The Wedding Program

Brides and grooms often ask me what and who they should include in their ceremony wedding program. There are many different ways of doing this, both formal and informal. But the basic reason for being used is to be sure the guests can easily follow your ceremony, know who the important people are in your wedding party, and enjoy the music and who was the composer. 
When you are writing your wedding programs, using the point of view of the guest who will read the program should guide its organization. A wedding program is a fun item to have for your wedding guests to show that you wished to include everyone involved in the wedding as well as details. It’s also a chance to thank all of those involved for their participation. When you decide how to assemble your program, it all goes back to the mood and setting of your wedding. It is a chance for the bride and groom to speak to their guests. On the cover, it is standard to have the names of the bride and groom, followed by date and location, the order of service, and listing of names of individuals involved in the ceremony. This can also include others who have a substantial role in the wedding, such as parents, grandparents, and readers. 
As you open up the program you will see a listing of the service which mentions all of those involved, including musicians, readers, and wedding party. It’s optional to include the words of the hymns or readings as well. This is a way for your guests to follow along with the services and participate. It’s completely up to the type of mood you want to set. You can also take it back to religious or cultural customs if that is a focus of your wedding as well. Another popular, and further way to personalize your program, is to include a favorite poem or saying which expresses your intentions and feelings on the big day. Often, brides and grooms will include a thank you note to their guests for attending as well as thanking their parents. They also sometimes choose to recognize those that are not there attending or grandparents who have passed away. And, the wedding program is a great way to let guests know your address as the NEW Mr. and Mrs. There is a variety of ways to present your program. You can assemble it as a single sheet, a folded card, or a booklet. These are just a few examples of typical wedding program styles. Feel free to be creative with the way you present your own. If you wish to be creative, you can incorporate ribbon, flowers, or enclose it with a notch. There are many different options, and you can take your own personality and theme of your wedding to apply them to your program. It’s a great extra touch to a wedding ceremony!