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What To Put On A Wedding Program

Wood Sign Wedding Program

Technical Writing Skills : How to Write a Catholic Wedding Program

Outline the order of events on a simple wood sign and hang it near the ceremony entrance so guests will see it as they arrive. A wood sign is perfect for a more rustic or outdoorsy wedding perhaps a barn wedding or one by a lake.

Ways to Display: Your wooden sign can be placed on an easel or propped up against a table, depending on the size. If you are hanging your sign, you can use twine, ribbon, silk string, or whatever else matches your wedding vibe. Alternatively, using a shepherds hook to hang the sign, or placing it on a nearby tree at the entrance are classic, simple ways to display your wooden program.

How To Write Your Wedding Program In 4 Easy Steps

If there is one detail you do not want to skip on your wedding day, its your ceremony program. Your guests will pour over this simple piece of stationery and appreciate knowing what to expect. Programs are also a simple and inexpensive way to add custom personalization to your ceremony. At just 99¢ each, our wedding programs at Anns are cheaper than DIY and look like a million bucks!

Lets talk about ceremony program wording. If youre struggling to word your programs, we dont blame you. It can be difficult to include all the information you want to share with your guests in a concise and organized manner. We promise it can be easy though and we can help by breaking it down into 4 simple steps.

What To Include In A Wedding Program

Once you’ve picked a wedding program design and crunched the numbers, then you get to decide on what to include in a wedding program. Of course, there are certain details that are helpful to your guests. You definitely want to include your names, the location of your wedding and an outline of the ceremony proceedings. Beyond that, you get to choose what you’d like to incorporate. Consider adding in the names of the people participating in the ceremony or an explanation of any cultural traditions you’re incorporating .

Other things you can include in your ceremony program are explanation of meaningful wedding details , an overview of the wedding day timeline, your love story or your wedding hashtag. Consider adding in a thank you to your guests or a message in memory of those who couldn’t attend. If you’re having an after-party, it may be helpful to include those details on the wedding program so that your guests are clear on what’s happening, when it’s happening and where it’s going down.

If you want to break up the text, you can add in pictures or illustrations . It’s a sweet touch that will make guests smile.

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Get With The Program: Why You Need Wedding Programs

Organization is key to wedding planning. After all, guests should be aware of whats going on, but not too aware if things go awry. A wedding program is a good starting point to keep your guests entertained, happy and informed throughout the ceremony.

Programs are an extension of your wedding stationery and a keepsake of your special day. A basic wedding program can include your names, wedding date, location, order of events and names of the wedding party . Depending on the type of ceremony, you can include the names of readings, poems or songs and even an explanation of parts of the ceremony. Programs are a great way to elaborate on rituals and traditions that your guests might not be familiar with.

You can also add directions to your reception, audience requests or why you chose the specific location or venue.

Feel free to add as much or as little detail as you like. Some thoughtful additions include the story of how you met your engagement story how you know the wedding party and what they mean to you thank-you notes and tributes to loved ones. If you have many people to thank, a program is a great way to mention everyone just in case you forget during the speeches.

There are lots of neat ideas to package all of that necessary information. For a warm, summer day, why not fashion your programs into fans for guests to keep cool?

You can have your ushers hand out programs before the ceremony or have programs displayed in boxes, trays or on a table like this one:

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Liturgy Of The Eucharist

Bashert Weddings: Wedding Programs: why have them, what to ...

This part of the wedding ceremony includes:

  • Presentation of the Gifts
  • Sign of Peace
  • Communion

During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, friends or family of the couple will offer wine and bread in front of the Priest at the altar while a hymn is sung. The Priest will then pray over the bread and wine as part of the Eucharistic Prayer, which is followed by the Lord’s Prayer. After the congregation recites the Lord’s Prayer together the Priest shares nuptial blessing as the couple kneels in front of the altar. The wedding party and guests then shake hands with those nearby and say, “Peace be with you,” to offer a sign of peace. Finally, as part of communion, the congregation will sing a hymn while the Priest breaks the bread and communion is shared with the couple and then the Catholic guests in the congregation.

