Some folks think a wedding program is unnecessary. We completely disagree. You have brought your friends and family together to be a part of your marriage ceremony and an effective program helps everyone feel connected to and involved with the wedding, even if it is only used for a short time.
What should you include in a wedding program? Some couples go with basic information, and some get very creative with their programs. A program can be a simple one or two-sided card, a trifold brochure-style program, or it can be a rectangular or square booklet with several pages. It’s all up to you and your style and personalities.
A wedding program tells your guests what will be happening during your ceremony and usually lists the bridal party and other attendants, names of parents and grandparents, the officiant, musicians, and your chosen music. It includes the order of service as well; check with your church or temple on what to include.
The bare minimum:
- Names of bride and groom and date of marriage
- Titles and composers of music being played, names of any soloists that you want to highlight
- Major components of the service so your guests know what is happening
- Titles and authors of any readings or Scriptural citations
- Names of the people in your wedding party
Here are some other, more creative ideas you might want to include:
- Explanations of religious or other wedding traditions that may be needed for guests of other faiths
- Responses to prayers
- When to sit, stand or kneel depending on the religion involved
- Memoriam for those who have passed
- A welcome note from the bride and groom or a thank you to family, friends and other guests for sharing in your day
- How you know the bridal party and attendants
- Your new address (put at the end of the program)
- The actual wording to a poem, special reading, or song lyrics that are meaningful to you
- Directions or a map to the reception
- A brief itinerary for the reception
- Love quotes, or a phrase from a song or movie that is meaningful to you
- Why you chose the song for your first dance
- Special history of your wedding location? Put it in the program!
- A brief story of how you met
Just keep in mind that the purpose of a program is to help keep people involved in what is happening. Make it unique and personal.
At Indigo Envelope, we create programs from the very simple to the elaborate. We’ll match your wedding theme and colors, along with your other wedding stationery. We are happy to go over format and information that you choose to put in your wedding program.
Contact us for all your wedding stationery needs, from save the dates and invitations to programs, menus, table numbers and place cards.