Creating Wedding Programs: Diy Style For Your Big Day

Wedding programs are a great way to help your guests follow the ceremony and understand any wedding traditions you're incorporating. They can also be a beautiful keepsake for your guests to take home. You can make your own wedding programs by purchasing templates from sites like Etsy, or you can create them from scratch using Microsoft Word or other computer programs. When designing your wedding programs, consider including elements such as the full names of the couple, the wedding date, the order of the ceremony, wedding party bios, and a thank-you note to your parents and guests. You can also add special touches like poems, quotes, or photographs to make them more personal.

Include the full names of the couple, the date, and location of the wedding

Wedding programs are a great way to give your guests a preview of your big day. They can be simple yet elegant, with a classy font detailing the names of the couple, the date, time and location of the wedding.

Names of the Couple:

• Include the full names of both partners, for example: "The Wedding of Jane Elizabeth Smith and John David Doe".
• You can also add a personal touch by including nicknames or preferred names, such as "The Wedding of Jane (Janie) Smith and John (Johnny) Doe".

Date and Location:

• Clearly state the wedding date, for example: "October 3rd, 2024".
• For the location, provide the name of the venue and address, such as "at The Garden Ballroom, 123 Main Street, Anytown, USA".
• If the ceremony and reception are at different venues, include both locations and their respective times. For example, "Ceremony at 3 pm: The Garden Ballroom, 123 Main Street, Anytown, USA. Reception to follow at 6 pm: The Grand Hall, 456 Park Lane, Anytown, USA".

Design and Layout:

• Play with different fonts, colours, and layouts to make the information stand out.
• Consider using a larger or bold font for the couple's names and a slightly smaller font for the date and location details.
• If you have a wedding monogram or logo, you can incorporate it near the couple's names to create a cohesive look.

Additional Information:

• You can also include a welcome message or a brief note thanking your guests for their presence, such as "Thank you for celebrating with us today. We are grateful to have you be a part of our special day."
• If you wish to provide more details, you can add a short sentence or two about the couple's love story, how they met, or a meaningful quote or verse.

Remember to proofread all the information, including names, dates, and locations, before finalising your DIY wedding programs. Enjoy creating these memorable keepsakes for your big day!

List the wedding party and their relationship to the couple

When listing the wedding party and their relationship to the couple, it is common to follow a hierarchy. The first section of your wedding program should include the names of the couple, the wedding time and location. This can be done formally or casually.

The second section should feature the order of the ceremony, including the prelude, processional, greeting or opening prayer, readings, exchange of vows, and presentation of the couple.

The third section is where you will list the wedding party. A typical order is as follows:

• Parents of the bride
• Parents of the groom
• Grandparents of the bride and groom (if desired)
• Maid or Matron of Honor
• Best Man/Woman/Person
• Bridesmaids/Bridesmaid/Bridespeople
• Groomsmen/Groomswomen/Groomspeople
• Junior bridesmaids/groomsmen (if there are any)
• Flower girl
• Ring bearer

You can also include the relationship of each person to the couple, for example: Annie Oakley, Friend of the Bride.

Add a thank-you note to parents and/or guests

Adding a thank-you note to your wedding program is a great way to express gratitude to your guests, friends, family, and parents. It's an opportunity to thank everyone for their attendance, support, and contributions to your special day. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft heartfelt and meaningful notes:

Thanking Guests, Friends, and Family:

• Express gratitude for their presence and highlight the impact of their support, love, and generosity. For example: "We are so honored that our friends and family are joining us on our most special day. Thank you for the generosity, love, and support that made this day possible. We love and truly appreciate you."
• Mention how their presence makes your day more joyous and celebrate them for travelling from near and far: "Thank you for celebrating with us today as we begin our life journey together. We are truly blessed to have our family and friends here, and we appreciate those who travelled near and far to be with us."
• Share your excitement about starting your life together and acknowledge their role in making it possible: "Today marks the beginning of our life together, and we are grateful to have our loved ones by our side. Thank you for your love, prayers, and support."

Thanking Parents:

• Express heartfelt gratitude for their unconditional love, support, and guidance throughout your lives: "Thank you to our parents for your unconditional love and support. Thank you for raising us to be independent, strong, and loving people. We will carry these values forward in our journey together."
• Acknowledge their role in shaping who you are today and the values they've instilled in you: "Thank you for teaching us the true meaning of love and commitment. We are forever grateful for your example, and we carry your love and guidance with us into this new chapter."
• Celebrate their ongoing support and the joy of sharing this milestone with them: "Thank you for sharing this important day with us and supporting us every step of the way! We are so happy to have you here, and we cherish your presence."

