Creating A Wedding Church Program: A Step-By-Step Guide

A wedding church program is an essential part of the planning process, especially for religious ceremonies. It helps guests follow the order of events and understand the significance of each phase of the wedding. The program also ensures guests can actively participate in songs and prayers. It should include a timeline of events, any special moments, books, verses and passages of readings and hymns, and the names of the wedding party. It can also include an explanation of rituals and traditions for guests who are unfamiliar with them.

Include the wedding date, couple's names, church name, and time/address of the reception

The wedding date, couples' names, church name, and time/address of the reception are all essential details to include in a wedding church program. Here are some ideas on how to incorporate them:

Front Cover

The front cover of your wedding program can include the couple's names, the wedding date, and the church name. For example:

"The nuptial mass celebrating the union of [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name] in the sacrament of Holy Matrimony, Saturday, the twenty-seventh day of October Two Thousand Twenty, Church Name, Church City, State."

Inside Pages

The inside pages can provide more detailed information. You can include:

• A welcome message or introduction, such as "Welcome to our wedding celebration. It means a great deal to us that you are witnesses to our marriage vows."
• A timeline of events, with the wedding ceremony and reception times clearly stated.
• A brief overview of the day's schedule, including any cultural or religious traditions that guests may need an explanation of.
• The address of the reception venue, especially if it is different from the ceremony location.
• A special note about the reception, such as "Reception to follow," "Dinner and dancing to follow," or "Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing."

Outer Cover Page

The outer cover page can be a great place to express your gratitude to your guests and provide any additional information. For example:

"We would like to express our sincerest thanks to all of you for helping us make this day a joyous celebration, especially our parents who gave us life, our families who shared our life, our relatives and friends who helped us reach this special day. We are honored you can share these sacred and joyous moments with us today. May God bless each one of you. – [Bride & Groom]"

Remember to include all the essential details in a clear and concise manner, and feel free to add your personal touches to make it unique!

Outline the ceremony order, including the procession, readings, and exchange of vows

The ceremony is the part of the day that makes your union official, so it's important to get it right. Here is a suggested outline for the ceremony order, including the procession, readings, and exchange of vows:

Procession:

The procession refers to the entrance of the wedding party and the couple down the aisle. The order may vary depending on cultural and religious traditions, but a typical procession runs as follows:

• Officiant
• Groom (or either partner in queer/non-binary couples)
• Groom's wedding party and honour attendants (best man)
• Maid of honour
• Bridesmaids
• Flower girl and ring bearer
• Bride, escorted by a parent or alone

Readings:

Once everyone is in place at the altar, the officiant may give a brief introduction and share thoughts on marriage. This can include a recounting of the couple's love story or the meaning of marriage to them. If you are including readings, the officiant can introduce each reading and speaker, or things can flow more naturally between readers. The readings can be religious, with passages from holy texts, or non-religious, with poems, spiritual texts, or excerpts from books or movies.

Exchange of Vows:

Now comes the best part—the vows! Whether you write your own or stick to classic sentiments, this is where you speak from the heart to your partner. After the vows, there is the declaration of intent, also known as the "I do" moment, which is the legally binding part of the ceremony.

Exchange of Rings:

After the vows, the couple exchanges wedding rings, often accompanied by additional promises or kind words about the significance of the ring.

Pronouncement and First Kiss:

The officiant then pronounces the couple as newlyweds, and they share their first kiss as a married couple.

Recessional:

The recessional marks the end of the ceremony and is usually done in reverse order of the processional, with the couple leading the way.

Add a welcome message and encourage guests to participate

A wedding church program is a great way to set the tone for the ceremony and welcome your guests. It's also a practical way to guide your guests through the ceremony, especially if they are unfamiliar with the customs and rituals. Here are some tips and ideas for adding a warm and engaging welcome message to your wedding church program, along with ways to encourage guest participation.

The Welcome Message

The welcome message is your opportunity to greet your guests and express your joy in having them celebrate this special day with you. It's a chance to make your guests feel special and appreciated. Begin with a simple "Welcome" or "Welcome to our wedding" and then personalise it with your names and the date of your wedding. You could also include the location, such as "Welcome to our wedding at St. Mary's Church on Saturday, 16th October 2021".

You can also use this space to thank your guests for their presence and support. For example, "We are honoured and delighted to have you share these sacred and joyous moments with us today. We are so grateful for your presence and your love and support." This sets a warm and heartfelt tone for the ceremony.