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Tropical Leaf Wedding Program

Instead of a paper program, hand-write the ceremony details on an oversized tropical leaf. This natural look can be perfect for a destination wedding or a couple who just happens to love a good tropical theme. Because theyre handwritten, tropical leaf programs come across as really personal to your guests. Depending on the other colors of your theme, consider what color you want to use when writing on your leaves so that it all ties together.

Ways to Display: Put bows on the end of the leaves and hang them from the back of chairs or place them on every chair for your guests, just beware of a strong gust of wind!

Sections Of A Wedding Ceremony Program

  • Prelude The time before your ceremony officially begins when guests are arriving for the festivities. Typically, music will play in the background .
  • Processional This is when everyone will walk down the aisle, including parents, the officiant, groom, groomsmen, bridesmaids, and the bride.
  • Welcome The officiant will typically begin the wedding ceremony by welcoming everyone and thanking them for attending.
  • First Reading If there is a prayer, book passage, poem, or some lyrics that hold meaning to the couple, they will be read here by a family member or friend.
  • Wedding Message The officiant will share the main message they want guests to take away from the wedding ceremony.
  • Second Reading Sometimes ceremonies have one reading, sometimes they have many! If there is a second prayer, book passage, poem, or song lyrics that hold meaning, they will be read here.
  • Vow Exchange The couple will recite traditional or custom vows to each other.
  • Ring Exchange The couple will exchange rings.
  • The officiant will pronounce the couple as married!
  • Recessional The now married couple will walk back down the aisle, followed by their wedding party, and parents.

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The Order Of Ceremony Events

On the inside cover , include the order of the ceremony events. This allows guests to follow along with your wedding ceremony.

This program section depends on what you plan for your ceremony. If you plan a short and sweet service prior to saying, I do, this section will be rather short. However, a traditionally religious service like a Catholic wedding will require a more lengthy order of events.

Religious or Traditional Wedding Ceremony

For a religious ceremony, write the corresponding songs, prayers, and Bible verses you chose for your service. List each step within your ceremony on a separate line.

Processional: Rondeau, J.J. Mouret

Brides Processional: Canon in D, Pachelbel

Opening Prayer

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Exchange of Vows

Blessing and Exchange of Rings

Unity Candle: This Is Love, For King & Country

Lords Prayer

Recessional: Ode To Joy, Beethoven

Modern Wedding Program Template

For a more modern wedding ceremony, you will probably share a mix of favorite secular songs, poetry readings, or monologues in lieu of more religious components. However, just like for a traditional ceremony, you will write each step of your ceremony on a separate line.

Prelude: God Only Knows, John Legend

Processional: A Thousand Years, Christina Perri

Introduction of the Couple

Reading: Roads Go Ever Ever On, J.R.R. Tolkein

Exchange of Vows

Recessional: Best Day of My Life, American Authors

Alternative Listing For Stepparents

College & Writing Tips : How to Write a Wedding Program

Some couples choose to include an Honorable Mentions section in their wedding program for close friends or family members not listed elsewhere. You could list your stepparents in this area. The persons name usually is listed along with the relationship to the bride and groom. This option is most appropriate if the stepparent is no longer married to the biological parent but still is close to the couple. If one of the biological parents has bad feelings toward the stepparent, add the stepparent here and only list the biological parents with the rest of the wedding party.

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Discover Helpful Tips On How To Fill Your Program With Important Details

For a lot of brides, what to include in the ceremony program is somewhat of a mystery. The following is a basic guideline of what to include in your wedding program.

For a lot of brides, what to include in the ceremony program is somewhat of a mystery. I get a lot of clients asking what they should or should not include in their wedding day programs. I always tell couples that they can basically include whatever they wish, with as little or as much information as they deem necessary.

