As a planner, I always stress to my clients that creating an inviting and warm environment for your guests should be a main focus throughout the planning process. And one of the easiest ways to help make your guests feel welcome and involved with your wedding, is through the use of wedding program. These little jewels are a great way to help your friends and family understand any special or customary traditions within your wedding ceremony, introduce guests to whose who in the wedding party, and provide direction for the remaining events of the day.
Creating a great wedding program doesn’t have to be complicated or require a lot of time. If anything, I stress keeping things simple, practical and to the point. And a little creativity here or there never hurts either.
What should you include in your program?
Step one: Start with your names (simple, right?). You should first list the name of the bride and groom followed by the wedding date and location.
Step two: Your program should then include the order of your wedding ceremony. This section can include detailed information such as special readings (poems, scriptures and passages, quotes, etc…), musical selections and any other inclusions presented throughout the ceremony. Be sure to include the names of any and all authors, composers, speakers and performers. Some couples also choose to include actual poems or song lyrics if they are especially meaningful to them.
Step three: Identify your wedding party attendants and their relationship to you. You might also want to include a few sentences with regards to your relationship with this person. I also encourage clients to mention the name of the officiant and his or her relationship to the couple.
Step four: If you are including any religious traditions or customs throughout the ceremony, a brief explanation within the program can certainly help your guests understand the components of your ceremony, the meanings behind them, and their importance to you as a couple.
Step five: If you wish to honor loved ones who have passed, the wedding program is a great place to pay tribute by including a poem, quote, photo or by sharing a loving memory.
Don’t forget to get Creative!
Your wedding program can help set the tone for the rest of your event so take advantage! The wedding program is a great way to share with your guests more personalized and creative details about you as a couple. From song lyrics to favorite poems, your wedding program can tell more of your story and help all in attendance really get to know both of you.
In conclusion, when it comes to creating a wedding program that’s right for you, stick to the basics by including a run down of ceremony, acknowledge who is who in the wedding party, and personalize details to make your program stand out in order to set the tone for a wonderful wedding.
Article: Michelle Cousins for Michelle Leo Events | Graphic: Hannah Lee | Image: Tec Petaja | Calligraphy: Megan Tidwell
