Crafting Wedding Programs: A Homemade Guide

Planning a wedding can be stressful and costly. One way to save time and money is to make your own wedding programs. There are many ways to do this, from setting up an arts-and-crafts station at home to using a free online template. You can also buy templates from sites like Etsy or use a computer program such as Microsoft Publisher or Adobe InDesign. When it comes to printing, cardstock is a popular choice, and you can decorate your programs with ribbons, lace, or even popsicle sticks to create fans for outdoor weddings.

Online tools and templates

There are several online tools and templates you can use to create your own wedding programs. Here are some options:

Canva

Canva is a free online design platform with a plethora of templates for every occasion, including wedding programs. It offers a simple, intuitive interface for creating designs from scratch or editing pre-made templates. With Canva, you can choose from millions of stock photos, graphics, and fonts or upload your own images, photos, and artwork for a more personalised touch. You can also collaborate with others by sharing your work-in-progress and allowing them to provide input. Once you're happy with your design, you can download it as a print-ready PDF or order high-quality prints directly from Canva.

Adobe Express

Adobe Express offers free wedding program templates that you can customise to your liking. While I couldn't access the specific templates, the website indicates that they are available.

Creative Market

Creative Market is a digital marketplace offering various design elements, including complete wedding invitation suites that you can download and customise. They also have a "freebies" section where they give away free design elements weekly.

Creative Fabrica

Creative Fabrica is a design element site offering digital downloads and subscription plans. They have a wedding section with over 500,000 digital designs and fonts. They also offer additional tools like Fontcloud, a free online font manager, and Shapecloud, a free word art generator.

Online Wedding Planning Assistant

While not specifically for wedding programs, this online wedding planning platform offers various tools to help you plan your wedding, including a wedding website, guest list management, budget calculator, seating chart maker, and timeline template. These tools can help you streamline the wedding planning process and provide a collaborative space for your wedding party to work together.

Choosing paper

When it comes to choosing paper for your wedding programs, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, think about the overall look and feel you want to achieve. Do you prefer a simple and elegant style, or something more playful and creative? The type of paper you choose can help you achieve the desired effect.

Cardstock is a popular choice for wedding programs as it is sturdy and comes in various colours and weights. It can be purchased from craft stores or ordered online. If you plan to fold your programs, avoid using cardstock that is too thick, as it may crack, and stay away from very thin cardstock to avoid a flimsy look and feel. For a more luxurious feel, consider a heavy-weight fancy paper.

If you want to add a handmade and vintage touch to your wedding programs, consider using a thicker cardstock as a base and attaching or sewing on some lace doilies. You can also print your programs on marbled parchment paper and roll them into scrolls, adding a ribbon and a sprig of eucalyptus for an elegant and natural look.

For a playful and creative option, consider turning your wedding programs into fans. This is a great idea for outdoor weddings, as it can help keep your guests cool. Quality cardstock with a glossy finish works well for this, allowing the fan to slide in and out easily. You can also add popsicle sticks to a single-page program to create a fan shape.

If you're feeling adventurous, you could even create a Playbill-style booklet for your wedding program, complete with pictures and bios of the wedding party, a description of the ceremony events, and a letter to your guests.

Remember to consider the size and shape of your programs when choosing paper. A popular size for wedding programs is 4 inches by 9.25 inches, but you can also go for a more standard size like 4 inches by 6 inches or 8.5 inches by 5.5 inches. Unusual shapes and sizes can also be presented in various ways, such as rolling them into scrolls or tying them with ribbons.

Adding personal touches

Creative Designs

Get creative with the design of your wedding programs. Consider transforming them into newspapers or adding illustrations and photos that represent your love story. You can also introduce your wedding party in the program so that guests can familiarise themselves with the key people involved. If you're feeling adventurous, try a non-traditional format like a greeting card-style vertical fold.

Personalised Content

Include personal messages and details that are meaningful to you and your partner. Share your favourite quotes, inside jokes, or even your thumbprints on the wedding bands. You could also incorporate your hobbies and interests, such as a love of travel or a favourite sports team, by adding subtle nods to these in the design or content of the programs.

