Creating Wedding Programs: A Homemade Guide

how to make wedding programs at home

Planning a wedding can be stressful and costly. One way to save money is to make your own wedding programs at home. This can be a fun activity and a way to showcase your personality and creativity. Wedding programs are a great way to remember your special day, thank those who made it possible, and let guests know what to expect. You can use a computer program to design your own or choose from a variety of free templates online. You can then add custom finishes to give the program a personal touch.

Characteristics Values
Purpose To give guests an idea of what to expect from the wedding day, to thank those who made it possible, and to let out-of-town guests know who's who
Contents Names of the bride and groom, date and location of the ceremony, processional and recessional music selections, greetings from the officiant, special readings, prayers or religious customs, exchanging of vows and rings, lighting of unity candle or special song, pronouncement of marriage, address of the reception, names of parents of the bride and groom, members of the wedding party and their roles
Design Various free templates are available online, or you can design your own from scratch
Customisation Add a photo or special design, choose a font and colour that matches your wedding, add a ribbon, etc.
Printing Print on cardstock or printer paper (if folded)

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Choose a computer software program

There are a variety of different computer software programs that can be used for making a wedding program. Here is a list of some of the most popular ones:

Canva

Canva is an online graphic design platform that offers a wide range of templates, including wedding program templates. It provides users with a collection of professionally-designed templates that can be customized to match the theme of the wedding. Users can edit the templates using Canva's intuitive design interface, adding their own images, photos, or artwork. Canva also offers a range of features such as stock photos, illustrations, icons, and fonts, as well as the ability to create print-ready PDFs.

The Knot Paper

The Knot is a popular wedding planning website that offers over 600 customizable wedding program designs. Users can filter the designs based on color palette, price, season, photo options, or theme styles. After selecting a design, users can choose their preferred design color, foil color, paper type, and quantity. The Knot also allows users to customize the color, font, size, and spacing of their chosen template.

Pages

Pages is a Mac-specific software program that can be used to create wedding programs. It offers a variety of templates and design options that users can customize to match their wedding theme.

Minted

Minted is a website that offers a range of wedding stationery, including wedding programs. They work with indie artists and graphic designers to provide chic, ready-made templates that can be customized according to the user's preferences. Minted also offers the option to print the programs at home or at a local copy shop.

Google Drive

Google Drive is a cloud-based storage platform that allows users to upload, store, and share documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, and photos. It can be a useful tool for wedding planning as it enables seamless viewing and editing of documents by anyone with a Gmail account. It is easily accessible from any device and does not require any additional app downloads.

When choosing a computer software program for creating wedding programs, it is important to consider the level of customization, ease of use, and the availability of templates and design options. It is also beneficial to choose a program that offers a wide range of features, such as fonts, images, and the ability to upload personal photos.

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Decide on a template or design

There are many free wedding program templates available online, which can be customised to match your wedding theme. These templates can be found on websites such as Canva, Adobe Express, The Knot, The Spruce, Mountain Modern Life, The Budget Savvy Bride, Sweet Violet Bride, Wedding Chicks, Boho Weddings, Paper Creations, The Domestic Domicile, Chica and Jo, Southworth by Neenah, and Etsy.

When deciding on a template or design, you should consider the following:

  • The colour scheme of your wedding. You may want to match your wedding program to the overall style and colour scheme of your wedding.
  • The theme of your wedding. For example, if you are having a country/western-themed wedding, you could add a pair of cowboy boots to the program.
  • The amount of text and artwork. Be careful not to over-decorate your program, as too much artwork will detract from the text and elegance.
  • The type of paper you will be printing on. If the paper requires folding, it is best to print the program on printer paper. If not, cardstock is a good option.
  • The style of the program. This could be a traditional card centre fold (vertical or horizontal), a brochure style (three folds), or a single sheet printed on the front and back (no fold).
  • Whether you want to include photos or special designs. For example, you could add a photo of the bride and groom on the front cover.
  • The level of customisation you require. Some templates allow you to change the type and colour of text, add your own text, change images, and even add additional pages.

Once you have decided on a template or design, you can start customising it to match your wedding. This could include changing the colour scheme, font, size, or spacing, as well as adding your own images, photos, or artwork. It is important to edit and proofread the program before printing to avoid any last-minute changes.

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Edit and proofread before printing

Editing and proofreading your wedding program before printing is a crucial step. You don't want to print 200 copies only to find that you misspelled your partner's name or the date and location of your wedding! Here are some tips to help you edit and proofread your wedding program like a pro:

Get Some Distance

Take a break from your wedding program design and come back to it with fresh eyes. Stepping away from your work for a few hours or days will help you clear your head and identify any mistakes or areas for improvement more easily. You could even ask a friend or family member to review it, as they will be able to provide a completely fresh perspective.

