Wedding Programs
While not a requirment,
bridal party to guests and the bride and grooms reasons for including them in the wedding. Finally, programs make a great memento.
Remember that you can include as many or as few details as you wish in your
wedding programs. It all depends on the magnitude, the variety and breadth of intercultural rituals you expect to have, and the formality of the wedding. Some people won't even need a program. However, there are three main reasons to use programs:
* '''If you are having a very long wedding ceremony''' An hour long ceremony or more may cause guests to become ansy or to lose their focus, especially if they are not very religious or if they aren't very close to the bride and groom or the bridal party. A program prepares them and keeps them interested.
* '''If you are having a very religious ceremony''' Traditions vary from one religion to another. So, to keep everyone on the same page, especially those of a different faith, a program allows people grasp the greater meaning behind the different parts of the service.
* '''If you are having a very large wedding''' Not everyone will know the bride and groom or the attendants very well. Having a program describe the various people involved in the wedding will make them feel more like a part of the wedding.
If you are planning on more than a singleVendors'>vendor. Also, remember to reread the proof yourself AND have a second party check for errors as well. Once you send it back to the printer or stationer, that's the final draft and no matter what mistakes are made, the program will be printed anyway.
Creating the Program
Programs can be styled in a variety of ways. They may be a single sheet of paper, in the form of a tiny booklet, multiple pages, or a bifold design. It all depends on how much information you want or need to include in the ceremony.
Traditionally, the normal setup for a program goes as follows:
* '''Cover Page''' This is where you list the full names of the bride and groom, the date, the time, and the location of the wedding. It may even have a photo of the couple, a monogram, or a visual element that is representative of the wedding.
* ''' Order of Events''' Depending on the amount of information you want to include, this portion may take up several pages. You may list more than just the order of the event, but the names of the songs, prayers, or readings that you use as well as the lyrics of special songs or even the words from some of the prayers or readings. If you wish, also give brief explanations of certain rituals, or why you chose to include particular elements of the ceremony. In some cases, you might mention when you want the audience to participate in the ceremony (singing, communion, kneeling, standing, etc.).
* '''Bridal Party''' This is where you list the names and titles of all people in your bridal party. The order which you should follow is shown below. Some people include a short sentence or two about who these people are and how they are significant to the bride and groom.
* '''Thanks''' This is usually the last page of the program which gives memorials (to deceased family members), thanks to those involved in the wedding, and the guests. Do not include vendors (unless they are friends of yours) or mention any thanks for gifts or money contributions. You may also choose to include information regarding the reception as well, such as directions to the location, first dance lyrics and meaning, and significance of the reception site.
Below you'll see an example of a simple wedding program, without the details included, of course. Basically, it's meant to give an idea of how to list and order each item on the page. This is just an example though. You can get as creative as you wish.
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Other useful guides concerning the wedding ceremony include:
Wedding Vows.
Trends in Wedding Programs
* Personalize it by creating a seasonal
color scheme to match your wedding decorations, or adding a unique element to it that will show up throughout the rest of the wedding.
* Add
love quotes throughout the program to add a personal touch.
* Print the program on something fun. For summer,
fans are a big hit.
Scrolls are pretty all year round.
* Add a 3D element to them, such as a
seashell in summer, a
pinecone or paper snowflake in winter, or
silk flower in spring.
* Keep the programs tidy in a casual
wicker basket, or neatly displayed on a table.
