HOME >>WEDDING CEREMONY & VOWS>> WEDDING PROGRAMS

Wedding Programs

Wedding programs help your guests understand what's going on at your wedding ceremony. The wedding program is not only a script of details about the wedding, such as the time and locations of events, but it can be a treasured keepsake of your wedding. Your wedding also gives you the opportunity to acknowledge those who play an important part in your union.

Wedding programs aren't "required," but they are a great keepsake that will bring back to you the events of your wedding in years to come.

Wedding programs, basically, are a list of the events, in the order that they are to take place, and the location of the events.

You can usually order a wedding program from your invitation printer, especially if you want it to match your invitations. But many brides prefer to make their wedding programs more personal - even creating them themselves.

Wedding programs usually include a program cover, which may feature a photograph or other artwork that reflects the weddings theme; the bride and groom's names; the wedding date; and the location at which the wedding ceremony is held.

There are generally three sections in wedding programs: An introduction, the schedule of wedding events, and acknowledgements.

Wedding Program Introduction Section

• Names of the bride and groom
• Wedding date
• Wedding location
• Name of officiant
• Directions to reception

Wedding Program Schedule of Events

• The wedding music
• Poetry read at the wedding
• Wedding ceremony readings
• Names of soloists, musicians and readers at your wedding ceremony
• Wedding vows
• Explanations of any ethnic or religious traditions in your ceremony that some guests might not understand

Wedding Program Acknowledgement Section

• The names of your attendants and other people playing significant roles in your wedding ceremony and their relationships to the bride and groom
• Introduction to the bride's and groom's families
• Thanks to the significant people who supported you - especially the parents
• Memorials to those who have passed on but that you want to remember in your wedding ceremony
• Thanks to guests for attending
• A poem or other writing appropriate to your wedding

Wedding programs will be keepsakes that last long after your wedding day. You might consider having your photographer incorporate the wedding program into your wedding album, or preserve it in your own scrapbook of wedding memories.