Wedding Programs – Setting the Tone of a Wedding
Wedding programs may not be adopted by every wedding couple but for those who wish to do so, the ideas in this article will serve as an excellent guide. A wedding program adds a little something extra to the big event and is a record of the ceremony. Guests feel included when they have a program and can better understand the planned ceremony. Of course a wedding program makes a great keepsake for the bridal couple.
You can make of your wedding program anything you desire, make it a formal statement of the evening ahead or add elements that are light hearted in nature. Add a picture or two and get as creative as you possibly can. When your guests take their program home as a keepsake it means you have achieved what you set out to do – create something memorable.
If you don't want your guests to discard their programs soon after the wedding you need to add an element of the unexpected that will make them want to keep a souvenir of the wedding. A sample program would ideally include a picture of the bride and groom with the wedding date, names of the bridal couple's parents and the wedding party members, ceremony of events including the hymns, prayers and church proceedings, reception information and a beautiful closing in the form of a love quote or something more unique.
You can create the cover of your program to have the names and date, a picture of the two of you and maybe a scroll design. Give details of the ceremony beginning with the processional music, greeting, readings, hymns, prayers, vows and so on until the recessional music is played as the couple leave the church. Keep to the order in which the ceremony will proceed to include your guests from other faiths.
Information about the bridal party will include the names of the parents of the bride and groom, officiant, grandparents, maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids, groomsmen, readers and soloist if you plan to have a special wedding song.
don't forget to put in the directions to your reception.
The program can include one liners about the bridal party –keep it humorous; special thank you messages and a general thank you message to the guests for making a memorable event more special by their attendance.
Wedding programs that incorporate funny pictures of the couple and personally written wedding vows make for a great keepsake.