Crafting Wedding Program Cards: A Step-By-Step Guide

A wedding program card is a great way to ensure your wedding runs smoothly and on time. It helps your guests to follow the events of the day and lets them know what to expect. It can be a simple or detailed schedule, outlining the timeline of your big day. While it's not a must-have, it is often welcomed by guests, especially if you include readings and song lyrics so they can follow along. There are many ways to design your own wedding program card, from using online tools with pre-designed templates to hiring a professional designer.

Design: Opt for a DIY design or use a free template

If you're looking to design your own wedding program card, you can either create one from scratch or use a free template.

DIY Design

Designing your own wedding program card from scratch gives you the freedom to create something that's entirely unique and tailored to your wedding theme. You can use online tools like Canva or Adobe Express, which offer a range of features to help you create a beautiful design. These tools often include millions of stock photos, images, illustrations, icons, borders, frames, and other graphics that you can use to create your card. You can also add text boxes, choose your font styles, and explore different color schemes and backgrounds.

Free Templates

If you're short on time or prefer to work from a pre-made design, you can opt for a free template. Both Canva and Adobe Express offer a variety of free, customizable wedding program templates. These templates are easy to edit and personalize, even if you don't have prior graphic design experience. You can choose from different themes, such as rustic chic, vintage, Tuscan, or even Harry Potter-inspired. The templates can be customized with your own images, photos, or artwork, and you can mix and match elements from different templates to create a truly unique design.

Whether you decide to create your own design from scratch or use a free template, designing your own wedding program card is a great way to save money and ensure that your wedding program perfectly matches your wedding theme and your personal style.

Size: Keep it small and easy to hold

When it comes to the size of your wedding program card, it's important to keep it small and easy to hold for your guests. Here are some tips and suggestions to achieve that:

Size and Format

The size of your wedding program card can vary depending on your preferences and the amount of information you want to include. Common finished sizes include 8.5 inches by 5.5 inches, 4.25 inches by 11 inches, and 5.5 inches by 5.5 inches. However, you're not limited to these standard sizes and can choose any format and size you prefer.

If you want to keep your program card small, consider a half-fold format with four panels, an unfolded card with two panels, or a z-fold with six panels. These formats provide ample space for essential information while maintaining a compact size.

Content and Layout

To ensure your program card is easy to hold, carefully consider the content and layout. Here are some suggestions:

• Keep the text concise and straightforward. Include the essential information but avoid lengthy explanations or unnecessary details.
• Use legible fonts in a readable size. Opt for simple and clear fonts, and make sure the font size is large enough for all guests to read comfortably.
• Leave adequate white space. Don't overcrowd the card with too much text or graphics. White space improves readability and makes the card appear less cluttered.
• Prioritize the most important information. If you're limited on space, focus on the key details such as the order of events, names of the wedding party, and any special notes for guests.
• Be mindful of paper weight and thickness. Thinner paper stocks can make it easier for guests to hold and manoeuvre the card, especially if it has multiple panels or layers.

Creative Alternatives

If you're looking for unique alternatives to traditional program cards, consider these ideas while still keeping them small and manageable:

• Fans: Double-sided paper fans are perfect for outdoor weddings, especially during the summer. They can be printed in various shapes, such as hearts or seashells, and provide both functionality and ceremony details.
• Treat Bags: Print the ceremony details on craft paper bags and fill them with snacks or small gifts for guests. This option combines practicality with a thoughtful gesture.
• Confetti Envelopes: Stuff a vellum envelope with colourful paper confetti attached to the program card. This adds a fun and interactive element to your wedding while still providing the necessary information.
• Luggage Tags: For travel-themed weddings, print your ceremony details on luggage tags. This idea is unique and memorable while remaining compact and easy to handle.

Remember, the key is to strike a balance between providing essential information and keeping the program card small and comfortable for your guests to hold and interact with during the ceremony.

Details: Include names, date, time, venue, and a schedule

Wedding programs are a great way to give your guests information about your ceremony and can also serve as a keepsake. The number of details included in a wedding program is up to you, but here is some general guidance on how to include the names, date, time, venue, and a schedule.

The cover of your wedding program should include the time, date, location, and names of the happy couple. You can also include a short message, such as a simple welcoming note or a memorable quote. Here are some examples:

• "Welcome to the Wedding of Ashley Lynn Carter & Thomas Brooklyn Sawyer, East Brooke Lutheran Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma."
• "Celebrating Caitlin Hemseth and Sarah Colebright."
• "Welcome as Carley Lee Strong and Thomas Richard Perrin begin their lives together."

