WHEN IT'S WORTH HAVING A PROGRAM...
(Side note... if one of these notes below pertains to you, you don't HAVE to have a program, but you may want to give it a second thought).
1. You want to. Short and sweet. No better reason!
2. You're incorporating traditions (especially religious traditions) from one family that aren't well known by the other family. Is the bride circling the groom 3 times, but the groom's family isn't Jewish? This is a perfect place to explain what this tradition means and why it's important to you.
3. To include a note about relatives who cannot be there. Many people don't want to have their officiant speak about relatives that have passed, but at the same time they want to honor their memory. A short line mentioning these relatives, either by name or more generally, is a wonderful way to include them in your ceremony.
4. The bride's family and friends don't know the guys in the groom's party very well and vice versa. This frequently occurs if members of your wedding party are from out-of-state or childhood friends. These are people who are so special to you that you've asked them to stand next to you as you get married. It's nice to have a program that lists them by name and their relation so that your guests know who they are. For example: Bridesmaid Jane Doe... Childhood friend of the bride. This program only highlights the wedding party, but you don't you feel like you know the all of them pretty well by the end of it?
NOW SOME MISCONCEPTIONS...
1. Many couples are told by their parents that people keep programs as a memento of their day and therefore they must have them. Perhaps some people do, but for the most part people don't. How do I know that? Because I'm picking them up everywhere-- on ceremony chairs, cocktail tables, reception floors, bathroom counters.
2. Programs don't need to be elaborate. They don't need to include the story of how you met, every song played and reading read, and every person in your wedding party with a photo and description. More on what they should include later, but don't get overwhelmed and think you need to print a 10 page booklet.
3. Programs don't even need to be on a piece of paper and handed to every guests. This chalkboard sign communicates all the necessary information while saving trees and money!
WHAT YOU MAY WANT TO INCLUDE...
1. Your names (if you use last names please use your maiden name) and wedding date. You think it's obvious but some people forget this!
2. Location. This isn't necessary, as most guests will know where they are, but for those keeping it as keepsake it's nice to include.
3. Your wedding party. Like we talked about above, this can be as basic as their name and role (bridesmaid, maid of honor, etc) or have a bit more detail.
3. An order of events. Processional, Presentation, Reading, Vows, Exchange of Rings, Reading, Pronouncement. You can keep it simple or go into more detail. Just remember, you want people paying attention to your ceremony, not reading their program trying to keep up. So you may want to note that you're walking down the aisle to Pachabel's Canon in D, but you don't need to tell the story of how you have always wanted to walk down the aisle to that song since you were a little girl.
4. In memoriam as we discussed above.
5. Any final notes. Are guests supposed to move to the garden for the cocktail hour? Do you want them to catch the bus that's out in the parking lot to take them to the reception? You can include a brief line at the end of your program about that.
Baum beauty via Pinterest
We have tons of ideas of how to incorporate programs into your ceremony. Contact us today!
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