Wedding Programs

While they are not mandatory, a Wedding Program is a great compliment to your ceremony and a wonderful keepsake for you and your guests. It is an especially nice touch if your wedding ceremony meets one of the following criteria:

- A religious ceremony where the bride and groom are of different faiths. In this case about half of your guest may be unfamiliar with parts of the ceremony. This will enable your guests to follow along and feel a part of your wedding.
- A non-religious ceremony that has been customized by the bride and groom. In this case none of your guest will understand your ceremony.
- A large wedding where many of the guest might not know the bride and groom or members of the bridal party well.
- A ceremony that is long or has unique and intricate details.

That being said, a Wedding Program can be simple and inexpensive to assemble, and should include the following elements:

- Your names, the full date, time and location of the ceremony
- The names of both sets of parents and of the person officiating the ceremony
- The names of the bridal party members
- The names of anyone else participating in the ceremony, including people who are performing readings or music.
- A breakdown of the order of events of the ceremony so your guest can follow along.

You may also want to include the following optional elements in your Wedding Program:

- A description or history of rituals in your ceremony with which your guests might not be familiar.
- A brief story of how the bride and groom met
- A short bio of the members of the bridal party.
- A note of thanks to your parents, family members or friends.
- A memorial note if you wish to honor any deceased family members or loved ones.
- A poem, quote or music lyric that has significance to you, your union or love in general.
- Any special instructions for guests if applicable.

Keep in mind that while this seems like a lot of effort, a Wedding Program can be as simple as the above details formatted in a word processing document and printed on a sheet of paper the same color as those used in your wedding. There are also a variety of Wedding Program Kits available that include a software template and test paper. Just keep in mind that the best Wedding Programs are those that are creative, personalized and informative. For more details on using a Do-It-Yourself Wedding Program Kits, view the following tutorial video.

For a full selection of Do-It-Yourself Wedding Program Kits and other accessories for your wedding ceremony and reception be sure to visit our online store Wedding Staples!