General Tips:

• Keep the notes concise and heartfelt. Real estate on wedding programs is limited, so aim for a length of one to three sentences.
• Place your thank-you notes towards the bottom of the program or on the back, typically after the ceremony details and wedding party information.
• Consider including a brief mention of any close family members or friends who have passed away and are unable to attend.
• If you prefer, you can also send personalized thank-you cards to each guest after the wedding. This allows for a more detailed and private expression of gratitude.

Explain traditions, rituals, and customs

Wedding programs are a thoughtful gesture that give guests an idea of what to expect on your wedding day. They can also be personalised to reflect your culture and heritage. Here are some traditions, rituals, and customs that you can explain in your DIY wedding program:

The Order of Events

The wedding program can outline the various rituals and customs that will be performed during the ceremony. For example, if you are having a Catholic ceremony, you might want to mention the greeting and opening prayer, or the liturgy of the word. For a handfasting or unity ceremony, you can include any accompanying music.

The Wedding Party

Introducing your wedding party and their roles in the program is a great way to give them recognition. This can include bridesmaids, groomsmen, the flower girl, and the ring bearer. You can also mention the parents of the couple.

Thank You Messaging

A wedding program can be used to express gratitude to your guests for their presence and support. This can be done through a simple message, such as: “Thank you so much for being with us today as we celebrate. Our love story wouldn't be complete without the support of our friends, family, and loved ones, and we're so grateful to have you with us on this journey.”

"Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue"

This well-known phrase originates from an Old English rhyme, listing four good-luck objects that a bride should have on her wedding day. "Something old" represents the couple's past lives, while "something new" symbolises their future happiness. "Something borrowed" typically means incorporating an item from someone happily married, in hopes of sharing their good fortune. The colour blue represents fidelity and love.

The Bride's Bouquet

In ancient Greece and Rome, brides carried bouquets of garlic, dill, and other herbs and spices to ward off evil spirits. The tradition of carrying flowers became popular in 1840 when Queen Victoria of England carried a bouquet of snowdrops, her favourite flower.

The Bride's Dress

The tradition of wearing a white wedding dress also stems from Queen Victoria, who wore a white lace gown when she married her true love, Prince Albert, in 1840. White symbolised purity, and soon became the standard for non-royal brides. In Asian cultures, white is a colour of mourning, and brides typically wear red, which is considered lucky.

The Wedding Cake

The tradition of having a wedding cake dates back to ancient Rome, where guests would break a loaf of bread over the bride's head to symbolise fertility. In medieval England, the bride and groom would kiss over a pile of spiced buns and cookies, foreshadowing the tiered cakes of today.

Tossing Rice

Tossing rice at the newlyweds is a tradition that conveys best wishes and good luck, symbolising fertility and prosperity. This custom has evolved, and guests may now toss dried lavender buds, biodegradable confetti, or blow bubbles.

These explanations of traditions, rituals, and customs can be tailored to your specific background and beliefs, creating a unique and meaningful DIY wedding program.

Add special touches like poems, quotes, or photographs

Adding personal touches to your wedding programs can make them even more special and memorable for your big day. Consider including elements that reflect your personality, culture, or the theme of your wedding. Here are some ideas to inspire you:

Poems or Quotes: Select a beautiful poem or meaningful quote that holds significance for you as a couple. It could be something that represents your love story, your values, or simply something that you find romantic and fitting for the occasion. If there is a particular poem that has always moved you, include an excerpt or adapt it to suit the format of your program. Alternatively, write your own! A heartfelt, personalized poem will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on your guests.

You may also want to include a favorite verse or passage from a literary work, song lyrics that hold special meaning, or a quote from a famous figure that resonates with your relationship. These words can be calligraphed, typed in a beautiful font, or even hand-written onto your program, depending on the overall style you are aiming for.

Photographs: Visual elements, such as photographs, can add a wonderful layer of interest to your wedding programs. Consider including a photo of the happy couple, perhaps an engagement shot or a favorite snapshot from your time together. If your wedding has a particular theme or color scheme, you might opt for a photo that complements these elements. For a rustic wedding, for instance, a lovely idea might be to use a photo of the soon-to-be-wed couple in a field or forest, with soft lighting and natural tones.

You could also incorporate photos that showcase your journey as a couple, perhaps highlighting significant moments or milestones. These could be interspersed with text, providing a narrative for your guests to follow. Another option is to include photos of your wedding party, especially if you have a small bridal party, as a sweet way to honor them.

Additionally, cultural traditions can be woven into your programs through the use of symbolic images or illustrations. For example, if you are having a Celtic-themed wedding, you might include Celtic knotwork designs or illustrations of Celtic symbols. Similarly, if there is a particular cultural motif or pattern that holds significance, incorporate it into the design.

In conclusion, adding these unique touches will not only make your wedding programs more visually appealing but will also create mementos that your guests will treasure, reminding them of the beauty and joy of your wedding day. It is a wonderful way to express your creativity and make your celebration truly yours.

Frequently asked questions