Ceremony programs are essential for any wedding event because they clearly list the sequence of events that will transpire during the ceremony, it also informs the attendants, officiant, and musicians when it is there time for their contribution to your ceremony.
It is important to include all of these steps for a clear outline of the ceremony, which should be an introduction, ceremony proceedings, and wedding party. The introduction information should list the full names of the bride and the groom, date of event, and location. The ceremony proceedings should list the each step of the service from the processional to the recessional. Please be sure to include customs, traditions, special readings, poems or scriptures would be entered in this part of the ceremony. Examples of the titles would be Rites of Marriage and Exchange of Vows, Blessing of the Rings, Lighting of the Unity Candle, Second Reading, Nuptials, Closing Prayer, and Recessional. The wedding party should be the last section of the ceremony program, which lists the Mother of the Bride, Best Man, Matron/Maid of Honor, officiant, and other key members who participated in the wedding program.
Additional information to include in the ceremony program, if your reception is held on-site or off-site, please be sure to note that in the ceremony program and include where it is held and a physical address of the reception site. Always include thank you to your guests who are attending as well, because after all they are taking time out of their schedule to celebrate this special occasion.
Either couples can have wedding programs professionally designed or the couples can design one for themselves, and the decision is up to the couple what they want for their wedding. Couples can be unique with their design as well by matching the wedding theme or ceremony fans.
Ideas for wedding programs-For beach themed weddings have a seashell holding down the ceremony programs or for a traditional ceremony, you could even have a beautiful basket with a large bow attached and place the programs inside. For a winter themed wedding, couples could attach a Christmas ornament to the program. Whatever the couple decides after they create the ceremony program, make sure the ushers hand out the programs to guests or programs should be visible for guests, so they can take them before they enter the ceremony site.
Additional personalization to the ceremony program would be for the couple to share their story on how they met, where the proposal took place, bride’s “something old, new, borrowed, and blue”, favorite love quotes, lyrics to your first dance song, all so the guests feel included in your wedding day.
Be sure to include a reception program for the reception as well. Information to include in your reception would be announcing of the wedding party, introduction of the bride and groom, close relatives, the wedding couples entrance, blessing and prayers, toasts, dinner, slide show, and then dinner activities, which would include cake cutting, first dance, father-daughter dance, mother-son dance, money dance, tossing of the bridal bouquet and garter toss, guests dancing, and last dance.
Here are some great examples of ceremony programs:
-http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2629625/Free-Wedding-Program-Template
-http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates
