making a program

[hummingbird521]

ok, i need some advice here. how does one go about making a program for the wedding? do i list all songs being played? not sure how i do this. could use all the advice i can get.

thanks,

[Kacie_bride]

It really depends on how your program is going to be. Is it just one sheet or paper, double folded, or tri-folded? On mine I plan to put our names and the date and the members of the wedding party our parents and the readings. It is really all up to what you want.

[WebLady]

Here us something I wrote about programs a while back, I thought it might help ....

Wedding Programs:

What is a Program and what is it's purpose? Lots of big events have programs, why not your wedding!? A wedding program is a pamphlet of sorts given to your guests. The program provides information to your guests about the wedding ceremony and who is involved. Sometimes they match the wedding invitations but it is not necessary.

What information should be included in a wedding program? A very basic wedding program will include; the bride and grooms name and wedding date along with the location of the ceremony, the order of the service and music performed/played, names and relationship of the wedding party (including parents), and a special thanks.

The program is basically made up of 4 parts ... 1. The introduction; which includes the bride and groom's names, and wedding date and usually includes some sort of a love or marriage quote. 2. The order of events; this is the part where you list the order of the ceremony and what music you will have played and you will also want to list the location and time of the ceremony. You may also want to have notes about special readings or announcements that will be made and whether or not it is ok to take flash pictures during the ceremony. 3. The wedding party acknowledgment; this is where you will list all the members of the wedding party and their relationship to you. Parents, grandparents, bridesmaids, groomsmen, etc. 4. The special thanks acknowledgement; this is where you say thanks for coming. You may also want to add a special thanks to your wedding vendors and/or special friends and family that may have helped make the day possible.

The most common style of wedding program is a bi-fold; similar to a greeting card, in this format you would have the introduction on the front, the wedding party acknowledgement on the inside left, the order of events on the inside right and then a special thanks acknowledgement on the back cover.

You can have programs made with an insert for additional and/or personal information such as; directions to the reception, a special note from the couple, memorial announcement, an appropriate poem, or the bride and grooms' new address.

There are tri-fold styles available too, kind of like a "wedding brochure"

Do I have to have one?: As far as we know, there is no etiquette that says you absolutely have to have a wedding program; but it is a great way to add a personal touch of "class" to the event for your guests. And it gives them a nice keepsake to remember the day.

* Tips: - Have a few extras made; keep one in your wedding album or scrapbook, and mail some out to those that were not able to attend the wedding.

- Have some fun with it; maybe have your programs read like a formal play program ... instead of just your names and wedding date on the front, you could have it read "A One Night Only Performance" and instead of just "Wedding Party" have it read "Cast (in order of appearance)" Then have the order of the ceremony read like a scene list. *(Ex: Act 1 - The Processional)

[WebLady]

Here is a sample 2 sided program

(LEFT SIDE)

The Marriage Ceremony Uniting
Jennifer Anne Marsh
and
James Christian Peterson

on Saturday, July 21, 2001
at three o'clock in the afternoon
St. Paul's Church
Butler, Kentucky


Prelude

Seating of Grandparents and Mothers .......... "In This Very Room" by Harris
Attendants' Processional .................................. "Canon in D" by Pachelbel
Bride's Processional ....................................... "Bridal Chorus" by Wagner
Greeting .................................................. ........................ Dr. Loveheart
Declaration of Intention .................................................. ... Dr. Loveheart
Prayer .................................................. ........................... Dr. Loveheart
Unity Candle - Parents .................................... "Parent's Prayer" by Davis
Scripture Reading - I Corinthians 13 ................................... Dr. Loveheart
Exchanging of Vows and Giving of Rings ............................. Rev. Peterson
Unity Candle - Bride and Groom ........................................ Rev. Peterson
Prayer .................................................. .......................... Rev. Peterson
Pronouncement and Benediction ........................................ Rev. Peterson
Presentation of Husband and Wife ..................................... Rev. Peterson
Recessional ......................................... "Wedding March" by Mendelssohn

-----------------------------

(RIGHT SIDE)

The Wedding Party

Parents
Mr. and Mrs. David A. Marsh
Rev. and Mrs. James C. Peterson Sr.

Grandmother of the Bride
Mrs. Lucy Bernard

Grandparents of the Groom
Cdr. and Mrs. George C. Hermanson
Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Peterson

Bridesmaids
Miss Kim Mendolson
Miss Orit Goldwax
Miss Lianne Peterson, Groom's sister

Groomsmen
Mr. Justin Taylor, Bride's cousin
Mr. Joseph Peterson, Groom's brother
Mr. Richard Peterson, Groom's brother

Flower Girl
Miss Lisa Sanchez, Groom's cousin

Ring Bearer
Mr. Costa Panopolis

Ushers
Mr. Alex Marsh, Bride's cousin
Mr. Bob Peterson, Groom's cousin

Officiating Ministers
Dr. Jeff Loveheart
Rev. Adam J. Peterson, Groom's father

Pianist
Mrs. Carol Roy

Wedding Director
Mrs. April Marsh, Bride's aunt

Guestbook Attendants
Mrs. Susan Marsh
Ms. Tanya Marsh

------------------------

If you wanted to add to it, you could have a special thanks from the couple on the back side and maybe directions to the reception if it was going to be at another location.

Hope this helps,

Best wishes :D

[hummingbird521]

thank you all this has been really helpful to me. i now have ideas on what and how to do it. the wedding ceremony itself includes words that the guests will have to say along with the pastor. so this helps me figure out how and where to list this. this is a great site for help. you ladies know what your doing.

[usahgrad]

My program is 6x6 once it's been folded in half. So on the front we put our names and the date, on the inside left side, we put a poem, a little thank you for coming, and a request that everyone turn off their cell phones and pagers during the ceremony, but also let them know that photography was allowed. On the inside right side, I did a brief schedule of the ceremony. What was going to happen when. And then on the back I put the important players; moms, dad, bridal party, etc. I kept my simple and basic though.

[gennymac]

Go over to the threads in the DIY section as there are several there about programs, what to say, how to say it, what they can look like, ideas for putting them together. Basically start with an outline of your wedding and then decide which parts of it you'll want to put into the program. Here is an example: We are having Amazing Grace played on bagpipes for the parents/grandparents who have passed away and cannot be with us. That tribute will be in the program with their names so people will understand why that song is being played at a certain point in the program.

Hope this helps ! Good luck.

[hummingbird521]

gennymac how sweet of you to do this. but we were married a little over a year ago now. lol. now i make wedding programs and invitations and things as a business.

[SerendipityCrafts]

LOL if you want to email me to remind me to do so .......... I will email you a copy of our program.

*I would forget my head if it were not attached*