Ceremony Programs (From a UK Bride POV)

[Nommi]

Hello...

I'm getting a little confused with Programs/Order of Service for the ceremony. Do we need to have them? We are not having any hymns so there won't be the need for hymn lyrics and I'm not entirely sure on what the Rev is planning on saying! He has sent me a VERY basic order of service list!

Did anyone do Programs - does anyone have any examples? I like the idea of guests having something to keep and I'm quite happy to have a go at making them, not sure what to put in them and if they are a big thing outside the UK?

Thanks in advance!

 

[roxysmum123]

You definitely don't need to have them. Most people won't read them, and they'll all end up chucked in the end. In my opinion they're one piece of stationary you can skip and use the money elsewhere. I love things like that, but even I just use it as a fan during the ceremony and then it ends up under the seat of my car for months until I remember to throw it out. It might be nice to do one or two up as keepsakes, but in no way is it necessary.

This is my opinion though, I'm sure some people will feel differently.

 

[Kate and Pete]

My husband is Greek Orthodox. His family has HUGE weddings - hundreds of people. The service is hours long, and in Greek, so programs are always done to help the few of us there who are not Greek Orthodox. (I'm the first non-Greek person to marry into the family!)

So, in cases where you need to have something explained (like the sand ceremony, or memorials, or who is in the wedding party and what their relationship is with the bride/groom [if you have a big wedding party]), it makes sense. Otherwise, not needed!

But, again, it's just my opinion - there's no right or wrong way to do it!

 

[lurkyloo]

While I agree that most Disney Wedding ceremonies are short and simple enough that they don't require a program to prevent confusion, we felt they were a great way to keep our guests interested in the ceremony and to let them know who was who in the wedding party.

Our musical selections were especially important to me, and the program was a way to share information about them with our guests. We also put in a personal message of gratitude to them for coming all that way to our wedding.

They looked like this:

 

[tinkerbell 766]

IMHO I think the programmes are lovely for a guest to have and keep them in touch with whats going on!!
I had a very small (12 guests) VR recently and made my own programmes. I was going to scan them and post them for you but my scanner doesn't seem to be playing at the moment!!! I made them myself and followed the basic order of service as e-mailed to me by my officiant and thr music that was accompanying each part of the ceremony (eg below)

Seating of the Guests
(A medley of classical favourites)

Paul's entrance
(Stairway to Heaven)

Etc, etc

I also included the readings

Reading - Excerpt from 'The Velveteen Rabbit'
(presented by Emily)

At the end I included an explanation note about the confetti, which included small paper hearts with quotes/character names from our favourite childhood books. This note also included a polite request that guests wait for our photographer's instruction before tossing their confetti, as we wanted to get a good 'confetti throwing' shot!!

I finished the programme with a note of thanks expressing our gratitute to our children, our officiant, musician, planner and photographer and thanking our guest for coming and for their unfailing love and support throughout our marriage.

I made our programmes myself and my guests loved them!!! It certainly did the trick with the confetti shot too, as we got a couple of great ones!!

One last thing - they make for pretty pictures too!!

 

[minniebride]

Our music selection is important to us as well & we wanted to share that part, plus we are having a Jewish ceremony & most of the guests are not Jewish so we felt that we program would be a good way to educate the guests a bit on the traditions they are watching!

I also agree that it makes a great photo!!

 

[minniebride]

IMHO I think the programmes are lovely for a guest to have and keep them in touch with whats going on!!
I had a very small (12 guests) VR recently and made my own programmes. I was going to scan them and post them for you but my scanner doesn't seem to be playing at the moment!!! I made them myself and followed the basic order of service as e-mailed to me by my officiant and thr music that was accompanying each part of the ceremony (eg below)

Seating of the Guests
(A medley of classical favourites)

Paul's entrance
(Stairway to Heaven)

Etc, etc

I also included the readings

Reading - Excerpt from 'The Velveteen Rabbit'
(presented by Emily)

At the end I included an explanation note about the confetti, which included small paper hearts with quotes/character names from our favourite childhood books. This note also included a polite request that guests wait for our photographer's instruction before tossing their confetti, as we wanted to get a good 'confetti throwing' shot!!

I finished the programme with a note of thanks expressing our gratitute to our children, our officiant, musician, planner and photographer and thanking our guest for coming and for their unfailing love and support throughout our marriage.

I made our programmes myself and my guests loved them!!! It certainly did the trick with the confetti shot too, as we got a couple of great ones!!

One last thing - they make for pretty pictures too!!

Joanne,
How did you get yours from blowing away? We are getting married at Crescent Terrace in December & I'm wondering if I should have ours tied to the chairs-?? Do you think Karen's crew would do that for us?