Encouraging Guest Participation

It's important to make your guests feel involved and included in the ceremony. Here are some ways to encourage their participation:

• Provide an overview of the ceremony: Let your guests know what to expect by including an outline or timeline of the ceremony's events. This is especially helpful for guests who may be unfamiliar with the rituals and customs. You can briefly describe each part of the ceremony, such as the greeting and opening prayer, the exchange of vows, and any readings or musical performances.
• Explain rituals and their significance: If your ceremony includes rituals such as the lighting of a unity candle or the breaking of the glass, take the time to explain their meaning and significance. This will help your guests understand the deeper symbolism and encourage their active participation.
• Involve guests in songs and prayers: If there are specific songs or prayers that your guests can join in with, let them know. For example, "We encourage you to listen, pray, and sing along. All music can be found in the Breaking Bread hymnal, located in the pews."
• Provide gentle reminders: Include polite reminders about things like flash photography and electronic devices. For example, "In order to respect the dignity of the ceremony, we ask that there is no flash photography during the service. Please silence all cell phones and other electronic devices."
• Invite guests to introduce themselves: Depending on the size of your wedding, you could encourage guests to turn to those around them and introduce themselves, especially if they are sitting with people they haven't met before. This helps to foster a sense of community and makes everyone feel welcomed and included.
• Provide ways to connect: If you have a wedding website or a hashtag, include this information in your program. This encourages guests to engage with your online content and connect with each other.

Remember, the welcome message and guest participation section of your wedding church program is a great opportunity to make your guests feel valued and involved. It adds a personal touch and ensures that everyone feels part of your special day.

Explain the rituals and traditions of the religion

A Christian wedding ceremony is a beautiful moment where two people come together in holy matrimony, in front of their loved ones. The rituals and traditions of the religion are woven throughout the ceremony, from the bride's entrance to the lighting of the unity candle.

The Processional

The processional is when all the necessary parties make their way to the altar. The order of the procession is important, with the minister entering first, followed by the groom, groomsmen, parents and grandparents of the couple, bridesmaids, and finally, the bride. The bride is traditionally escorted by her father, but some opt for both parents or the parent figure they are closest to.

Giving Away the Bride

This is the "giving away" of the bride by her parents or parent figures to the groom. It used to symbolise the bride as a gift to the groom, but now it holds a more sentimental meaning, representing the parents' blessing and their child becoming one with another.

Homily

The homily is a moment in the ceremony that is tailored to the couple. The minister offers anecdotes and insights into their relationship and discusses Bible scripture that is applicable to their story.

Blessings

After the homily, the minister may offer words of blessing for the couple and ask guests to participate in a symbolic "laying of the hands" gesture. Guests bow their heads in prayer and stretch out a hand towards the couple to confer their blessings.

Exchanging Vows

The exchanging of vows is the most sacred part of the ceremony, where the couple makes mutual promises to one another, led by the minister.

Exchanging Rings

The exchanging of rings represents the couple's faithfulness to each other and their commitment is outwardly expressed by the wearing of wedding rings.

Unity Ceremony

The unity ceremony symbolises the couple, their families, and communities joining together as one. This often takes the form of lighting a unity candle. A representative from each side of the couple, often their mothers, lights a candle, and the couple then uses these to light a new flame together, before blowing out their individual candles.

Pronouncement

The pronouncement is the conclusion of the ceremony, where the minister declares the couple officially married in the eyes of the church.

Recessional

The couple exits the house of worship, followed by their wedding party, family members, and the minister.

Communion

Communion is a unique tradition where the couple either takes communion before or after their vows. It signifies Christ's sacrifice for mankind and shows the couple's commitment to honouring God.

Presentation of the Couple

The presentation of the couple at the end of the ceremony officially acknowledges that they have become one, and the couple is pronounced under the husband's last name.

Other Rituals

Other rituals include the reading of Bible verses, the bridal veil, foot washing, and the Cord of Three Strands, where a cord with three pieces of rope symbolises God, the husband, and the wife.

Provide an explanation of the Eucharist for non-Catholic guests

For non-Catholic guests, the Eucharist is a sacrament in which, according to the Catholic Church's belief, the body and blood of Christ are present in the consecrated sacramental bread and wine. This is based on the accounts of the Last Supper in the Bible, where Jesus "gave thanks" as he shared the bread and wine. The term Eucharist comes from the Greek word "eucharistia", meaning "thanksgiving".

The Eucharist is also referred to as Holy Communion, which is the act of receiving the Eucharist, and the Mass, which is the act by which the Eucharist is created. The Mass takes place after the Rite of Marriage and involves the Liturgy of the Eucharist, during which the priest will pray over the bread and wine, and the Lord's Prayer is recited. The priest then blesses the couple with a nuptial blessing as they kneel in front of the altar, and communion is shared.

Non-Catholic guests are not expected to participate in communion and may remain seated during this part of the ceremony. This is because, in the Catholic faith, to receive the Eucharist, one must be properly prepared and believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Frequently asked questions