Rhiannon Hendricks
Planning a destination wedding comes with its own set of challenges and considerations, but it can be a fantastic way to make your special day even more memorable. One of the key decisions you'll need to make is what to include in your wedding program. Wedding programs are a great opportunity to add a personal touch and set the tone for your celebration. They can also be a fun project to work on, allowing you to experiment with different shapes, materials, and designs. Whether you choose a traditional single-page program or something more unique, like a fan or a bag filled with treats, your program should include key details such as an introduction to the wedding party, a timeline of events, and any cultural or traditional elements you plan to incorporate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To guide guests through the event, providing a timeline of the day's events |
| To introduce the wedding party and other VIPs | |
| To provide an opportunity to add a personal touch | |
| Format | Booklets or cards |
| Digital or printed | |
| Single-page, double-sided, or multi-page | |
| Fan, luggage tag, handkerchief, bag, envelope, or wooden sign | |
| Content | Map of the venue or surrounding area |
| Cultural traditions and their significance | |
| Menu and drink pairings | |
| Helpful notes to guests (e.g. directions, requests for an unplugged ceremony) | |
| Explanation of the significance of other wedding details (e.g. choice of venue) | |
| A request for audience participation | |
| Design | Use of colour, patterns, and wedding themes |
| Inclusion of photographs, ribbons, flowers, and other embellishments |
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What You'll Learn
Timeline of the event
Wedding programs are a great way to introduce your guests to the key people at the event and provide a timeline for the day. Here is a suggested timeline for a destination wedding:
Arrival and welcome
Detail the arrival of guests, including any transport arrangements and a welcome drink or snack. If guests are arriving at different times, you could include a map of the local area, or the venue, with suggestions for places to visit or things to do before the wedding.
Pre-ceremony
Inform guests of any activities or entertainment before the ceremony, such as a cocktail hour, and any requests for an unplugged ceremony.
Ceremony
Provide an outline of the ceremony, including any readings, songs, and the wedding party. You could also include a note of explanation for any cultural or traditional elements of the ceremony that may be unfamiliar to guests.
Post-ceremony
Detail any activities or entertainment after the ceremony, such as a reception, and include any menu and drink selections. You could also include a thank-you note to guests.
Departure
Provide guests with any details of the departure, such as transport arrangements, and a gift or favour to take home, such as a handkerchief printed with the wedding ceremony or a small bag of treats.
The timeline can be presented in a variety of ways, from a traditional single-page program to a more interactive infographic or game sheet. It can be a fun and creative project and a great way to add a personal touch to your destination wedding.
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Map of the venue
Including a map of the venue in your destination wedding program is a thoughtful way to ensure your guests can easily find their way around. Here are some ideas on how to incorporate a venue map:
Map Styles
You could opt for a simple illustrated map of the venue and its surrounding landscape, or make it more creative and personal. For instance, you could have a map illustrating the places your guests have travelled from, or a map of the area with landmarks that hold a special meaning for you and your partner, such as where you first met or had your first date.
Printed Maps
Printing a map on the front of a single sheet, trifold, or booklet program is a great way to present the information. You could also include a small, separate map insert with the program, perhaps in the style of a luggage tag, with a ribbon or string attached, which could also include other key information.
Digital Maps
If you're concerned about the environment, or you want to provide more detailed, interactive information, consider a digital map. You could email this to your guests ahead of time, or include a link or QR code on the program for guests to access the map on their phones.
Other Considerations
If you're having a beach wedding, consider providing fans for your guests, which could also double up as the wedding program, with the map printed on one side. For a destination wedding, it's also a nice touch to include some local touches, such as a local band or DJ, and some local dishes and drinks. Also, remember to offer accommodation options at different budgets and include local weather patterns in your invitations.
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Cultural traditions
On the other hand, if you and your partner come from different cultural backgrounds, your wedding is an opportunity to blend your respective traditions. For instance, a Hindu-Christian wedding could include the Hindu Baraat processional combined with the Christian exchange of vows and rings.
Indian Culture
Indian weddings vary greatly depending on region, religion, and other factors, but some common traditions include the tilak ceremony where the groom is anointed on his forehead, and the mehendi ceremony, where the bride's hands and feet are adorned with henna. In certain regions, the bridegroom, his friends, and relatives arrive at the wedding site in a singing and dancing procession.
Jewish Culture
Jewish weddings are conducted under a four-poled canopy called a chuppah. The couple recites their vows and exchanges rings under the chuppah, and the ketubah, a marriage contract, is read aloud. In a nod to the story of Jacob in the Bible, the bride's face is veiled by the groom before the ceremony.
Chinese Culture
The colour scheme of a Chinese wedding is traditionally red and gold. A Chinese tea ceremony could be included in your wedding, symbolising respect and gratitude towards both sets of parents.
Swedish Culture
In Sweden, guests pay for the dinner and drinks instead of bringing gifts. Brides wear a flower crown or headdress made of myrtle leaves, symbolising innocence.
Persian Culture
Persian wedding traditions go back to ancient Zoroastrian culture. The bride's dress is elegant and transparent.
Guatemalan Culture
In Guatemalan weddings, the groom's mother breaks a white ceramic bell filled with grains like rice and flour to bring prosperity to the newlyweds.
French Culture
In southwest France, it is customary to serve spit-roast wild boar as the wedding breakfast. The French tradition of 'Coupe de Mariage' involves dropping a small piece of toast into the couple's wine to ensure a healthy life together.
Catholic Culture
In some Catholic weddings, the bride wears a black silk dress to signify her commitment to her husband.
