Wedding programs?

Question

i am trying to make my own wedding programs but i can remember what is all suppose to be in them please help

Answer 1

The first respondent covered what's required. Remember that if you're including an Order of Service you will almost certainly be including copyright material and will need to work out fees and permissions for that. (Many popular prayers/readings are not public domain, you might want to have your music in there, etc.)

Answer 2

No etiquette book will tell you that you must have a wedding program, but for certain ceremonies they are more necessary than others. For instance:

    * If you are having a religious or traditional wedding, with many guests who are of another faith or culture

    * If you are having a large wedding, where guests are unlikely to know the bridal party

    * If you are having a particularly long ceremony where guests will want to be prepared to wait a while

    * If you have many people who you need to thank

Those who are short on time or money may wish to forgo this option, but remember that a simple wedding program needn't use much time or money. I recommend that you provide them for your guests, as a thoughtful gesture and souvenir.

Elements of a wedding program

    * The cover

      Typically includes the date and/or the names of the couple. It may also include the location and time of the ceremony, a picture, or design element (such as a flower, scroll, etc.)

    * The order of events

      If you haven't already included your names, wedding date, location, and time on the front cover, consider listing that information on the inside just before the order of events. Then list what will happen during the ceremony, including processional music, greeting, readings, prayers, exchange of vows, ring ceremony, unity candle ceremony, pronouncement of marriage, recessional music, and any other ceremony music. Your list may not include all of these elements, and it may include some traditions not listed here. Be sure to list the events in the order they will occur.

    * Members of the bridal party

      This is a simple list of the names and roles of your bridal party. For example:

      Officiant: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg

      Parents of the bride: Mary and John Smith

      Parents of the groom: Elizabeth Jones and Thomas Wilson, Jr.

      Stepparents of the groom: Robert Jones and Lisa Marist-Wilson

      Grandparents: Sarah Smith, Margaret Blackwood, Thomas Wilson Sr.

      Maid of Honor: Maria Gellert

      Best Man: William Harris

      Bridesmaids: Rebecca Brown, Juanita Ramirez

      Groomsmen: Calvin Aremu, Jonathan Goldstein

      Readers: McGuire Johnson, Alexander Wilson

Other things you may wish to include in your wedding program

    * An explanation of traditions or rituals used in your ceremony

    * A request for audience participation in certain parts of the ceremony (e.g. affirmation of the marriage, communion, singing, offering of the peace, standing or kneeling)

    * Thank yous

    * Memorials (for example: The memorial candle is lit in honor of the bride's mother, Shirley Fielding. OR On this day of happiness, we would like to remember those who are no longer with us, especially Derrick Peterson, grandfather of the bride, and Samantha Wilson, mother of the groom.)More advice on honoring a deceased parent or relative

    * A short sentence about each of your bridesmaids and groomsmen, describing why they are important to you.

    * An explanation of the significance of the location, theme, first dance song, etc. (For example: the reception will be held at Coldwater Restaurant, the site of the bride and groom's first date.)

    * Quotes or poems about love or marriage

    * Directions to the reception

Answer 3

Programs are provided with many church services so that people know the order of the service -- first a blessing, second all rise and sing Hymn #143, then be seated for a sermon, etc. This isn't necessary for a wedding, now is it?

If your wedding is elaborate and complex that your guests won't know what is going on without this sort of printed guide book then you need to simplify your wedding.

If so many people want to see their names in print that you can't possilby list them all on the invitation, then these people need to bring their vanity under control. They are sponsoring a WEDDING, not a stage play.

And guests who don't have the courage to discover a bridesmaid's or usher's name by ASKING him/her don't deserve to know their names.

In short, Miss Manners says wedding programs are worse than useless and I agree.

Answer 4

Cover, order of events, people in the wedding party, name of music in service, quote or special thoughts.

See this link for specific suggestions:

http://weddings.about.com/od/yourwedding...

Congratulations and good luck with your plans

Answer 5

There is no rulebook on programs. They can be as simple or elaborate as you want. The bare minimum they should have is order of service and perhaps listing who is in the wedding party. Beyond that, it's totally up to you.

Answer 6

Usually the names and positions/relationship of each member of the wedding party are listed (the officiant, too) and potentially musicians or other people providing a service as well.

Wedding programs provide a general outline of how the ceremony will proceed and possibly some explanations if there are family traditions or special details that you might want your guests to be aware of (memorials, symbolism of certain colours/flowers/etc).

The program will often be as detailed as to list the songs and readings that are performed/read during the service, although whatever level of detail you use is up to you.

I've linked a website with SEVERAL template options (on the right) so that you might get an idea of what people normally do.