Today, they can really take any form you'd like, from a brief description of the ceremony to a breakdown of every detail, from a summary of each wedding-party member and an explanation of how the couple met, to the name of those involved "behind the scenes," such as florists. Wedding program wording is mainly about making sure you explain the details of your ceremony to your guests.
Wedding programs should be given to each guest as they enter the ceremony. It is not necessary to give them to young children, but have extra on hand in case some children ask for them specifically. If you are using ushers, they can hand out the programs. If you have children in the family who would like to be involved, you may have them hand out programs. Or, the programs may be placed in decorative baskets in the entrance to the ceremony, or on the chairs or pews.
There are some typical guidelines to follow for the order of elements on a traditional program. Generally, the program has four parts: the introduction, the ceremony order, the wedding party and the closure or special note.
The introduction includes the names of the bride and groom, the day and date of the ceremony, time, location, city and state.
The ceremony order outlines the segments such as the prelude, seating, vows, readings, processional, etc.You may also list the titles of the musical pieces, selected lyrics and wording of prayers here.
The wedding party section lists all participants in the wedding. Use full names rather than nicknames, and use titles such as Miss, Ms. and Mr.
In the final section, used for a closure or special note, you may want to thank your guests and those who are hosting the wedding. This is also the place to honor a deceased friend or member of the family. You might end with a poem or quote, and you may also want to include directions to the reception, if it's being held elsewhere.
Following is an example of wedding ceremony program wording. By no means are all elements necessary, but you can use this a guide in determining how to organize your program.
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The Marriage Ceremony Uniting
Allison Mae Johnston
and
Henry Chad Meyers
on Saturday, May 1, 2004
at half past six o'clock in the evening
St. Mary's Church
Portland, Oregon
Prelude .......................... "You Came Along"
Solo .................................."Love is in the Air"
Lighting of the Candles
Seating of the Mothers
Processional ..................."Canon in D"
Invocation
Wedding Message .........Rev. Tom Anderson
Solo ..................................."On Bended Knee"
Exchange of vows
Exchange of rings
Announcement of marriage
Solo .................................."Forever More"
Presentation of the Bride and Groom
Recessional ..................."Ode to Joy"
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The order of the wedding party should be listed in this order:
- Parents of the Bride
- Parents of the Groom
- Grandparents of the Bride
- Grandmothers of the Groom
- Maid of Honor
- Matron of Honor
- Bridesmaids
- Junior Bridesmaid
- Honorary Bridesmaid
- Flower Girl
- Best Men
- Groomsmen
- Ring Bearer
- Officiant
- Pianist
- Soloist
By using this guide as a basis for your wedding program wording, you will be sure to create both attractive and informative do-it-yourself programs that all will treasure.
Wedding Program Templates:
