Unique Wedding Programs

About Wedding Programs

A wedding program is a listing of ceremony events – prayers, readings, etc. – for guests to follow along with during the wedding, particularly if they are not familiar with the couple’s church, culture, or religious preferences. Many additional items can be included in a wedding program, however, and the most unique wedding programs are those that offer more than a basic listing and are more than just a simple slip of paper.

Options for Unique Wedding Programs

There are several ways to make a wedding program more than just a slip of paper with a list of events. Including unique content, choosing a unique design, and adding themed accents can turn an ordinary program into a stunning wedding keepsake.

Content

All programs include a basic list of the order of the wedding processional and other events that will occur during the ceremony. By adding explanations or other unique information to the program, it becomes a welcoming keepsake for guests to make them feel included and knowledgeable about the ceremony.

Items to print in the wedding program include:

• Short biographies of the bride, groom, and attendants
• The couple’s proposal story or engagement picture
• Explanations of the music and readings selected for the ceremony
• Memorial notes for deceased relatives or friends
• Explanations of cultural parts of the ceremony, such as a sand ceremony or other traditions
• Interesting facts about the location or guests, such as honoring grandparents’ long marriages
• Listing the bride’s something old, new, borrowed, and blue
• A thank you note or poem for attending guests
• Insertable games such as a wedding crossword or word search for any children at the wedding
• Bride and groom clipart or other free wedding clipart images
• A map or directions to the wedding reception

Design

Most wedding programs are simple designs. One-sided rectangles and bi-fold cards are the most popular choices, but selecting a unique card design, shape, color, or construction can make a program more unusual. Options include:

• Coordinating colors of the paper and ink with the wedding colors
• Opting for a tri-fold, folded booklet, or stacked booklet design
• Shaped programs such as a fan for an outdoor wedding, hearts, leaves for a fall theme wedding, or shells for a beach wedding
• Scalloped or artistically torn edges
• Unique papers, such as recycled paper or plantable seed paper
• Bold colors and multi-colored designs instead of simple monochrome programs

Accents

A simple accent added to a standard program can transform it into a coordinated piece of wedding stationery. Popular choices include:

Sealed with love.

• Ribbons
• Pressed or dried flowers
• Scents, especially floral or buttercream aromas
• Shells or sand dollars for beach weddings
• Crystals
• Wax seals of hearts or initials
• Shapes cut from the program such as bells, hearts, or crosses

Where to Find Unique Wedding Stationery

Many couples print their own programs to help control their wedding budget, but online companies also offer a range of unusual wedding programs that can be customized and personalized. Retailers featuring a variety of programs include:

• The Green Kangaroo
• Invitesite
• Wiregrass Weddings
• Blissful Details
• Now and Forever
• Invitation Consultants
• Designs by Ginny
• Weddings by Dezign

Program Alternatives

At many weddings, even attractive programs end up discarded after the ceremony. While a couple can request that guests recycle the programs, some couples choose alternatives to printed programs. One large mock-up of a program can be displayed at the ceremony site – usually near the entrance – for guests to read prior to the ceremony, or the officiant can explain different parts of the ceremony such as cultural traditions. A couple’s wedding website can also have a program listing that guests may print out if desired.

A wedding program is an informative introduction to the wedding ceremony, but unique wedding programs are much more. With a highly personalized and elegant décor, unique programs become prized mementos of a couple’s special day.