This week’s posts May 11th thru May 15th are reprinted articles from the Completely Weddings Blog. We hope you enjoy them and if you want to read more interesting posts by BellaB  you can also visit their blog at CompletelyWeddings.com. Thanks Bella for letting us share these with our readers also….

Providing the perfect notes on a perfect day.

Wedding Program

The wedding program is a traditional element that is often used for large or elaborate ceremonies.  You can use a program for any wedding, but should note that it’s not absolutely necessary.  If you are having a small ceremony and want to cut the costs, programs are a good place to do it.  However, programs can be very useful for many weddings.  Programs can be a helpful addition if you are having a wedding with unique cultural or religious ceremonies, or if you have a large guest list where the guests may not be familiar with the wedding party.

Three Basic Elements of Wedding Programs

1. Cover. This doesn’t need to be elaborate.  The minimum information for the cover is the date and names of the bride and groom.  You may choose to add the time and location and a small graphic or picture.
2. Order of Events. This includes the processional, readings, prayers, vows, exchange of the rings, unity candle ceremony, recessional, and any other elements that you may choose to include. Your ceremony can include anything you want and your program should list it all in the order of occurence. Include the titles of any songs that are to be played in your wedding ceremony.
3. Members of the Bridal Party. In addition to the maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids, and groomsmen, include the officiate, parents of the bride and groom, grandparents of the bride and groom, readers, and ushers as well as the ring bearer and flower girl.

Once you have included these three basic elements, you may choose to add some unique touches of your own.  Many couples will include a prayer, poem, or the lyrics to a special song in the program.  This is also the place for any special notes of thanks to your family and friends.  If your ceremony includes unique cultural traditions, this is the place to explain them.  If you added special, meaningful touches to your wedding, no matter how small, you can mention them here.  For example, Irish brides will often carry a small horseshoe pendant with them for good luck. Though no one will see the pendent, you could explain the history and meaning of this tradition in your program, as you explain the importance of your Irish heritage.

Last but not least, your program can provide a helpful note for guests regarding the reception. At the very least, you may want to mention the time and location. If it might be hard to find, you can provide additional directions here as well as a phone number for the venue. Keep in mind that this is something you will only want to add if all of your guests are invited to the reception.