A program is a good opportunity to lay out these steps and, if you like, to explain their meaning so that your guests may fully understand or participate in the ritual. It can also be a precious memento of the proceedings for those who take each step of the ritual to heart.
Other common program additions include the titles of music used, thank you's and acknowledgements, tributes to the deceased, and the text of any readings or songs included in the ceremony. Guests also enjoy reading the names of the bridal party and their relation to you, and your bridal party will be glad to have the keepsake. Think of your program as your space to leave a final word on your wedding for posterity. If you want to include a favorite poem or prayer, a dedication to your sweetheart, or a photograph, feel free to make it as personal as you wish.
An appropriate way to dedicate your Christian wedding program is to include a relevant Bible quotation, perhaps on the cover. Bible verses for weddings include the following.
"This is my beloved, and this is my friend." Song of Solomon 5:16
"God has poured out his love into our hearts." Romans 5:5 (NIV)
"Love is patient and kind, always trusts. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." I John 4:12 (NIV)
"The two will become one." Ephesians 5:31 (NIV)
"So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Matthew 19:6 (NIV)
Such quotes will let your Christian wedding program reflect your Christian faith while illustrating for Christian and non-Christian guests alike the romantic appeal that marrying within Christian tradition holds for you and your fiance'.
Once you have figured out the text of your program, you can then design its appearance. Your cover at least should have some kind of image, though graphics can compliment the inner pages as well. Consider you wedding theme, colors, and flowers. You may have a perfect photograph of yourself and your fiance, or you may want to browse the internet for ideas. Check out WeddingClipArt.com and FaithClipArt.com for high-quality downloadable images and templates. You may also browse stationary stores for stamps, pressed flowers, and specialty papers.
While you can have your programs custom designed and run off with your invitations, it is just as easy and far less expensive to design them on your home computer. With a standard word processing program and a color printer, you can do your own experimentation with fonts, inks, and graphics to customize your program to your tastes.
You also have options in combining the pages: you can fold a three or four page program accordion fashion, or create a small booklet tied at the top or on the side with ribbon. Once you have the prototype, you may choose to take this to a copy store to have the duplicates run off, saving your own ink cartridge.
Your wedding program is your opportunity to illustrate and commemorate your Christian wedding for yourself, your bridal party, and your guests. Infuse it with the spirit you wish to pervade on your special day.
