Designing Church Wedding Programs: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding programs are an important part of the ceremony, helping guests to follow along and feel included in the celebrations. They are especially important for religious weddings, where there are many rituals and traditions that may be unfamiliar to some attendees. Catholic weddings, for example, typically take place within a wedding mass, filled with long-standing rituals, traditions, prayers, and songs. A wedding program can help guests to understand the significance of each phase of the process. This is also true of Christian, Baptist, Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu weddings, where there are many customs and rituals that guests are expected to participate in.

This is why it's important to know how to make church programs for weddings.

Prelude music

When choosing your prelude music, consider the following:

• The vibe of your wedding—do you want the music to be traditional, modern, or tied to your religious background?
• The format of the music—would you prefer live musicians or a playlist?
• Your favourite songs from movies and TV shows.
• Any standout songs from weddings you've attended.

Classic/Instrumental

• "Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber
• "Air On A G String" by Johann Sebastian Bach
• "Ave Maria" by Johann Sebastian Bach and Charles Gounod
• "Beethoven - Ode to Joy Instrumental Piano Music" by Royal Wedding Orchestra
• "Cello Suite No.1 in G Major, BWV 1007: Prelude" by Johann Sebastian Bach
• "Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy
• "Concerto grosso in B minor, op. 6 no. 12, HWV 330" by George Frideric Handel
• "Étude No. 2" by Philip Glass
• "Sheep May Safely Graze" by Johann Sebastian Bach
• "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven
• "Water Music Suite No.3, HWV 350" by George Frideric Handel
• "Ave Maria" by Beyoncé
• "Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy
• "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by Johann Sebastian Bach
• "Water Music (Hornpipe)" by George Frideric Handel
• "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel
• "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert
• "Wedding March" by Felix Mendelssohn
• "Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
• "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel
• "The Four Seasons (Spring)" by Antonio Vivaldi
• "Endless Love" by Luther Vandross ft. Mariah Carey
• "My Only One (No Hay Nadie Más)" by Sebastián Yatra ft. Isabela Merced
• "Golden Hour" by Kasey Musgraves
• "Maestro" by Hans Zimmer
• "Moon River" by 2Cellos

Modern

• "A Sky Full of Stars" by Vitamin String Quartet
• "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri
• "Beautiful Things" by Benson Boone
• "Better Together" by Jack Johnson
• "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Haley Reinhart
• "I'll Be - Acoustic Version" by Edwin McCain
• "Lover" by Taylor Swift
• "Make You Feel My Love" by Adele
• "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran
• "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran
• "True Colors" by Brooklyn Duo
• "Turning Page" by Sleeping At Last
• "Until I Found You" by Stephen Sanchez
• "What a Wonderful World" by Brooklyn Duo
• "You Are the Reason" by Calum Scott
• "You're Still The One" by Music Lab Collective
• "Yours - Wedding Edition" by Russell Dickerson
• "Easy" by Camila Cabello
• "The One" by Kodaline
• "God Only Knows" by John Legend and Cynthia Erivo
• "Still Fallin'" by Hunter Hayes
• "Come Home to Me" by Léon
• "Here On Out" by Dave Matthews Band
• "Save Room" by John Legend
• "Rainbow" by Kacey Musgraves
• "Good As You" by Kane Brown
• "Die a Happy Man" by Thomas Rhett
• "All of My Days" by Alexi Murdoch
• "La Vie En Rose" by Louis Armstrong
• "Still Fallin'" by Hunter Hayes
• "Falling in Love in a Coffee Shop" by Landon Pigg

Religious

• "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" by Worship Music Piano
• "Amazing Grace" by Bridesmaids Quartet
• "Ave Verum Corpus" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• "How Great Thou Art" by Carrie Underwood
• "Psalm 42" by Tori Kelly
• "When God Made You" by Newsong
• "Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me - Peaceful Piano" by draw close and David Lindner
• "Dodi Li" by David and the High Spirit
• "Erev Shel Shoshanim" by David and the High Spirit
• "Sunrise, Sunset" by Sheldon Harnick
• "Yedid Nefresh" by David and the High Spirit

Processional

The processional is one of the most memorable moments of any wedding day. Here are some ideas for the processional section of your church wedding program.

Traditional Catholic Wedding Processional Order

For a Catholic wedding, the wedding party should enter the ceremony venue in the following order:

• Priest, Groom, and Best Man: They enter the ceremony from the side of the venue and take their places at the altar, with the priest in the centre and the groom on his right.
• Bridesmaids and Groomsmen: They walk down the aisle in pairs, starting with the attendants who will stand farthest from the couple. Once the pair reaches the end of the aisle, the groomsman turns right and the bridesmaid turns left.
• Maid of Honour/Matron of Honour: She walks down the aisle after the bridesmaids and groomsmen and stands next to the bride, on her left. She might hold the bride's bouquet during the ceremony.
• Flower Girl and Ring Bearer: The children can walk down the aisle together or the ring bearer can enter before the flower girl. Traditionally, the ring bearer carries the wedding rings (or faux rings, if he's too little) tied to a pillow, and the flower girl carries a basket of petals. Once they've reached the front, the children may be seated with their parents.
• Bride and Father of the Bride: The bride is escorted down the aisle by her father, who stands on her right side. Traditionally, the father escorts her to the end of the aisle and then takes his seat next to the bride's mother.