Albanian Culture
The Albanian wedding dress is worked on a "shajak" (large piece of wool) with floral motifs worked with "gajtan" (a kind of rope) in black cotton, sometimes mixed with green or red.
Japanese Culture
The Japanese sake-drinking ceremony of san san kudo involves the bride, groom, and their parents sipping sake three times from three different-sized cups. Floral arrangements are also a delicate part of a Japanese Shinto ceremony.
Greek Culture
Greek weddings often include lively traditional dances that encourage guests to join in the festivities.
African Culture
The tying of the Kente cloth in African weddings symbolises the union of families and the couple's commitment.
Remember, you can utilise infographic-style programs to educate and engage your guests about the cultural traditions you choose to include.
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Menu and drink pairings
A wedding is a special occasion, and the food and drinks served play a significant role in making it memorable. The menu and drink pairings for a destination wedding depend on various factors, including the time of day, season, and guests' preferences. Here are some instructive guidelines and ideas for menu and drink pairings for your destination wedding program:
Alcoholic Beverages
When it comes to alcoholic drinks, the options typically include an open bar, a beer and wine bar, or a cash bar. An open bar, though the priciest, is the most common, allowing guests unlimited drinks. A beer and wine bar can be a more cost-effective option, and you can add signature cocktails or select liquors. A cash bar, on the other hand, requires guests to pay for their drinks, which may not be as well-received.
Estimating Alcohol Quantity
To estimate the quantity of alcoholic drinks, consider the number of guests and their drinking habits (light, moderate, or heavy drinkers). For instance, if you have invited wine enthusiasts, ensure you have a good selection of reds and whites. If your guests prefer cocktails, you can offer a variety, including aperitif cocktails with appetizers and dessert cocktails to conclude the meal. As a rule of thumb, plan to serve one drink per guest per hour of the reception.
Pairing Food and Drinks
The key to successful food and drink pairings is to complement and contrast flavors without being overly matchy-matchy. Consider your guests' taste buds and choose drinks that enhance the meal. For instance, a French martini pairs well with a chocolate mousse, as the pineapple in the martini adds a tart contrast to the sweet dessert. Gin-based drinks, such as a dry martini or a gin and tonic, pair beautifully with seafood and fish dishes. Whiskey is another versatile option, complementing both savory and sweet dishes.
Signature Cocktails and Appetizers
Creating signature cocktail and appetizer pairings can be a delightful way to entertain your guests. For instance, a cocktail made with light rum, water, lemon juice, mint, and lavender simple syrup pairs exquisitely with goat cheese, lavender, and honey appetizers, evoking the flavors of Southern France. A Moscow Mule, with its ginger beer and vodka, can be an excellent companion to sushi or California rolls.
Season and Location-Inspired Pairings
Consider the season and location of your destination wedding when creating drink pairings. For a summer beach wedding, a white wine sangria with Hpnotiq and ginger ale can be a refreshing choice. Alternatively, a classic French 75, made with champagne, lemon juice, gin, and simple syrup, is a sophisticated choice that pairs well with starchy potatoes and cheesy dishes.
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Personal touches
Wedding programs are a great opportunity to add a personal touch to your destination wedding. They can be designed to reflect your personality and style and set the tone for the ceremony. Here are some ideas for adding personal touches to your destination wedding programs:
Personalize the Design
Choose a design that reflects your style as a couple. You can opt for a traditional single-page program with a twist, such as using thick cardstock, coloured paper, or incorporating a pattern or theme that ties into your wedding aesthetic. For instance, if you're having a beach wedding, you could use a tropical pattern or a map of the venue's surrounding landscape on the program. If you're crafty, DIY wedding programs allow you to choose from a variety of materials, such as craft paper, dried flowers, ribbons, and embellishments.
Add a Personal Message
Include a thank-you note to your guests, expressing your gratitude for their presence and participation in your special day. You can also add interesting facts about you as a couple, sharing how you met or why you chose the destination for your wedding.
Showcase Your Love Story
Print a map on the front of your program, whether it's an illustrated map of the venue or a map of where you're from, to symbolise your journey together. You can also include a timeline of your relationship milestones, highlighting significant dates or places that are special to you both.
Incorporate Your Wedding Party
Introduce your wedding party, including bridesmaids and groomsmen, with a brief description of their relationship to you. This is a lovely way to make them feel special and involved, and it helps your guests feel more connected to the people standing by your side.
Add Interactive Elements
Make your program interactive, especially if you have younger guests. Consider a colouring book program or a program that doubles as a game sheet, such as a crossword puzzle. This adds a playful touch to your program and keeps guests entertained while they wait for the ceremony to begin.
Offer a Snack
Combine your program with a small snack or treat for your guests. Print the ceremony details on a craft paper bag and fill it with mints, candies, or anything else that fits your wedding theme. This unexpected touch will surely delight your guests and keep their energy up during the ceremony.
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Frequently asked questions
You can buy a digital file that you can print yourself, or you can make your own using cardstock, craft paper, dried flowers, small photographs, ribbons, and other embellishments. You can also print your program onto a multifold fan that guests can slide open, or print the ceremony details on a craft paper bag and fill it with treats for your guests.
Wedding programs should contain all of the key ceremony details, including a timeline of the event, introductions to the wedding party, and explanations of any cultural or ceremony traditions. You can also include helpful notes to guests, such as directions to the cocktail hour/reception, or requests for an unplugged ceremony.
You can place the programs on each ceremony chair, ask ushers to hand them out, or put them in a self-serve basket at the welcome table. If you're using fans or bags, you can also hang them with tiny clothespins from a cord for guests to choose their own.
