Planning a wedding can feel like learning an entirely new language. If you’ve found yourself puzzled by online forums, overwhelmed in group chats, or scratching your head during consultations with vendors, you’re not alone. The world of weddings is filled with acronyms, abbreviations, and shorthand that can make the already complex process of wedding planning even more confusing. That’s why we’ve created this Wedding Dictionary, a comprehensive guide to the most common (and a few not-so-common) wedding acronyms and abbreviations you’re likely to encounter. Think of it as your go-to translation guide for navigating the exciting, detailed, and often acronym-filled world of modern weddings.

Why So Many Abbreviations?

Weddings involve a massive amount of communication between couples, vendors, planners, family, and friends. Over time, shorthand terms have evolved for efficiency and convenience, especially in online wedding communities like forums, Pinterest boards, and planning apps. Acronyms help simplify conversations and make it easier to share tips, timelines, and to-do lists, but they can be confusing for newcomers. Once you get the hang of it, however, you’ll be tossing around terms like “STD” (Save The Date!) and “DOC” (Day-of Coordinator) with confidence.

Let’s break down some of the most essential wedding acronyms and abbreviations in categories to make them easier to digest.

Wedding Party Titles & Roles

MOH – Maid of Honor
The bride’s right-hand woman, often responsible for planning the bridal shower and bachelorette party. If the MOH is married, she’s a Matron of Honor.

BM – Bridesmaid or Best Man
BM can mean either, depending on context. Bridesmaids support the bride; the Best Man supports the groom.

GM – Groomsman
A male member of the groom’s wedding party. Also known as an usher in traditional ceremonies.

FG – Flower Girl
A young girl who walks down the aisle scattering flower petals ahead of the bride.

RB – Ring Bearer
Usually a young boy who carries the wedding rings down the aisle (often fake ones for safety).

FOB / FOG – Father of the Bride / Groom
A shorthand that comes in handy for seating charts and speeches.

MOB / MOG – Mother of the Bride / Groom
These acronyms are often used when discussing outfit coordination, roles in the ceremony, or helping with planning.

Ceremony and Reception Planning

DOC – Day-of Coordinator
Someone hired to manage the timeline and logistics on the wedding day, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

WC – Wedding Coordinator or Wedding Consultant
A more general term for someone assisting with various planning duties, sometimes interchangeable with a full wedding planner.

WP – Wedding Planner
A professional who oversees the entire wedding planning process, from budget to execution.

STC – Seating Chart
A key organizational component for the reception.

AHR – At-Home Reception
A post-wedding celebration held at home, especially useful for destination weddings when not all guests can attend.

OOT – Out of Town
Often seen in the context of “OOT guests” or “OOT bags,” which are welcome packages for guests traveling from far away.

BEO – Banquet Event Order
A document from your venue detailing all the arrangements for your event (timeline, menu, setup, etc.).

Paper Goods & Stationery

STD – Save The Date
A pre-invitation notice letting guests know your wedding date in advance. Not to be confused with the medical term!

IV – Invitation
Your main wedding invitation, often including RSVP cards and other inserts.

RSVP – Répondez S’il Vous Plaît
A French phrase meaning “please respond.” Your RSVP card or link tells you who is coming.

WIB – Wedding Invitation Box
Refers to custom boxed invitations, especially for luxury or destination weddings.

TYC – Thank You Card
A must for expressing gratitude to your guests after the wedding.

DTK – Details Card / Directions, Timeline, and Key Info
An insert card with extra information for guests like dress code, accommodations, and website.

Outfits & Fashion

WD – Wedding Dress
Usually used in forums or planning checklists. Sometimes also called the “gown.”

BM Dress – Bridesmaid Dress
Each bridesmaid wears one; matching or complementary styles depending on the theme.

GM Attire – Groomsmen Attire
Refers to the suits or tuxedos worn by the groom’s party.

OOTD – Outfit of the Day
Used often in wedding week posts or Instagram captions.

TRD – The Real Dress
When a bride tries on many gowns but finally finds “the one,” this term often pops up online.

Budgeting & Contracts

BOB – Bride on a Budget
A popular term in forums for brides seeking budget-friendly tips.

WIB – Wedding Industry Budget
Used by planners to track typical costs in their area or market.

FMV – Fair Market Value
Used when evaluating the cost of vendor packages.

TBD / TBA – To Be Determined / To Be Announced
Common when dates, times, or venues aren’t finalized yet.

Photography & Videography

E-Sesh – Engagement Session
A pre-wedding photo shoot often used for Save the Dates or wedding websites.

BTS – Behind the Scenes
Candid or fun content captured during the wedding prep.

TPR – The Photographer’s Rights
Refers to usage agreements in contracts, who owns and can post the photos.

VID – Videographer
The professional responsible for your wedding film or highlight reel.

RAW – Unedited Photo Files
Some photographers offer these files at an extra cost.

Digital & Online

WWS – Wedding Website
A personal website that gives guests all the wedding details, including RSVPs, travel info, and the registry.

IG – Instagram
Used to share photos, announce engagements, or create a wedding hashtag.

PIN – Pinterest
The go-to platform for mood boards and inspiration.

FBG – Facebook Group
Many brides join wedding planning groups for local tips and vendor reviews.

DIY – Do It Yourself
Applies to handmade or self-designed elements like centerpieces, signage, or invitations.

Miscellaneous

H2B / W2B – Husband to Be / Wife to Be
Affectionate titles often used in planning communities.

DF / FH / FW – Dear Fiance / Future Husband / Future Wife
Commonly used to refer to your partner in wedding planning discussions.

TTD – Trash the Dress
A photo session after the wedding where the bride wears her dress in adventurous settings.