Traditional Christian Ceremony Processional Order

The wedding party should enter the ceremony venue in the following order:

• Officiant: The officiant traditionally has the opening spot in the processional and walks down the aisle first. However, some couples prefer a more subtle approach, with the officiant entering the ceremony from the side of the venue.
• Groom: The groom walks down the aisle solo, following the officiant, and stands to the right during the ceremony.
• Best Man: He walks down the aisle after the groom and stands to the right of the groom. He may also hold the wedding rings.
• Groomsmen: They follow the best man and walk down the aisle solo or in pairs. They take their places on the right side, with the first groomsman taking his place farthest from the groom.
• Bridesmaids: They walk down the aisle solo or in pairs. They take their places on the left side, with the first bridesmaid taking her place farthest from the bride.
• Maid of Honour/Matron of Honour: She walks down the aisle after the rest of the bridesmaids and stands at the bride's side during the ceremony. She might hold the bride's bouquet.
• Flower Girl and Ring Bearer: The children can walk together or the ring bearer can enter before the flower girl. Once they've reached the front, they can be seated with their parents.
• Bride and Father of the Bride: The bride is escorted down the aisle by her father, who stands on her right. After he gives her away, he takes his seat next to the bride's mother.

Traditional Christian Ceremony (U.K.) Processional Order

• Bride and Father of the Bride: The bride and her father traditionally walk down the aisle first, leading the procession.
• Groom and Best Man: Following the officiant, the groom and best man enter from the side and take their places at the altar. The groom stands on the right, with the best man on his right.
• Bridesmaids, Flower Girls, and Page Boys: The rest of the wedding party walks down the aisle in pairs, following the bride and her father. Once they've reached the altar, the wedding attendants take their seats. The bride gives her bouquet to the chief bridesmaid.

Traditional Jewish Ceremony Processional Order

For a Jewish ceremony, the wedding party should walk down the ceremony aisle in the following order:

• Cantor and/or Rabbi: Their entrance signals the beginning of the ceremony, and they take their places beneath the chuppah (traditional Jewish wedding canopy).
• Grandparents of the Bride: They walk down the aisle and take their seats in the first row, on the right side.
• Grandparents of the Groom: They walk down the aisle and take their seats in the first row, on the left side.
• Groomsmen: They walk down the aisle in pairs and take their places on the left alongside the chuppah.
• Groom and Parents: The groom walks down the aisle escorted by his parents and takes his place under the chuppah on the left side.
• Bridesmaids: They walk down the aisle one by one or in pairs and take their places on the right alongside the chuppah.
• Maid of Honour/Matron of Honour: She walks down the aisle and stands to the right of the bride during the ceremony, either beneath or alongside the chuppah.
• Flower Girl and Ring Bearer: The children can walk together or the ring bearer can enter before the flower girl. Once they've reached the front, they can be seated with their parents.
• Bride and Parents: The bride walks down the aisle escorted by her parents and takes her place under the chuppah on the right side.

Non-Traditional Ceremony Processional Ideas

If you want to create a wedding ceremony that is unique and meaningful to you and your families, you can adapt the traditional processional orders or create your own. Here are some ideas:

• Grandparents walk down the aisle and take their seats in the first or second row.
• Both sets of parents or parental figures escort the bride and groom down the aisle.
• Wedding attendants walk down the aisle in pairs, with one attendant from each side.
• Parents of the bride walk down the aisle, followed by parents of the groom, and then the couple walks down the aisle together.
• The couple waits at the altar and meets each other halfway down the aisle, then walks the rest of the way together, arm-in-arm.
• Each person in the couple walks down the aisle solo.
• Invite grandparents to stand or sit underneath the chuppah along with parents at a Jewish wedding.
• Invite your wedding attendants to walk down the aisle and then sit once they

Greeting and opening prayer

The greeting and opening prayer section of a church wedding program is an important part of the ceremony. It sets the tone for the celebration and usually includes a warm welcome for the guests, followed by a prayer to bless the couple and their union. Here are some ideas and examples to help you craft this section of your wedding program:

Greeting

The greeting is often delivered by the wedding officiant, who welcomes the guests and reminds them of the significance of the occasion. It can include a brief introduction of the couple, expressing their love, commitment, and honour for each other. Here are some examples:

• "Friends and family, [groom's name] and [bride's name] have invited you to this lovely chapel today to celebrate their union in matrimony. This celebration demonstrates the love, commitment, and honour that they share for one another, and they are pleased to have all of you witness it. So, without further ado, welcome to the wedding of [groom's name] and [bride's name]."
• "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of [bride's name] and [groom's name] in matrimony. We are privileged to witness the extraordinary love and friendship of this beautiful couple. As their family and friends, let us show our love and support for them as they embark on this new chapter of their lives."

