the same residence before the wedding

MIL

What it stands for: Mother-in-law
What it means: The mother of one's spouse

MM

What it stands for: Mini-moon
What it means: A short honeymoon that is near the couple's city of residence or the location of their wedding

MOB

What it stands for: Mother of the bride
What it means: The mother (or mother figure) of a person who identifies as a bride

MOG

What it stands for: Mother of the groom
What it means: The mother (or mother figure) of a person who identifies as a groom

MOH

What it stands for: Maid of honor, matron of honor or man of honor
What it means: The head bridesmaid. Maid of honor refers to an unmarried person, matron of honor is a married person and a man of honor can be married or unmarried.

MUA

What it stands for: Make-up artist
What it means: A professional who applies makeup

NWR

What it stands for: Not wedding related
What it means: Often seen on wedding-related forums, this refers to posts and topics that are not specifically about weddings.

Bo Shim

OOTG

What it stands for: Out-of-town guests
What it means: Guests who travel to a wedding

OOTB

What it stands for: Out of town gift bags
What it means: Gift bags that are presented to out-of-town guests, often filled with snacks and other amenities. Also referred to as welcome baskets or welcome bags

OTR

What it stands for: Off the rack
What it means: Often referring to a wedding dress, off the rack means a piece of attire that is purchased as is, and not made to order.

OTT

What it stands for: Over the top
What it means: Overly grand or extravagant

PG

What it stands for: Photographer
What it means: The person responsible for taking photos

RB

What it stands for: Ring bearer
What it means: A young attendant who carries the wedding rings (often on a pillow) down the aisle

RD

What it stands for: Rehearsal dinner
What it means: A celebratory dinner that occurs the night before the wedding

SIL

What it stands for: Sister-in-law
What it means: The sister of one's spouse

SO

What it stands for: Significant other
What it means: Romantic partner

STD

What it stands for: Save the date
What it means: An announcement sent between six and 12 months before the wedding day, notifying guests of the wedding's date and location

TTD

What it stands for: Trash the dress
What it means: A photo shoot occurring shortly after the wedding, where a wedding dress is purposefully dirtied

VG

What it stands for: Videographer
What it means: The person who captures video on the wedding day and creates a wedding film

WP

What it stands for: Wedding party or wedding planner
What it means: The wedding party is the group of loved ones who support the couple on and before the big day. A wedding planner is a person who coordinates the wedding day.