The wedding program - a sample of the basic elements

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A wedding program for the ceremony is a wonderful way to create a wedding keepsake or sample for your guests, as well as for yourselves. Although it is not an obligatory part of a wedding, there are a few reasons why you may decide that a wedding program is ideal for your nuptials. A wedding program is an excellent opportunity to help your guests follow the pattern of events, a bit like a theatre program. It is also perfect for acknowledging or thanking people, and expressing your personal style.

Although you could use the same stationery for your wedding program as for your invitations, it is also perfectly acceptable to use ordinary office paper and produce your own program on your computer. Wedding programs are often a single folded sheet of paper, but you can easily create a booklet if you want to include lots of information. Consider tying the pages together with a ribbon in co-ordinating colours. If you are able to add digital photographs, this enhances the program with a personal touch. Photographs of the bride and groom, as a couple or even as babies, can create a wonderful talking point. You could also include pictures of the various people involved in the ceremony as a useful way of helping your guests identify the key players.

The wording in a typical wedding program should include certain basic elements: the wedding date, place of ceremony, and the names of the members of the bridal party. In addition, add the order of service, music performed and any special readings. The order of service may be complex if you intend to include elements from different cultures, or deviate from the basic form. The wedding program is the ideal opportunity to relate to your guests the background and symbolism of these unusual components.

You can elaborate in your wedding program by including paragraphs about the relationship to the bride and groom of those mentioned, and introductions to each family. Some couples also like to include poetry, or descriptions of why the chosen music and readings hold a personal significance to them. Consider including any useful information for your guests, such as ‘please remain seated until the bride and groom have walked up the aisle together’, or directions to the wedding reception.

There are many things you can include in your wedding program, but do not feel that it is essential that you include everything. It is important that the wedding program reflects who you both are, and if that means that it is simple and minimal, with a few acknowledgements and a basic order of service, this will still provide the most important elements for your guests. Ensure that your program is easy to read and doesn’t contain any spelling errors, and it will be a perfect embellishment to your wedding ceremony.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - The Wedding Program