Planning A Wedding Ceremony Program: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding programs are a great way to help your guests understand what's happening and when. They can also be a beautiful reminder of the celebration. While they are not a must-have, they are often welcomed by guests.

The first step in creating a wedding program is choosing a design. You can opt for something that matches your invitation and other paper goods or get creative with something unique. Once you have your design, it's time to fill in the details.

The basics of a wedding program include the names of the couple, the date, and the location of the ceremony. You can also include a brief word of welcome, a blessing or prayer, an outline of the proceedings, and the names of everyone participating in the ceremony.

From there, you can add extra details such as a longer note to guests, a request for an unplugged ceremony, or a memorial tribute to loved ones who have passed away.

Finally, don't forget to proofread your program before printing and make sure to order a few extras in case of any spills or mishaps!

Cover page: Include the couple's names, date, and location of the ceremony

The cover page of your wedding program is the first thing your guests will see, so it's important to make sure it includes all the essential information and sets the right tone for your ceremony. Here are some tips and suggestions for creating a beautiful and informative cover page:

Couple's Names

Include both your names on the cover page, along with any relevant titles or honorifics. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith invite you to the wedding ceremony of their daughter, Jane Smith, to John Doe." This will help to involve your guests in the ceremony and make them feel more connected to the celebration.

Date

Be sure to include the full wedding date, including the day of the week, the date, and the year. For example, "Saturday, the Third of June, 2025." This will not only inform your guests but also serve as a reminder of the specifics of your special day for years to come.

Location

Add the venue name and address to the cover page. Even though your guests will already be at the location, including this detail will provide a sense of place and be a nice memento for those who keep the program as a keepsake. If your ceremony and reception are in different locations, you may also want to include the reception details, so guests know where to head after the ceremony.

Design and Layout

Consider choosing a design that matches your wedding invitations and other stationery for a cohesive look. You can opt for a traditional single-page program, a folded booklet, or get creative with ideas like program fans, especially if you're having an outdoor wedding. Play with different fonts, colours, and graphics to make it unique and visually appealing.

Additional Details

While the cover page should include the essential information mentioned above, you can also add extra details to make it more informative and engaging. Here are some ideas:

• A brief word of welcome, a blessing, or a prayer.
• A monogram or illustration of your wedding venue.
• A short message of thanks to your guests for attending.
• A note about the significance of the venue or any other special meaning related to the location, date, or other wedding details.

Remember, the cover page is just the beginning! You can include more detailed information about the ceremony proceedings, participants, and any other special touches inside the program.

Order of events: Outline the ceremony proceedings, from the processional to the vows

The wedding ceremony is the most important part of your big day—it's when you actually get married! The ceremony proceedings will vary depending on your preferences, culture, religion, and more. Here is a detailed outline of the order of events for a traditional wedding ceremony:

Processional

The ceremony begins with the processional, which usually starts with the officiant taking their place at the altar, followed by the groom (who may be accompanied by their parents or enter alone). The best man may enter at this point or with the groomsmen. The rest of the wedding party then arrives, with the maid/matron of honour being the last bridesmaid to take her place. The ring bearer and flower girl are the last to proceed before the bride, who is traditionally escorted by her father. However, same-sex couples might walk together or enter from opposite sides, and they may be escorted by one or both parents.

Opening Remarks

Once everyone has taken their places, the officiant begins the ceremony with opening remarks, welcoming the guests and talking about the significance of the day and the couple's love story. The officiant may also share thoughts on marriage and reinforce the importance of the upcoming vows. Religious ceremonies may include scripture readings at this point, and some couples choose to include unity rituals such as lighting a candle or pouring sand.

Readings and Special Performances

Couples often include readings, poems, or musical performances in their ceremony. This is an opportunity to invite friends and family to share their stories, wisdom, and well-wishes for the couple. The officiant will introduce each person, so everyone can see and hear them.

Exchange of Vows

Now it's time for the heartfelt promises! The couple exchanges vows, which can be personally written or traditional. If you're writing your own vows, feel free to make them as creative and personal as you like. Don't forget to speak clearly and loudly so that all the guests can hear your words.

Exchange of Rings

After the vows, the couple exchanges rings, often accompanied by traditional phrases such as "With this ring, I thee wed."

Pronouncement of Marriage

The officiant now declares the couple married and introduces them as a married couple for the first time. This is followed by the couple's first kiss as a married duo, and guests typically break into applause.

Recessional

The ceremony concludes with the recessional, which is the reverse of the processional. The newlyweds lead the way, followed by the wedding party and then the guests.

Participants: List the names of the officiant, wedding party, and family members

A wedding program is a great way to introduce and thank everyone involved in the ceremony. It's also a useful way to help guests understand who is who, and can be a lovely keepsake of the day.

Participants

The wedding program is a chance to thank and honour the people who have supported you through the wedding planning and beyond. It's customary to list everyone involved in the ceremony, starting with the officiant. You can then list the parents of the couple (traditionally, the bride's parents are listed first, but you can also go for alphabetical order). Finally, list the wedding party, including flower girls and ring bearers. It's recommended to list the wedding party in the order they will walk down the aisle, so guests can follow along. If there is room, you could add a sentence or two about how you know each person, to give your guests a little extra insight.

