A good wedding ceremony is like good theater. It’s a performance with its own cast of characters, special costumes and music. And like a captivating play, as a wedding progresses, an unforgettable story unfolds.
A wedding program can help your guests follow along. Although a wedding program is not essential (no guru on wedding etiquette will chastise you for not having one), your guests may thank you if you have one. With a guide to your ceremony, your guests’ questions about who’s who and what’s happening will be answered. They’ll feel included. So they can relax and enjoy your ceremony, and feel its impact even more.
Sounds great, you’re thinking, but how can I handle -- and afford -- yet another detail of wedding planning? There’s more good news about wedding programs: even the most creative and elaborate-looking ones are not painstaking or costly endeavors. A little fancy paper, some computer-generated pages and some fastening together is about all it takes for you to make your own. Your guests will be impressed that you paid attention to this detail, and you’ll cherish the memento for years to come. So get with the program…
Express Yourself
Think of yourself as a wedding-program designer. Since there are no formal guidelines, a wedding program can be exactly what you want it to be. It can be a thick booklet with almost every word to be said at your ceremony, or a single sheet of paper with only the most important details. It can be covered with luscious, textured handmade paper and bound with an ornate ribbon, or it can be a single sheet of folded card stock or even a small stiff postcard. Try to create a program that coincides with the style of your wedding.
Got You Covered
Good places to start your adventure in program design are your local stationery store, art supply shop and office supply store. Be on the lookout for beautiful paper to serve as a cover for your program, if you choose to have a cover. Look for transparent velum, high quality note cards, embossed paper or paper with special detailing. You can fold paper in half or use two for the cover. If you find handmade paper you like, the store can cut it to the size you specify. Look for a fanciful initialed rubber stamp to decorate your cover if you desire. Gold ink can lend an elegant feel. If you don’t opt for a cover, thick stock in white or cream is a simple and lovely paper choice for your program. Without a cover, simply fold the paper in half like a booklet, or bind papers together with a ribbon through a small punched hole.
Bindings
Check out notions shops for special ribbons and tasseled cords to use as bindings for your program. Metallic-colored ornamentation gives a fancy feeling. Floral ribbons look fresh. A white satin or grosgrain ribbon is traditional and elegant, or use a color from your wedding. For a simple binding, use a small gold ring through a punched hole.
The Printing Press
Now’s the time to play with all of those special fonts on your computer. Use your desktop publishing program to experiment with templates, typestyles and images. When you’re through designing and writing, proofread carefully (ask your partner to double-check your work as well), and print as many as you need on your ink-jet or laser printer. Black ink is classic and traditional, but if you have a color printer you can use colors drawn from your wedding. You can also print out just one copy of the program and have your local copy store replicate it onto the paper you’ve selected. After printing, stuff the pages into their covers and bind.
What’s Inside
Looks aren’t everything -- the most important aspect of your program is its content. Of course, you get top billing. Your names will serve as the title, whether on the front cover or inside as the first page. Next on the title page: the date and location of the ceremony.
Order, Order
List the order of events at the ceremony to help guests follow along. Include music, songs, poems and readings in the order in which they will occur. You can include the readings in their entirety so guests can savor every word. If you want, include words to songs so guests can join in. If you’ve written your own vows, it’s a nice idea to add them to the program so your spoken words can linger with your guests. You can also include a brief explanation of any special religious rituals that will occur during the ceremony. This may help guests unfamiliar with what’s going on feel more comfortable.
The Cast
List the people who will make your wedding ceremony special -- the officiant, your parents, the bridal party, candle-lighters, musicians and others who have a significant role. Not only will it make those important players feel great to have their names highlighted, it helps your guests identify the VIPs. Some programs include a brief description of each person’s relationship to the bride and groom, for example, Tom Johnson, UCLA roommate; Kate Adams, childhood friend of the bride.
Quotable
You can add some poetry, scripture, or song lyrics that express your feelings about your wedding day even if they won’t be read at the ceremony. The program is your way to communicate with your guests; this is your chance to impart a special message and tone.
Remembrance
If someone important to you has passed away, pay homage to him or her in your program. Mention grandparents or others who are not present: "We remember our grandparents Harry and Betsy Matthews and Sylvia and Paul Shultz. Although they are not here to share in our special day, they will be in our hearts always."
Giving Thanks
The final quote in the program can be a thank you to those who gave you support throughout your relationship or in your lives. Thank parents and the people who are attending your wedding. An example: "We would like to thank our parents for their love and support and our friends and family for sharing this day. Thank you for being a special part of our lives. We would not be here without you." This is a great way to end your program. And everyone attending will feel good about being at your wedding.
Don’t Wait
If you decide to make your own program, give yourself a deadline of at least a week or two before your ceremony. Waiting until the last minute can cause unnecessary stress--the last thing you need right before your wedding--so it's in your best interest to plan ahead.
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