Interactive Elements

Make your wedding programs interactive by incorporating items that guests can take away, such as custom M&Ms or personalised seating cards. You could also include a Mad Libs-style game where guests can give you marriage advice, adding a fun and engaging element to the programs.

Customisation

Customise your wedding programs to match your wedding theme and colour palette. Choose fonts, colours, and graphics that reflect your style. If you have a specific theme, such as rustic chic, vintage, or inspired by a particular interest, integrate this into the design. You can also add a personal monogram or crest that represents you and your partner.

Sentimental Touches

Add sentimental touches to your wedding programs to make them extra special. Consider including photos of you and your spouse-to-be from childhood to adulthood, showcasing your journey together. You could also stitch a hidden message inside the groom's jacket or add a personalised label to the wedding dress. These thoughtful additions will make your wedding programs even more meaningful.

DIY kits

Choosing a DIY Kit

Select a kit that aligns with your wedding theme and personal style. Companies like Paper Source and The Knot Paper offer a variety of customisable options, including different colours, foil colours, paper types, and quantities. You can also browse online marketplaces like Etsy for kits that fit your theme and colour scheme.

Customising Your Design

Paper Selection

The type of paper you choose will impact the overall look and feel of your wedding programs. Consider using cardstock for a sturdy and elegant option. If you plan to fold your programs, choose a weight between 65 lb and 110 lb for ease of folding without compromising durability. For a more luxurious feel, opt for heavyweight fancy paper or premium paper with a glossy finish.

Assembly and Finishing Touches

Once you've designed and printed your programs, it's time to assemble them. Follow the kit's instructions for putting the programs together, adding any additional elements like ribbons, twine, or lace doilies for a vintage touch. If you're creating fan programs, attach popsicle sticks or purchase inexpensive sticks from craft stores.

Presentation Ideas

There are several ways to present your DIY wedding programs to your guests. You can fill baskets, tin pails, or antique trays that match your wedding style and place them at the entrance to your ceremony site. For outdoor weddings, place a program on each chair, securing them with coloured sea glass or similar weights to prevent them from blowing away. You can also ask a friend or family member to greet guests and hand out the programs as they arrive, involving someone special in your celebration.

Presentation and display

There are many ways to present and display your wedding programs. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Before the Wedding

• Digital Display: Consider sending your wedding program digitally to your guests via email or a dedicated wedding app. This option can be environmentally friendly and cost-effective. You can also include interactive elements, such as links to your wedding website or other digital content.
• Printed Copies: If you prefer physical copies, you can print your wedding programs on high-quality paper. Choose a paper type that aligns with your wedding theme, such as cardstock, fancy heavy-weight paper, or marbled parchment paper. You can also add special touches like ribbons, lace doilies, or twine accents.
• Template Selection: Opt for a template that suits your wedding style and allows for easy folding if you plan to create a booklet. Templates with creative folds, such as vertical or horizontal, can make your program more engaging. You can find free or affordable templates online, or create your own from scratch.
• Customization: Personalize your wedding programs with your colour scheme, font choices, and images. You can include special touches like favourite poems, quotes, or photographs of the happy couple. Play with different designs and layouts until you find the perfect combination.

During the Wedding

• Baskets or Trays: Fill decorative baskets, tin pails, or antique trays with printed programs and place them at the entrance to your ceremony site. Guests can help themselves as they arrive.
• Chair Placement: For an outdoor wedding, place a program on each guest's chair, along with a few pieces of coloured sea glass to weigh them down and prevent them from blowing away.
• Greeting and Ushering: Assign a friend or family member to greet guests and hand out programs as they arrive. Alternatively, have ushers offer programs to guests right before they are seated. This adds a personal touch and ensures each guest receives a program.
• Fan Programs: If your wedding is outdoors, consider making fan programs by attaching popsicle sticks to single-page programs. This will keep your guests cool and engaged during the ceremony.
• Signage: Instead of individual programs, create a large sign or poster displaying the wedding program. This approach works well for shorter ceremonies and can be designed using a chalkboard or fabric banner.

Frequently asked questions