While wedding programs are both traditional and useful, they are not always required for a ceremony. They often contain information that is beneficial for your guests, and deciding whether or not to include them in your own wedding can depend on a few factors. Here are some key details to consider and what to include in your wedding programs.
Benefits of a Wedding Program
Wedding programs can be incredibly useful to guests who wish to follow along with your ceremony and all the events leading up to your “I do’s”. We recommend creating a wedding program if your ceremony will be thirty minutes or longer, or if you plan to have any readings, important traditions, musicians or other aspects that you can include on the schedule.
For couples looking to keep their ceremony short, a program isn’t necessarily needed unless you’d like to give guests an overview of the bridal party, officiant, ring bearers, etc.
Your budget is also another thing to keep in mind when deciding if you want to include wedding programs for your ceremony. If your guest list is on the larger side, that will also mean printing up a lot of paper programs and can take a chunk out of your budget you may wish to use on something else.
What to Include
Once you’ve decided to create a wedding program for your special day, you’ll need to compile all the information you want inside:
The Cover
The cover of your wedding program should include important details such as your wedding date and the names of you and your partner. You can also add the location and time of your ceremony, along with any theme details or wedding colors you’ve chosen.
Itinerary
The next page should include an order of events for the ceremony. This is where you’ll list details such as the processional music, greetings, readings, exchanging of vows, ring ceremony, pronouncement of marriage and any other key events you’ll have.
Wedding Party
Your wedding party page can be simple and include a list of the names of everyone in your wedding party, and their roles. This can include bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, readers and the officiant.
Thank Yous
Many couples also choose to include a few short sentences at the end of their programs thanking their guests for coming to their special day and celebrating with them. You can also add any other personal information you’d like or a short marriage quote or poem.
Overall, a wedding program can be as simple or as detailed as your ceremony requires. They also make a great souvenir for your guests to bring home and are a nice personal touch to your special day.
Need some extra help planning the wedding of your dreams? Check out some of our favorite wedding websites for planning your big day! As always, we are happy to help when you are ready to find the dress of your dreams.
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