What goes in a wedding ceremony program
The cover carries your names, the date, the time and the venue. Inside is the order of service: the prelude and processional, the readings with who reads them, the vows, the rings and the recessional. Next comes the wedding party: the officiant, maid of honor and best man, bridesmaids and groomsmen side by side, the flower girl and ring bearer, and both sets of parents. The back is for a thank-you to your guests, a line in memory of loved ones and the code for the blessings page. If you are still choosing a reading, start with our Bible verses for a wedding.
Sizes, paper and formats
The folded program is a letter sheet folded to 5.5 × 8.5 inches with four panels; the flat program is a single 5.5 × 8.5 inch card printed on both sides; the fan is 5 × 7 inches. A 100–110 lb cardstock (about 270–300 gsm) in matte or linen finish holds up well in hand. You also get a matching 4 × 6 inch table card for the reception.
Wedding program examples
These are real files from the tool, printed from the same layout you see while you edit. The folded program puts the cover and the thank-you on the outside, and the order of service and wedding party on the inside spread. Long lists shrink together to fit, and if something still does not fit, the editor tells you which panel is over and how to fix it. Nothing is cut off without warning.
Wedding program fans
Program fans keep guests cool at summer and outdoor ceremonies while they follow along. The fan made here is 5 × 7 inches with rounded corners: your names, date and verse on the front, and the order of service on the back with the lower center left clear for the stick. Print both sides on heavy cardstock, cut along the outline and glue on a wooden fan stick. When the wedding party does not fit on a fan, the folded program carries it.
How to print wedding programs at home or at a print shop
Each format comes as two PDFs. The print-shop file is cut to size with a 1/8-inch bleed, so there is no white edge after trimming; ask for 100–110 lb cardstock and about 10 percent more copies than your guest count. The home file is laid out on letter paper: print at 100 percent (Actual size, not Fit to page), both sides, choosing “flip on short edge”. Fold the folded program in half, cut flat programs down the middle, and cut fans along the rounded outline with a trimmer or sharp scissors.
Ceremony program vs. invitation vs. table card
A wedding invitation is mailed weeks ahead and asks guests to come. A wedding ceremony program is handed out on the day and explains what is happening during the ceremony and who is part of it. A table card sits at the reception and greets guests at their seats. The code on your program and table card opens the same blessings page, so guests who cannot attend can read your verse and leave a blessing too. For verses about the years after the wedding, see Bible verses about marriage.
