Wedding programs are a nice addition to your service and can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish. The purpose of a wedding program is to enable guests to participate in the ceremony by displaying the order of the service and identifying the wedding party. Wedding programs are also commonly used as a keepsake of the event.

Wedding programs often include music titles with composers and/or performers, book and poem titles with authors and/or readers, scripture passages with readers, hymn titles with hymnal page numbers, words for short congregational prayers, and any special notations. Generally, there is not enough room to include entire songs or readings. If these items are not available in church hymnals or prayer books, they could be printed on the back side of the program. If you’re reprinting copyrighted materials on your wedding program, remember to get permission from the copyright holder.

Some couples include notes of thanks to their parents and guests in the wedding program. Others list their new address and telephone number on the back. If parts of your wedding have a personal or cultural significance, it’s appropriate to include this information in your wedding program. For a more informal wedding, consider including some wedding trivia questions about the bride and groom or any unique aspects of the ceremony. This is an easy way to get guests involved in the festivities—especially if you offer a prize for trivia contest winners.

Many brides try to coordinate their wedding programs with their invitations. If this idea appeals to you, remember to order blank stock to match your invitation paper. Then, take this paper to a local printer to have your wedding program produced. This is much cheaper than having the invitation company produce your wedding program, and you’ll have more say over the final outcome.

Wedding programs can be as simple as a single sheet of colored paper printed on your home computer tied with a coordinating ribbon. Other options available include embossing, engraving, adding a monogram, or printing programs on handmade specialty paper. If you’re having a themed wedding, consider incorporating your theme into the design and wording of the wedding program.

One of the most elaborate wedding programs is a missal. It is used in a Catholic service and includes everything the priest says. A program like this is especially appropriate when the majority of your guests are not familiar with your particular religious customs. Using your wedding program to explain the religious significance of the ceremony will give guests insight into meaning of the service and make the event a more enjoyable experience.

Before your final wedding programs are printed, remember to proofread your work! Double check your spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Check spacing and centering to make sure your program is visually appealing. If there is time, consider asking a friend or family member to review your wedding program. They will often find mistakes you have missed and help you avoid potential embarrassment.