Crafting the Perfect Wedding Program
A wedding program is a program your guests receive upon arrival at the wedding. It gives them a taste of what is to come, the schedule of events, and things to look forward to! It also introduces them to members of the wedding party and can include fun facts about the couple. By providing your guests with a wedding program, you give them an opportunity to be more invested in the events of the day. It’s normal to have questions about crafting a wedding program, so we’ve provided some tips below!
Is writing a wedding program necessary?
Well, it’s not like a wedding will grind to a halt without one, but why not save everyone the hassle? If guests know beforehand what the schedule of events is, everyone is likely to participate in one way or the other. Everyone reads the wedding program and many guests will bring it home as a memento of the day. So, while you are writing your wedding cards, wedding invitations, and wedding vows you can start jotting down notes for crafting your wedding program as well!
Contents of a Wedding Program
When learning how to write a wedding program, it is important to streamline the content itself and put it in a coherent order. The following are important areas to consider when learning how to write a wedding program
Names, Date, and Location
This goes at the top of the front or the first panel of wedding programs. A monogram is also a very popular addition to the introduction, as well as a motif, a small conceptual picture setting the introduction apart from the rest.
Order of Ceremony
This is generally the next thing after your introduction, often taking up the second panel of a traditional printed wedding program. It can be as simple as a list of the ceremony elements or so detailed it includes an exact hourly breakdown.
Core Wedding Function
This is generally the third panel of a standard wedding program. Typically, couples include the relationship of each party member (for example, sister of the bride, friend of the couple, etc.) Some even give attribution to everyone who helped with the ceremony, including a nice shout-out to the florist! Traditional etiquette entails using the full names and personal titles of all wedding party members.
Closing
Many couples include a thank you or closing message of appreciation to their guests at the end of their programs. The closing is another popular place to put a monogram or motif as a design element.
Other Options
Instead of listing the roles of wedding party members, some couples simply include a poem, quote, or piece of text they may feel connects with the mood of their big day. Moreover, there is no specific order to listing items in the wedding program, so everything can be rearranged!