The following is a basic guideline of what to include in your wedding program:

Why Do You Need A Fan Wedding Program

Gaharent these gorgeous?!

Traditional wedding programs guide guests through the ceremony and can include a variety of information.

Wedding party names, ceremony details, messages to the guests are all some of the items you can include on your wedding program.

My sisters wedding was in Septemberin Floridaso it was HOT!

Creating fan wedding programs was a perfect idea for her ceremony to keep guests cool on a warm summer afternoon.

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Create The Perfect Program

Now that you know what wedding programs are all about, its up to you whether you want one or not. If you do, make sure you include the basics like a running order of events and details about your wedding party.

Other than that, look at it as an opportunity to have fun and be creative with one of the most momentous occasions in your life. Let your wedding theme, personality, and love story inspire you to create a keepsake wedding program that you, your spouse, and your guests will enjoy.

Double Duty Wedding Program Ideas

32 Wedding Programs

Fun ideas that make your program do double the work. Fan programmes printed on paddles are not only informative they are also a thoughtful gesture for warm summer days and outdoor weddings. Slip other sweet little ideas into your ceremony programmes such as hankies for drying those tears of joy as you say ‘I do’, confetti or bubbles attached for when you make your big exit!

Wedding Program Signage by Silver Starfish | Photo by Aaron and Jillian Photography via Mod Wedding

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Do You Need A Wedding Ceremony Program

Sure, you could get away without a wedding programyour ceremony would probably still go off without a hitch, and afterward, youd still be married. But programs are easy to create, helpful for everyone, and add an extra dose of fun, beauty, personality, and charm to your wedding day. Here are some reasons you should consider having a wedding ceremony program:

Main Questions To Ask When Ordering Your Wedding Program

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When creating your wedding programs, especially if youre not creating them yourself, there are a lot of details you would need to learn. The type of materials used, sizes, and other components that might interest you in making your wedding programs truly unique. In choosing the right professional for your particular tastes and desires, there are certain questions you might need to ask. These include questions like:

  • How long have you been in business and which styles do you specialize in?
  • Can you recommend calligraphers or do you have any of your own?
  • Are there any discounts to purchasing other types of wedding paper?
  • Which printing process do you recommend for my budget and style?
  • Can I also order other wedding stationery from you, for instance, my table numbers, place cards, escort cards, Can I also order my table numbers, place cards, escort cards, ceremony programs, menus, etc. from you? ceremony programs, menus and so on?

Creating wedding programs for your wedding might not be as difficult as imagined, whether youre going DIY or employing the help of a professional. Armed with your wedding theme in mind and the general style for your wedding program, including the right wording, creating it should be a walk in the park with help from these tips on wedding program etiquette and more. While the wedding program is only one aspect of wedding planning and wedding stationery, the creation of the perfect wedding program should set the pace for all the others.

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Wedding Program Memorial Tips

When seeking inspiration for their own wedding programs, most people immediately begin looking at examples. But before you get too far, its a good idea to consider a few general points:

1. Ask yourself whether you need a separate section. In many cases, it makes more sense to honor the dead in the Thank You section of the program. Thank You sections come in different forms, but many of them speak about faith and family, making them a natural spot for mentioning deceased loved ones.

2. For a list of names, start with In Loving Memory Of or a similar phrase. The simplest approach is to list the names of the people you want to memorialize in the wedding ceremony program. In this case, all you really need is to start the section with a solemn phrase such as In Memory Of or Never to be Forgotten.

3. Be inclusive. While you dont need to list every deceased relative of the bride and groom, you do want to be on guard against any conspicuous omissions. For example, if youre listing a deceased member of the grooms immediate family, it would be inappropriate not to also list someone who was closely related to the bride. If you have particularly sensitive issues to deal with in your families, you may want to opt for general wording that doesnt list anyone by name.

If you use symbolism to memorialize loved ones, you can call attention to it during the ceremony or in the program. Of course, theres nothing wrong with keeping it private either.

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