What is the correct wording and order for printed wedding programs?

Answer 1

Elements of a wedding program
The cover
Typically includes the date and/or the names of the couple. It may also include the location and time of the ceremony, a picture, or design element (such as a flower, scroll, etc.)


The order of events
If you haven't already included your names, wedding date, location, and time on the front cover, consider listing that information on the inside just before the order of events. Then list what will happen during the ceremony, including processional music, greeting, readings, prayers, exchange of vows, ring ceremony, unity candle ceremony, pronouncement of marriage, recessional music, and any other ceremony music. Your list may not include all of these elements, and it may include some traditions not listed here. Be sure to list the events in the order they will occur.


Members of the bridal party
This is a simple list of the names and roles of your bridal party. For example:
Officiant: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Parents of the bride: Mary and John Smith
Parents of the groom: Elizabeth Jones and Thomas Wilson, Jr.
Stepparents of the groom: Robert Jones and Lisa Marist-Wilson
Grandparents: Sarah Smith, Margaret Blackwood, Thomas Wilson Sr.
Maid of Honor: Maria Gellert
Best Man: William Harris
Bridesmaids: Rebecca Brown, Juanita Ramirez
Groomsmen: Calvin Aremu, Jonathan Goldstein
Readers: McGuire Johnson, Alexander Wilson
Other things you may wish to include in your wedding program
An explanation of traditions or rituals used in your ceremony

A request for audience participation in certain parts of the ceremony (e.g. affirmation of the marriage, communion, singing, offering of the peace, standing or kneeling)

Thank yous

Memorials (for example: The memorial candle is lit in honor of the bride's mother, Shirley Fielding. OR On this day of happiness, we would like to remember those who are no longer with us, especially Derrick Peterson, grandfather of the bride, and Samantha Wilson, mother of the groom.)

A short sentence about each of your bridesmaids and groomsmen, describing why they are important to you.

An explanation of the significance of the location, theme, first dance song, etc. (for example: the reception will be held at Coldwater Restaurant, the site of the bride and groom's first date.)

Quotes or poems about love or marriage

Directions to the reception

Answer 2

Most print shops that print wedding invitations, have many books to choose the wording and style you like best. If you are printing your own off your computer, go to the library and look for this type of book and copy for yourself.

Answer 3

Wow those are expensive! We were on a tight budget and couldn't afford to order booklets. We did one pg.

It had on it
Prelude
Seating of Grandparents and Mothers
Processional: Air on a G String
Bridal Processional: Handel’s Royal Fireworks
Opening Prayer
Introduction and Charge to Couple
Declaration of Intent
Scripture Reading
Solo:
Exhange of Vows
Blessing of Rings
Pronouncement of Marriage
Lighting of Unity Candle
Solo: I Will Be Here
Blessing on the marriage
Presentation of couple
Recessional: The Wedding March
Postlude

At the bottom we had a lil sentence "The flowers on the altar are given in memory and honor of our grandparents who could not be here today, but are here in spirit." Though I have been to a wedding where the bride put something specific to her mother. Like a "Dear Mom, I know you would love to be here on my special day and I know you are looking through the holes in heaven on me. You are in my heart" and a bit that said on her walk down the aisle the bride will stop and place a rose on the seat her mother would occupy.

On the back it had who everyone was:
Minister
parents of bride
grandparents of bride
parents of groom
grandparents of groom
attendants (you can chose if you want to put Who they are "sister of the bride" "friend of the groom" or not but I didn't)
ushers

and a lil note
To our friends and family, we thank you for joining us on our special day. We are grateful for the love and support you have given us over the years and will cherish the memories we share with each of you.

At Home address

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It is important to inform people of things they do not know. For example,
1) Traditions. if your fiance is catholic and you are getting married in a catholic church--inform them of the order of mass and the rules about mass is offered to those of the Catholic faith. Or any traditions that you will be incorportating in to the ceremony. if you'll be jumping a broomstick, or if half the family is Jewish, inform them of the reason you will be smashing a glass.

2) Who are the people in your wedding party. Credit to the soloist or organist.

3) the songs being played. If you spent a lot of time working out a prelude, include those songs being played. if the soloist is playing something special, it might be interesting to include what makes it special.

4) non-traditional elements. Many brides are now wanting to walk down the aisle to a song they like. Inform the guests that the bride will be entering to Aerosmith's Love in an Elevator. Otherwise they might not know they are suppose to stand at that time--and may miss her entrance.

5) at home address. It is very nice to include an "at home card". You can either include this with your thankyou notes or on the program. whatever.

If your soloist is singing in Spanish--include a translation of the song in English. There are no real Rules and Order to the program. It is just in order to inform those sharing in the joy of your day, what is going on. It can be as thick as you want, or just one pg. You can have a paragraph on each member of your wedding party (mine wanted me to include something about how they were all single). I went to one wedding where the bride nearly had a book for you to read while waiting about how they met, how he proposed, a basic story of them--which she had done at the slideshow the night before.

Talk to your preacher, priest, rabbi, justice of the peace, captain of boat, internet certified officient, whoever and find out what his order of the ceremony is--many have very particular orders for when they do certain parts but some are expecting you to come up with the order YOU wish to do it.

Answer 4

Cover

The Celebration and Marriage of

Julia Jones and Mark Smith

Inside left
Order of events (speak to your pastor about this, he will have the format for you inclding readings and verses and music and composers)

Inside Right
Any left over from the order of events that didnt fit on your inside left page.
Usually a note of thanks to everyone for attending
Some people also put their memorial mentions at the bottom of this page

Back page
Reverends name
Brides Parents
Grooms Parents
Maid of honor
Best man
Bridesmaids
Groomsmen
Flower girl
ring bearer