'Soonlywed' and Other Modern Wedding Terms to Add to Your Nuptial Vocabulary
Because you might be too shy to ask what an unplugged wedding is.
Not only do engaged couples and wedding guests need to retroactively learn all of the traditional wedding etiquette rules floating around out there—they also need to keep up with the rapidly updating modern world of wedding terms, tendencies, and trends. Doughnut walls? Puppy bouquets? Signature cocktails? Microweddings? Nope, this definitely isn’t your parents’ wedding anymore.
Here's a handy glossary of new-school wedding terms that confuse anyone who's unfamiliar with all the abbreviations and buzzwords of today's celebrations (it's hard to keep up!).
1. Microwedding
While it’s nothing new to have a small, intimate wedding, these tight-knit parties are becoming more popular among couples, and this is its shiny new label. A microwedding is totally different from an elopement, since it has all the trappings of your typical wedding (including a guest list, albeit a small one). It’s usually defined as a wedding with around 20 guests and offers the perfect middle ground for couples who want to celebrate with a few close faves.
2. Unplugged Wedding
Don’t worry, an unplugged wedding isn’t a party without electricity, wifi, and running water. It simply means the couple is asking guests not to use their phones to take photos, text, or post on social media throughout their event. Requesting that people put their devices away—at least for the ceremony—is a nice way to up the emotion and intimacy factors and savor the happy moment, tech-free.
3. STD
Don't freak out—it’s not what you think it is! We promise, this seemingly dicey acronym has wholesome intentions: It’s shorthand for “save-the-date,” the pre-invitation announcement mailed to everyone on the guest list (usually six to eight months before the wedding date) so they can reserve the wedding weekend in question before the official, formal invitation arrives closer to the date. So don’t panic if one of your engaged friend sends you those initials via text.
4. Soonlywed
“Newlywed” refers to someone who’s just married, typically within the last two years. A “soonlywed” is another great gender-neutral catchall for referring to anyone getting married, well, soon! Think of it as a swanky new iteration of “to-be-wed,” and you can use them interchangeably.
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5. MOH
Maid (or Matron) of Honor. This person is usually the bride’s right hand throughout the wedding planning process and on the wedding day (although grooms can definitely choose a MOH too). So if you’re in a wedding party that keeps tossing this abbreviation around in the group chat, now you know.
6. Couple’s Shower
Instead of a traditional bridal shower, tons of soonlyweds (it rolls off the tongue nicely, doesn’t it?) choose to have a joint prewedding shower, known as a coed shower or couple’s shower. This is a fabulous option for couples who can’t bear the thought of not celebrating together, or who share a close friend group where it just makes sense to have a joint event.
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7. Minimoon
It seems like there’s a hip new term for every different type of honeymoon out there. All you need to know is that the traditional honeymoon usually lasts for anywhere from 10 days to two weeks, and falls immediately (or at least soon) after the “I dos.” But what if you can’t swing a long vacation due to budget, work, or other scheduling conflicts? Sneak away for a minimoon—a short, often long-weekend escape that’s not too far away—to celebrate your nuptials; then save the long, luxurious honeymoon for another, later date (first anniversary trip, anyone?).
8. Cash Registry
As if the expectations of traditional gift registries don’t confuse people enough, today’s online cash and experiential registry offerings add a whole new layer—but it’s not really that confusing. Digital gifting platforms are the latest registry innovation that make gifting the couple cash they really want a seamless (and classy) experience. Don’t believe us? Check out these next-level registry options for the happy couple.