MIL / FIL / SIL / BIL – Mother-in-Law, Father-in-Law, Sister-in-Law, Brother-in-Law
Family member acronyms that become more relevant as planning gets underway.

VIB – Very Important Bride
A fun term used by vendors or wedding expos to refer to their VIP customers.

Final Thoughts: Why It Matters

Understanding wedding acronyms and abbreviations can make your planning process smoother, your online searches faster, and your vendor conversations clearer. Whether you’re building your invitation suite, organizing your bridal party, or hashing out logistics with your venue, having a good grasp of this shorthand is a subtle but powerful tool. It also connects you to the larger wedding community, an entire world filled with shared experiences, mutual support, and tons of creativity.

While it may feel overwhelming at first, don’t worry: no one expects you to memorize everything overnight. Bookmark this post or print it out for your wedding binder. Keep it handy when you’re deep in the weeds of planning, and you’ll be surprised how second nature these acronyms become.

Because when you’re focused on making your wedding a celebration of love, every little detail helps, even the abbreviations.

The Biggest Wedding Glossary Of Abbreviations And Acronyms On The Web

• AA – African American or Alfred Angelo
• AFAIK – As Far As I Know
• AHR – At Home Reception
• AI – All Inclusive
• AML – All My Love
• BD – Baby Dance (when attempting to get pregnant)
• BF – Boyfriend or Best Friend or Breast Feeding
• BFF – Best Friends Forever (often used to distinguish from Boyfriend)
• BIL – Brother-in-law
• BM – Bridesmaid or Best Man
• BoK – Bouquet
• BP – Bridal Party or Bachelor(ette) Party
• BR – Baby Related
• BTB – Bride To Be
• B-Pics – Boudoir Pictures
• CM – Certified Midwife
• CPL – Couple
• D – Divorce(d)
• DB – David’s Bridal
• DF – Darling Fiancé or Fiancée
• DFH – Darling Future Husband
• DH – Dear Husband or Darling Husband
• DIL – Daughter-in-law
• DINK – Dual Incomes No Kids
• DIY – Do It Yourself
• DOC – Day of Coordinator
• DOJ – Day of Jewelry
• DP – Darling Partner
• DW – Destination Wedding or Dear / Darling Wife

• EPics – Engagement Pictures
• E-Party – Engagement Party
• E-Pics – Engagement Pictures
• E-Ring – Engagement Ring
• E-Sesh – Engagement Photo Seshion
• FBIL – Future Brother-in-law
• FFIL – Future Father-in-law
• FG – Flower Girl
• FH – Future Husband
• FI – Fiance/e or Future Intended
• FIL – Father-in-law
• FILs – Future In-laws
• FILTB – Father-in-law-to-be
• FMIL – Future Mother-in-law
• FNF – Friends and Family
• FOB – Father of the Bride
• FOG – Father of the Groom
• FSIL – Future Sister-in-law
• FW – Future Wife or Fertile Window (used when trying to get pregnant)
• FWIW – For What It’s Worth
• FYI – For Your Information
• GF – Girlfriend
• GM – Groomsman or Groomsmen
• GTG – Get Together

• H2B – Husband-to-be
• HM – Honeymoon
• HPT – Home Pregnancy Test
• IHO – In Honor Of
• IL – In-laws
• ILs – In-laws
• IR – Interracial
• IMO – In My Opinion
• IMHO – In My Honest/Humble Opinion
• ISO – In Search Of
• JOP – Justice of the Peace
• JP – Justice of the Peace
• K – Kids
• KU – Knocked Up
• KWIM – Know What I Mean
• KWR – Kind of Wedding Related
• LBR – Let’s Be Real
• LDR – Long Distance Relationship
• LFOB – Late Father of the Bride
• LMOB – Late Mother of the Bride
• LTBM – Living Together Before Marriage
• LTR – Long Term Relationship
• LS – Legally Separated
• MIL – Mother-in-law
• MILTB – Mother-in-law-to-be
• MM – Marriage Minded
• MOB – Mother Of The Bride
• MOG – Mother Of The Groom
• MOH – Maid of Honor or Matron of Honor (Maid is single, Matron is married)
• MUA – Make-Up Artist
• NBM – Never Been Married
• NSFW – Not Safe For Work

• NH – New Husband
• NWR – Not Wedding Related
• OMG – Oh My Goodness
• OOT – Out Of Town
• OOTG – Out Of Town Guests
• OOTB – Out Of Town Gift Bags
• OTT – Over The Top
• PD – Public Displays of Affection
• PDAs – Public Displays of Affections
• PIL – Parent In Law
• PM – Private Message
• RB – Ring Bearer
• RD – Rehearsal Dinner
• RSVP – Please Respond (from French repondez s’il vous plait)
• SAHD – Stay At Home Dad
• SAHH – Stay At Home Husband
• SAHM – Stay At Home Mom
• SAHW – Stay At Home Wife
• SFW – Safe For Work
• SC – Stepchild
• SD – Stepdaughter
• SDR – Short Distance Relationship
• SI – Similar Interests
• SIL – Sister-in-law or Sibling-in-law or Son-in-law
• SO – Significant Other
• SS – Stepson

• STBMrs – Soon To Be Mrs.
• SY – See You
• TBH – To Be Honest
• TMI – Too Much Information
• TTC – Trying To Conceive
• TTD – Trash The Dress
• TWOTY – The Wedding of the Year
• TY – Thank You
• VIE(s) Very Important Extra(s) (important people who don’t belong to ‘official’ wedding party)
• VIP(s) – Very Important Person(s) (members of the family and wedding party)
• W – Widowed or White
• WIC – Wedding Industrial Complex
• WB – Weddingbee
• WP – Wedding Party or Wedding Planner
• XP – Cross Post (if you ask the same on tho boards at the same time)