Order of Events

The inside of your wedding program should include an outline of the ceremony proceedings. This can be as simple or detailed as you like, but it should give your guests an idea of what to expect and when. Include the time that each part of the ceremony will occur, in the order that they will happen. For example, you could list:

• Prelude: Music plays as guests are seated.
• Processional: The bridal party makes their way down the aisle.
• Bridal Processional: The bride enters, often on the arm of her father or a male representative.
• Greeting or Prayer: A greeting or blessing is given, often by the officiant.
• Readings: Any poems, verses, or songs that will be read or played.
• Exchange of Vows and Rings: The couple exchanges vows and rings.
• Unity Ceremony: Any symbolic gestures, such as lighting a unity candle or pouring sand.
• Presentation of the Couple: The officiant presents the newlyweds, and they may share their first kiss.
• Recessional: The couple exits the ceremony.

Participants

It is common to include the names of the people involved in your ceremony, often with their relationship to the bride and groom. This can include:

• Officiant
• Parents of the bride
• Parents of the groom
• Grandparents of the bride and groom (if desired)
• Maid/Matron of Honor
• Best Man
• Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
• Flower Girl and Ring Bearer
• Any other special guests or participants

Additional Information

You can also add extra details to your wedding program, such as:

• A thank-you message to your guests, especially those who have travelled.
• A memorial message for any loved ones who are no longer with you.
• Directions or a map to the reception venue, if it is at a different location.
• A new address, if you are moving to a new home after the wedding.
• An "unplugged" request, asking guests to put away their cameras and phones.

Theme: Match the card's design to your wedding's theme

Matching your wedding program cards to your wedding's theme is an excellent way to tie your special day together. Here are some tips to help you achieve this:

Colors and Designs

Choose colors and designs that align with your wedding theme. For instance, if you're having a beachy wedding, opt for beachy colors and designs on your program cards. You can also add floral designs or a pre-nuptial photo for a more dramatic effect. If you're going for a rustic theme, a unique design idea is to use a chalkboard-style program card.

Typography

The typography you choose should also complement your wedding theme. You can use more than one font to make the card more interesting and ensure your guests don't find it boring. For instance, script fonts are great for traditional themes, while sans-serif fonts work well for section headers and body text.

Paper Type and Finish

The paper type and finish you choose should also match your wedding theme. For example, a bright and modern wedding invitation design might pair well with gloss paper stock, while a traditional wedding invitation design might be better suited to matte paper stock. Consider a thicker paper stock to add weight and opt for a finish that feels good in your guests' hands.

Consistency

Ensure that your wedding program design matches the design of other printed materials for your wedding, such as invitations, save-the-date cards, and thank-you cards. This will create a cohesive feel for your special day.

Canva

If you're looking for an easy way to design your wedding program cards, consider using a platform like Canva, which offers free, customizable templates. You can choose from various color palettes to match your wedding motif and easily edit the text, font, and graphical elements. You can also collaborate with your fiancé or wedding planner by sharing your design and giving them viewing or editing access.

Extras: Add a personal touch with photos, colours, and fonts

Adding a personal touch to your wedding program card is a great way to make it more special and memorable. Here are some ideas to help you achieve that:

Photos

Including photos on your wedding program card can make it more visually appealing and personalised. You can choose to upload your own photos or select from a variety of premium images, graphics and illustrations offered by some online card makers. Adding a photo of you and your partner is a popular choice, but you can also use other images that reflect the theme of your wedding.

Colours

Using colours that match your wedding theme is a great way to personalise your program card. You can choose from various colour options, with some websites offering over 150 different colours to choose from. This allows you to create a cohesive look that ties in with your wedding invitations, decor and other wedding stationery.

Fonts

Selecting the right font for your wedding program card is essential. Choose fonts that match your wedding theme and are easy to read. You will likely only need two fonts: one for section headers and one for body text. Script fonts work well for traditional themes, while sans serif and serif fonts can be used for headers and body text, respectively.

Other Customisations

In addition to photos, colours and fonts, there are other ways to personalise your wedding program card:

• Illustrations and icons: You can incorporate illustrations and icons that reflect your wedding theme or style.
• Separator lines and white space: Using separator lines and white space can make your program card easier to read and more visually appealing.
• Paper type and finish: Choose a paper type and finish that aligns with your wedding theme and design. For example, a modern invitation design might pair well with gloss paper, while a traditional invitation might suit matte paper.

Remember, your wedding program card is a visual representation of your ceremony, so feel free to get creative and design something that speaks to you and symbolises your special day.

Frequently asked questions