From table numbers to menus, wedding day stationery presents an opportunity to create a consistent design style using your wedding theme and colors. But before guests reach the reception, couples can set the tone with ceremony programs that are as beautiful as they are informative. While often considered optional, programs are a great way to welcome guests, share the order of events, and give loved ones a special keepsake from your wedding day.
Here’s what you need to know to design wedding programs that capture your personalities, maintain aesthetic consistency, and include essential details for guests.
Do you need ceremony programs?
Programs are optional, but most wedding professionals highly recommend including them for many reasons. Ceremony programs typically provide a timeline, details about wedding party members, and other relevant information, serving as a useful guide for your guests as they navigate through your wedding day.
“Programs can be a great way to get your guests on the same page when it comes to the ceremony,” confirms Megan Breukelman of Megan & Kenneth. “Regardless of whether your ceremony is ten minutes or an hour long, understanding the timeline and key players can make guests feel more involved.”
Your programs can also provide context for special elements of your ceremony, such as cultural traditions, rituals, songs, and readings.
Story Alley Photography’s Monica Garcia notes that programs are an especially thoughtful touch for couples “wanting to share the significance and symbolism of the various aspects of an interfaith ceremony with guests who might not be aware.”
So, the answer is no—you don’t need ceremony programs. However, for most couples, they are an excellent way to communicate essential information to guests. Plus, they provide another outlet to show off your wedding aesthetic with consistent design!
What to include in your program
Couples can use programs to inform, entertain, and express their personalities to their guests. While there are no rules dictating what you can or cannot include, there are a few things your guests will expect to see in your ceremony programs.
To start, listing the major parts of the ceremony can help your guests understand the flow and timing of your wedding. If you’re unsure where to start, Kelley Nudo of Momental Designs recommends “meeting with whoever will be officiating the wedding ceremony to get a firm outline of the ceremony’s order of events to include in the program.”
It’s also common practice to “include the names of the people participating and their relationship to you,” says wedding photographer Lynne Reznick. In addition to introducing the wedding party to guests who may not know them, highlighting your VIPs is a kind way to celebrate them and show appreciation for their support.
Beyond these essentials, don’t be shy about including anything that feels meaningful. For example, wedding planner Juls Sharpley notes that “couples may choose to honor deceased family members or include special song lyrics, poems, or scriptures.” If guests are expected to join in a part of the ceremony, provide instructions for when to sit, stand, sing, or participate in another way.
You can also use programs to guide guests after the ceremony. Twickenham House and Hall’s Liney Castle encourages couples to “give direction for what is to follow the ceremony, whether it’s directions to the reception if it’s at a separate location, where cocktail hour is held, or when the reception shall begin.”
Reznick also recommends adding a “short thank you to guests for their part in your lives and your wedding celebration” as a way to close out the program with a personal touch.
What to do with ceremony programs
In addition to design and content, you’ll also need to consider how you wish to distribute the programs to your guests. Many couples select loved ones to serve as greeters responsible for welcoming guests upon arrival and handing out programs.
If you don’t plan to have greeters, you may place programs on each seat or provide stacks at the entrance to the ceremony space for guests to grab on their way in.
Regardless of your chosen method, Nudo encourages couples to consider guest comfort when creating their programs. “Choose something smaller in scale that can be tucked into a purse or jacket pocket, so they aren’t stuck carrying a large program,” she explains. She also notes that some guests may prefer to leave them behind, so consider “giving guests a place to neatly discard their programs after the ceremony.”
Don’t forget to save a clean copy of your ceremony program as a memento! Displaying it in a scrapbook, frame, or shadow box is a lovely way to memorialize your big day.
Creative ideas for wedding programs
Traditional programs are distributed as handouts or booklets, but don’t be afraid to try something different! From paper fans and handkerchiefs to custom infographics, there are countless approaches to creating a non-traditional ceremony program.
For example, “a newer trend is to format them like a newspaper and design them as a “Newlywed Post” with pictures and information formatted as a front-page article,” Castle shares. You could even include cute stories and puzzles to occupy your guests during idle moments.
If you value sustainability in your wedding, Orsella Hughes of Serenity Ceremonies by Rev. Orsella recommends opting for the paper-free route by “having guests scan a QR code, which will direct them to a virtual program.”
In addition to saving the trees, Garcia notes that “a digital program doesn’t have the space restrictions of a printed program, so you can include even more information.” You could include helpful resources—like ride-share discount codes or GPS directions to the reception venue—and fun tidbits, such as your wedding day playlist or a sweet video of your favorite memories together.
“Be sure to check that your venue has good cell phone reception or wifi before choosing this option,” Garcia adds.
Even if you go digital, Hughes maintains that physical programs are still relevant for some people, like grandparents, who will cherish them as keepsakes. She recommends printing a limited number for those wanting to take a souvenir home. “It will not only serve as a cherished reminder of your wedding day but also underscore the significance of the event for everyone involved,” she says.
Ceremony programs are more than just a guide for your guests; they are an opportunity to showcase your personal style and celebrate the significance of your big day. Whether you choose a traditional design or take a creative, digital approach, offering programs at your wedding can enhance the guest experience and make your loved ones feel like a part of the celebration.
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.
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