Both “Wed” and “Wedded” Are Correct Past Tenses, but “Newlywed” Is the Proper Noun

*TL;DR: “Wed” and “wedded” are interchangeable past forms of the verb *to wed*; the noun for a recently married person is *newlywed*.

Context A reader asked whether “got wed” or “got wedded” is correct. The question touches on verb forms that often confuse writers, especially in wedding coverage.

Key Facts - Both *wed* and *wedded* function as the past tense and past participle of the verb *wed*. The verb is irregular, meaning it does not follow the standard “‑ed” rule. - Major dictionaries list *wed* as the verb meaning “to get married,” with a note that the form appears frequently in newspaper headlines. - While the two verb forms are interchangeable, the noun for a person who has just married is *newlywed*. Its plural is *newlyweds*, and the adjective form appears as *newly‑wed*. - Common errors include pairing “wedding” with “ceremony” (the phrase is redundant) and using “couple” to refer to a single individual.

What It Means Writers can safely use either “the couple got wed on Saturday” or “the couple got wedded on Saturday” without risking grammatical error. The choice hinges on style: *wed* feels more concise, while *wedded* carries a slightly formal tone. When referring to the individuals, *newlywed* is the only correct noun; using *newly‑wedded* as a noun is nonstandard, though it works as an adjective.

Editors should also avoid tautologies like “wedding ceremony” and ensure that “couple” describes both partners, not one. These small adjustments keep wedding reporting crisp and accurate.

Looking Ahead Watch for evolving usage in digital media, where brevity may favor *wed* over *wedded*, while *newlywed* remains the stable term for newly married couples.