Wedding: Meaning, Collocations & Comparisons

wedding — noun: the ceremony (and often the celebration) in which two people marry; also used attributively, as in wedding dress or wedding ring.
Pronunciation: /ˈwɛdɪŋ/. Plural: weddings.

Easy explanation

A wedding is the event where a couple officially gets married. It can be simple or grand, civil or religious, and is usually followed by a party called a reception.

Part of speech and grammar

Countable noun: a wedding; two weddings.
Attributive noun: wedding cake, wedding vows, wedding planner, wedding party.
Verbs around it: marry, wed, tie the knot, get hitched.
Related forms: wed (verb), wedded (adj.), wedding (gerund/participle of wed for “joining”).

Register and tone

Neutral and widely used—from legal forms to lifestyle writing, faith contexts, and journalism.

Connection to sexuality

Indirect. A wedding marks the start of a marriage; it does not imply sexual consent or obligations. Terms like wedding night appear in tradition, but consent is required at all times, regardless of marital status or ceremony.

Common collocations

wedding ceremony
wedding day
wedding vows
wedding ring/band
wedding dress/attire
wedding party (bridal party)
wedding reception
wedding invitation
wedding registry
destination wedding
civil wedding
religious wedding
micro-wedding
double wedding
shotgun wedding
wedding planner
wedding venue
wedding photos
wedding anniversary

Idioms and expressions

tie the knot; get hitched; walk down the aisle; wedding bells; wedding jitters; jump the broom (some traditions); a big fat wedding (informal for lavish)

Prepositions and nuance

wedding on/at/in — time/place: wedding on June 12 at City Hall in Austin.
wedding of/between — names the couple: the wedding of A and B.
wedding with/under — style or rite: wedding with a minimalist theme; wedding under Hindu/Islamic/Jewish rites.
wedding by — officiant: wedding by a judge/cleric.
Prepositions specify logistics; the core meaning (marriage ceremony) stays the same.

Word comparisons

wedding vs marriage — wedding = the event; marriage = the legal/ongoing relationship.
wedding vs reception — reception is the party after the ceremony.
wedding vs nuptials — nuptials is a formal/literary synonym for the ceremony.
wedding vs matrimony — matrimony is the state of being married (often religious/legal).
wedding vs elopement — elopement is a small or secret wedding, often without guests.
wedding vs engagement/betrothal — engagement is the period/commitment before the wedding.

Real-life examples

They opted for a civil wedding with a small group of friends.
The couple wrote their own wedding vows and kept the ceremony short.
A destination wedding can shift costs to travel rather than venue.
The article compared wedding registries and cash-fund options.
Photos from the wedding reception highlighted live music and local food.

Sample sentences

Their wedding is next spring, followed by a backyard reception.
The wedding party met the photographer at the park.
She designed her own wedding dress using vintage lace.
They chose to wed in a small wedding at home.
City rules require a wedding license before the ceremony.

Synonyms

marriage ceremony, nuptials, rite of matrimony, union, tying the knot, celebration

Antonyms

divorce, annulment, separation, breakup (contextual)

Related terms

wed, wedded, marriage, spouse, partner, officiant, vows, ring exchange, license, certificate, bridal party, best man, maid/matron of honor, bouquet, boutonniere, aisle, rehearsal, reception, registry, honeymoon, prenuptial agreement, postnuptial agreement, marital status

Notes and etiquette

Be specific about type (civil, religious, interfaith), scope (micro-wedding, large banquet), and access (open bar, child-free, dress code). When writing across cultures, name the rite accurately and avoid assumptions about roles or customs.

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