The wedding program serves a special purpose for your wedding. Besides being a unique keepsake for your guests, it can provide helpful information about the ceremony and meaningful insight into what brought you together as a couple. Wedding programs traditionally include important details such as the bride and groom’s names, date and location of the wedding, the officiant’s name, as well as the names of the wedding party attendants.
Along with the information just mentioned, other items often included are:
- Elements of the ceremony (unity candle, vows)
- Musical selections (as well as lyrics if they hold special meaning)
- Composers and performers of your musical selections
- Titles of your readings and optionally, the full text
- Authors of readings
- Readers’ names
- Brief description of each attendant’s relationship to you along with any anecdotes you might like to share
- Thank you note to both sets of parents (and guests as well, if you like)
- Traditions, rituals, or ethnic customs with explanations if they might be unfamiliar to your guests
Some couples use their wedding program for remembrance of a deceased family member or loved one, frequently including a photo, or mentioning a fond memory about the individual.
The amount of information you choose to include in your program will help you in determining its design. There are no set rules of etiquette concerning what you print your program on. Use basic card stock or a beautiful paper fan. A lot of programs are nicely produced on bi-fold or tri-fold paper. For ideas, see LCI's selection of DIY programs, including Slim Wedding Programs, Metallic Programs, Trifold Programs and Handmade Scrolls.
Booklets, an emerging trend for creative wedding program design, allow the bride and groom to provide much more detailed and personally significant information for their guests.
Customizing is another way to add a dash of creativity to your program. For example, a couple who dated in high school reprinted their senior prom photo onto a piece of vellum and overlaid it onto the program. If your wedding has a distinct theme or color scheme, try tying it into your program. Any special touches you add can only enhance your guests’ enjoyment of your affair.
Be creative in presenting your wedding programs. At the entrance to the church or ceremony site, display them in baskets, antique trays, or attractive containers that complement your wedding style. This way, guests can take one as they arrive. Do you have a family member or special friend who isn’t part of the wedding party? Ask that person to pass out the programs. It’s a wonderful way to involve a close relative or friend in your big day.
Don’t hold back on creating a unique and distinctive wedding program. Use it to warmly welcome your guests into the joy of your wedding day.
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wedding programs
ceremony programs
reception programs
diy programs
printable programs
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