Opening Prayer

The opening prayer is a solemn invocation for God's blessings upon the couple. It is usually delivered by the officiant or a member of the clergy. Here are some examples of opening prayers for a church wedding:

• "Lord God Almighty, Creator of the heavens and earth, thank you for the gift of marriage and all the joy and love it brings. We thank you for [bride's name] and [groom's name]. Thank you for bringing them together and holding them safely in Your hands. We pray that You richly bless them as they exchange their vows and wedding rings. From this day forward, may they walk hand in hand into the future You have destined for them. We give our hearts and lives to You now in adoration and welcome Your Holy Spirit among us. Amen."
• "Heavenly Father, we gather here to celebrate Your gift of love and its presence among us. We rejoice that [bride's name] and [groom's name] have chosen each other for a life of loving faithfulness. We praise You, Lord, for the ways You have touched our lives with a variety of loving relationships. We give thanks for [bride's name] and [groom's name] and the special love and friendship they share. Renew within us an affection and a loving spirit. Enrich our lives with Your gracious gift of love, and may our participation in this celebration of love and commitment bring us new joy. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."
• "Lord, behold our family here assembled. We thank You for this place, for the love that unites us, for the peace accorded to us today, and for the hope with which we expect tomorrow. Thank you for our friends and family in all parts of the world. Amen."
• "May our prayers be the same, may our goals be the same. Common be our purposes, our deliberations harmonious. May our desires be one, and our hearts be one. May our intentions have oneness, and blissful be our togetherness."

Rite of marriage

The Rite of Marriage is a crucial aspect of a Catholic wedding ceremony, encompassing several meaningful rituals and traditions. Here is a detailed guide to help you understand the Rite of Marriage and how to incorporate it into your church wedding program:

The Rite of Marriage Explained

The Rite of Marriage is a pivotal moment in a Catholic wedding, signifying the couple's consent and commitment to each other. During this part of the ceremony, the couple exchanges vows, blesses and exchanges wedding rings, and offers prayers. It is a sacred moment where the couple stands together before God and their community, declaring their love and intention to unite as husband and wife.

Elements of the Rite of Marriage

The Rite of Marriage includes several elements that symbolically and legally unite the couple:

• Exchange of Vows: The couple publicly expresses their consent and commitment to each other, often following a traditional format with questions from the priest and affirmations by the couple.
• Blessing and Exchange of Rings: The wedding rings are blessed and then exchanged by the couple, symbolising their covenant with each other and with God.
• Prayers of the Faithful: These are intentions or prayers that the priest asks the congregation to pray for. Family members or friends of the couple may read them out, and the congregation responds with affirmation.

The Rite of Marriage in the Context of the Wedding Program

When creating your church wedding program, it is essential to provide a clear outline of the ceremony, including the Rite of Marriage. Here's a suggested structure:

• Prelude: Include a note about the prelude music played as guests take their seats.
• Processional: Mention the song or instrumental piece accompanying the entrance of the wedding party and the bride.
• Greeting and Opening Prayer: The priest welcomes the guests and offers a prayer to begin the ceremony.
• Liturgy of the Word: This includes Bible readings from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Responsorial Psalm. It is followed by a homily where the priest reflects on the readings.
• The Rite of Marriage: As described above, this is where the couple exchanges vows, blesses and exchanges rings, and offers prayers.
• Liturgy of the Eucharist: This is similar to a traditional Sunday mass, including the presentation of gifts, Eucharistic Prayer, Lord's Prayer, nuptial blessing, and communion.
• Recessional: Note the song or instrumental music played as the newlyweds and wedding party exit.

Remember to personalise your wedding program with your names, the wedding date, and the name of the church. You can also add meaningful details, such as a special prayer or Scripture passage that holds significance for your relationship.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Liturgy of the Eucharist is a key part of a Catholic wedding ceremony. It is a time to celebrate God's presence with the Eucharist, as well as the union of the couple. This part of the ceremony includes the presentation of gifts, where friends or family of the couple offer wine and bread at the altar while a hymn is sung.

The priest will then pray over the bread and wine as part of the Eucharistic Prayer. This is followed by the Lord's Prayer, recited by the congregation. The Liturgy of the Eucharist also includes the Nuptial Blessing, where the couple kneels in front of the altar to receive a blessing from the priest. The couple and guests then offer a sign of peace to those nearby, saying "Peace be with you".

Communion is then shared, with the congregation singing a hymn while the priest breaks the bread. The Eucharist is distributed first to the newly married couple and then to the Catholic guests. The Liturgy of the Eucharist ends with a final prayer from the priest.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist is a beautiful and symbolic part of the wedding ceremony, representing the couple's first meal together and their reliance on God to strengthen and sustain their marriage.

Frequently asked questions