If you have readers or ushers, you can add their names at the end. You can also include the names of any musicians or ceremony staff, like the organist, if you wish.

If you are being married by a religious officiant or someone with a title, such as a judge, include their proper title. For example, "Father Michael Smith", "Rabbi Andrew Zimmerman", or "The Honourable Samuel Brown".

Order of Listing

The traditional format for listing participants is as follows:

• The parents of the bride
• The parents of the groom
• The bridesmaids and groomsmen (with the maid of honour and best man listed first)
• The flower girl and ring bearer
• Ushers and readers
• The officiant

Dedications: Add a memorial tribute to honour loved ones who have passed away

A wedding program is a great way to honour loved ones who have passed away. Here are some ideas on how to do this:

Memorial Tribute

Add a memorial tribute section to your wedding program to honour those who have passed away. This can be a simple message expressing your sadness at their absence and the comfort you feel knowing they are always in your heart and memories. You could also include a heartfelt message about your relationship with them. Here is an example:

> On this cherished day, we remember the ones who are no longer with us in person but are always here in spirit and heart. Although we're saddened by their absence, we find peace in knowing that their love helped us get to this moment.

You can also include specific names and your relationship to them, for example:

> We'd like to take a moment to remember [insert name and/or your relationship to the person] who sadly isn't here to share this day with us. We hold [his/her/their] memory very close to our hearts and light this candle in honour of their life and love.

Symbolic Quote

You could include a symbolic quote in your wedding program, such as:

> "Although we cannot see you, we know that you are here, smiling down, watching over us as we say 'I do'. Forever in our hearts, forever in our lives."

Special Song

Consider playing a special song during your reception as a way to honour your loved one. Pick a tune that holds meaning, like a song you used to always sing together or dance to at home.

In Loving Memory Note

Include an "In Loving Memory" note in your wedding program. This can be a simple tribute or a more detailed message. For example:

> "In Loving Memory. Regretfully, some of our family are no longer with us to celebrate this special day. We feel they are here in spirit and they will always be in our hearts."

Moment of Reflection

Ask your wedding officiant to announce a moment of silence at the start of the ceremony or shortly before you exchange rings to honour your loved one.

Additional details: Provide directions, a schedule, and any cultural or religious explanations

Additional Details

Directions

If your wedding reception takes place at a different location, it is a good idea to include the details within your wedding program. This helps direct your guests to where they should be and when. You can also include a map to make it easier for your guests to find the venue.

Schedule

Your wedding program should feature the schedule of your ceremony. Giving your guests the chance to follow along by sharing the order of events is a good way to make them feel more involved in the ceremony. It doesn't have to be detailed; a simple running order will do. Here is a basic outline of a wedding ceremony:

• Processional: This is the entrance of the wedding party and sets the tone for the ceremony.
• Welcome and Opening Remarks: The officiant or couple may address the guests and share some words of welcome and gratitude.
• Readings or Rituals: This is the time for any readings, poems, or rituals included in the ceremony. If you are having a religious ceremony, you should provide the title, page number, and look-up information for any passages, poems, or musical selections so that guests can follow along.
• Exchange of Vows: The couple will share their vows and promises to each other.
• Exchange of Rings: The symbolic exchange of wedding rings between the couple.
• Pronouncement and First Kiss: The officiant declares the couple married, and they seal it with a kiss.
• Recessional: The newlyweds and the wedding party exit the ceremony space.

Cultural or Religious Explanations

For culturally or religiously significant weddings, it is helpful to include explanations of any traditions or customs that will be performed for guests who may not be familiar with them. Here are some examples of cultural and religious wedding customs:

• Christian Wedding Ceremony: The processional, officiant's welcome and remarks, wedding readings and vow exchange, a brief prayer over the wedding rings, the exchange of rings, and the pronouncement of the newlyweds.
• Jewish Wedding Ceremony: The ketubah (a marriage contract signed before the ceremony) and the bedeken (the groom places the wedding veil on the bride). The traditional Jewish processional starts with the rabbi and cantor, followed by the couple's grandparents, groomsmen, best man, groom (escorted by his parents), bridesmaids, maid of honor, ring bearer, and flower girl. Then comes the bride, escorted by her parents.
• Muslim Wedding Ceremony: The Nikah, a short ceremony performed in a mosque and officiated by an Imam. The ceremony begins with family members gathering around each member of the couple, followed by the presentation of the mahr (a ceremonial presentation of cash, gifts, and other offerings to the bride from the groom).
• Hindu Wedding Ceremony: The baraat (groom's processional), the milni ceremony (the bride's parents and friends welcome the groom with rose water and shagun), the groom is escorted to the mandap (a raised four-poster structure with a canopy), the kanya aagaman (bride's procession), the jaimala or varmala (exchange of garlands), the kanyadaan (bride's parents give the bride away), the laaja homam (the bride and a male family member pour rice into the sacred fire), the mangal phera (the couple walks around the sacred fire four times), the mangalsutra (the couple ties their scarves together and the groom places a necklace on the bride), and the saptapadi (the couple circles the sacred fire seven times).
• Unitarian Universalist Wedding Ceremony: The processional, opening remarks, the affirmation of intentions, a reading by a loved one, the community vow, the exchange of vows, the ring exchange, the unity ceremony, the signing of a register, and the blessing and first kiss.

Frequently asked questions