Choose Your Medium

Some people prefer to proofread on a computer, while others find it easier to mark up a printed copy. Decide which medium works best for you and use it to your advantage. If you choose to print a copy, make sure to print on regular paper first to save costs.

Check for Consistency

Consistency is key when it comes to editing and proofreading. Check for consistency in formatting, font style and size, spacing, and colour. Also, ensure that the tone, language, and style you've used are appropriate for a wedding program. Avoid using unfamiliar words from a thesaurus, as you may misuse them.

Proofread for Different Error Types

Rather than trying to identify all types of errors at once, focus on one type at a time. For example, you could start by checking for spelling mistakes, then move on to grammar, punctuation, and so on. This will help you stay focused and improve your proofreading effectiveness.

Read Slowly and Out Loud

Read your wedding program slowly and out loud, word by word. This will help you catch any errors or awkward phrasing that you might otherwise miss by reading silently or too quickly. Reading out loud will also help you hear how the words sound together and identify any areas that need improvement.

Use Proofreading Tools

While built-in spell checkers are useful, consider using more advanced proofreading tools like Grammarly, ProWritingAid, or Hemingway. These tools can help identify spelling and grammar mistakes, as well as provide suggestions for improving your writing style and clarity.

Check Important Details

Double-check that you've included all the essential information in your wedding program, such as the names of the couple, the wedding date and location, the order of events, and any special readings or music selections. It's also a good idea to include a map or directions to the reception venue if it's at a different location.

Remember, creating a wedding program is a fun way to showcase your personality and creativity while providing your guests with a thoughtful keepsake. Take your time with the editing and proofreading process to ensure that your wedding program is flawless and truly reflects your special day.

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Printing your wedding program on cardstock is a great way to give it a more premium feel. You can choose from a variety of colours and thicknesses available at your local office supply store.

If you're printing from home, it's a good idea to print one program first and then make adjustments as needed to ensure that the formatting and colours are correct. You can also save your wedding program as a print-ready PDF and have it printed and delivered to your door through services like Canva Print.

Before printing, make sure you thoroughly edit and proofread your program. You don't want to print 200 copies only to find that you've misspelled the name of your partner!

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Add a creative touch

Adding a creative touch to your wedding programs is a great way to showcase your personality and creativity on your special day. Here are some ideas to make your wedding programs unique and memorable:

Choose a Theme and Colour Scheme

Decide on a theme and colour scheme that matches your wedding. This could be something like a rustic, vintage, or Tuscan theme, or even a fun theme inspired by your favourite things, like Harry Potter. Carry this theme and colour scheme through to your wedding programs for a cohesive look.

Add Personalised Touches

Include a photo of the happy couple or a special design that matches your wedding theme. You could also add a monogram or a personalised stamp to your wedding programs, or even turn them into fans for an outdoor wedding to keep your guests cool.

Creative Content Ideas

  • Transform your wedding program into a newspaper-style format.
  • Introduce your wedding party in the program so guests know who's who.
  • Include a unique hashtag for your wedding so guests can share their photos and experiences.
  • Add a crossword puzzle or word game related to the happy couple for guests to enjoy.
  • Provide a special thank-you message to your guests for their attendance and support.

Elegant Finishing Touches

Add a touch of elegance with a ribbon tied to the top of the program. You can also place the programs in a lined basket with a matching ribbon, or have the groomsmen hand them out as guests arrive.

Remember, your wedding program is a wonderful keepsake and a great way to add a creative, personal touch to your wedding day.

Frequently asked questions

A wedding program is essentially a list of the events at your wedding ceremony. It should include the names of the bride and groom, the date and location of the ceremony, the processional and recessional music selections, and the order of the ceremony. You may also want to include a section to introduce the parents of the bride and groom, and the bridal party.

You can add a photo or special design to your wedding program. For example, if you're having a country/western-themed wedding, you could add a pair of cowboy boots to the program. You could also make your program into a fan if your wedding is outdoors during the summer.

A popular wedding program size is 4 inches x 9.25 inches, as the longer length adds a touch of elegance. Other common sizes include 4 inches x 6 inches, 8.5 inches x 5.5 inches, 4.25 inches x 11 inches, and 5.5 inches x 5.5 inches.

There are many websites that offer free wedding program templates, such as Canva, Mountain Modern Life, The Budget Savvy Bride, Wedding Chicks, Boho Weddings, and Chica and Jo. You can also use computer software programs like Pages if you're a Mac user.

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