How to Create a Wedding Program

eHow
July 1, 2011

The wedding program allows your guests to follow the order of the marriage ceremony. They are particularly helpful if the service is complex, the congregation is expected to participate in the proceedings, or many of your guests are unfamiliar with the service you are having. Professional printing costs add up, so creating your own wedding program gives you control over its contents and your budget. Once you have the vital information set, personalize and stylize the program as much as you wish. Like every aspect of your wedding, programs can reflect your personalities.

Information and Wording

Step 1
Create the front cover. A phrase pronouncing the celebration of marriage appears on the cover. “The Celebration and Blessing of the Marriage of [Bride’s name] and [Groom’s name]” is an example. The date and time follow, usually in the formal format: “Saturday March 22, 2012 at 6 o’clock in the evening.” Finally, the name of the church or ceremony location and the city and state appear at the bottom.

Step 2
List the wedding party on the first inside page. The maid of honor and bridesmaids are listed first, followed by the best man and groomsmen. The flower girl and ring bearer come next.

Step 3
Outline the marriage ceremony on the second inside page. The contents of the ceremony will vary by religion and denomination. Your officiant will provide you with a copy. It is also wise to have him or her proofread the final copy before printing. This is your guests’ guide, so it should be accurate.

Step 4
Continue the ceremony on the fourth inside page if the ceremony is long or complex. Here, you would list the Scripture readings, homily, prayers, blessing of the marriage and recessional. It is not necessary to include the text of the readings and prayers, but a page number or chapter and verse indicator allows guests to follow along if they wish.

Step 5
The final inside page should list the parents of the bride and groom and other participants in the ceremony, including the officiant, lay readers, singers and organist.

Step 6
The back cover can be left blank, or it can include information about the reception. The place, time and directions may be included.

Formatting and Printing

Step 1
Load paper of the appropriate size, color and weight. Set your printer settings in the word processor or design tool to the dimensions of the paper.

Step 2
Create the program using a template in desktop publishing software. Bi-folds, tri-folds and saddle-bound programs are popular options.

Step 3
Insert your information and print according to the software’s instructions. You may have to print on both sides of the paper. Do a test run to preserve paper and ink. Verify that the printed program appears the way you wanted it.

References
The Knot: Wedding Programs