 

[kharmagirl]

One of my girlfriends got married in May and I'm getting married in September. Just before her wedding we discussed programs and she decided not to get them because she felt they were a waste and no one would take one and they would get thrown out. I was torn. Well, at her wedding I found myself just wondering who the people were who were walking in and I knew some of the people just from her talking about them but I couldn't remember their names and wanted to so I could say hello. Therefore I decided to do some small accordian programs. There are several tutorials on weddingbee.com. I just put in who was walking in, a list of people that the memorial candle is lit for (DF's father is one of them and he did not want him mentioned during the ceremony because he felt it was too depressing), and a thank you to the guests. On the back I listed some of our favorite quotes. I designed them in publisher and will print them out myself. I would supply a pic but I don't have them done yet...

 

[Nommi]

Thanks for all your replies, its really helpful!

I'm so used to seeing programs at weddings that it seemed weird not to make them, but because the REV gave us so little to work with, I was really unsure about what to put in them.

Really like the idea of mentioning songs and the people involved in the ceremony, so I think I'll try and pull something together.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Joanne,
How did you get yours from blowing away? We are getting married at Crescent Terrace in December & I'm wondering if I should have ours tied to the chairs-?? Do you think Karen's crew would do that for us?

Minnie sweetie - I am not really sure, I guess that we were just lucky that it wasn't too windy on the day!! I think also the plastic handles of the little paddle fans which were lying on top of them helped to keep them down!!
I am sure that Karen has come across this problem before and will have some ideas!!

 

[brer rabbit 28]

I love the idea of havng them as keepsakes for our Mums but I know that I will have to make them - and that means another job on the ever expanding wedding list! Might take a trip over to weddingbee.com and have a look.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Claire sweetie - mine were super easy to make (had to be for me to tackle it)!! If I can help at all, don't hesitate to ask!!

 

[roxysmum123]

I'd like to revise my post on this one. After a wedding I went to last night, with programs I would suggest to use them if there are any language barriers. Half the guests spoke english, half another language. Half the service was english, half the other language. There were no programs. I would have appreciated programs this time around so that when things were being done in a foreign language I could still understand where we were at in the ceremony and I'm sure the others would have appreciated a program in their language to explain the english parts.

 

[geek+nerd]

I think it depends on the type of service you are going for. We only had 14 guests, most of whom already knew one another. Our ceremony was short, and while I loved how some of the programs done by other DISbrides looked, I couldn't justify the expense or time needed to create them. And, like some other posters have said, most people will probably throw them out. Besides your moms, who is really going to save it? Think about it; have you ever saved a program from a wedding?

DH and I did want a keepsake. My mom and dad had our shower invitation, wedding invitation and schedule of events card from the wedding day professionally framed for us. It's beautiful and is hanging in our living room. If you really want a keepsake for your moms, could you do something like that instead of having to create something brand new?

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I agree with Linda that it depends on the type of service etc you are having, but have to say that since there were only 14 of us (us and 12 guests), I didn't spend much on them (time or money). They were a last minute decision, and I ended up making them in the last few days before we left for Florida, and once everything with the ceremony was finalized (we ended uo adding another reading in the week before our VR). I think I spent two hours or so printing and putting the programmes together. I am really glad I did them, as not only did it keep my guests abreast of what was happening, but it was also a tangible way to thank them and our vendors, and get the message across about the confetti!!

Naomi sweetie - If it is Rev Tim you are using, you will probably not get much detailed info from him until about a fortnight before your actual day. I left it until about a week away and then e-mailed hime regarding the service. He gave me a quick outline as to where the homily, the readings, exchange of vows, rings, blessings and prayers would be and I added in the music, titles of the readings and our own personal notes and thank-yous. I printed these details on two squares of white paper (making the two sheets as even as possible, as regards the amount of info on them and cut them to size. I took a sheet of A4 card, (the same as was used for our invitations) folded it book style, and stuck the information sheets evenly either side of the fold, leaving a coloured border around the edge. I then printed out a cover paper, stuck it on the front in the same way and embellished with stick-on crystals!!! Simples!!!! It may not have been the most professional job ever, but I liked the way they looked and my guests enjoyed them!!

 

[Nommi]

Naomi sweetie - If it is Rev Tim you are using, you will probably not get much detailed info from him until about a fortnight before your actual day. I left it until about a week away and then e-mailed hime regarding the service. He gave me a quick outline as to where the homily, the readings, exchange of vows, rings, blessings and prayers would be and I added in the music, titles of the readings and our own personal notes and thank-yous. I printed these details on two squares of white paper (making the two sheets as even as possible, as regards the amount of info on them and cut them to size. I took a sheet of A4 card, (the same as was used for our invitations) folded it book style, and stuck the information sheets evenly either side of the fold, leaving a coloured border around the edge. I then printed out a cover paper, stuck it on the front in the same way and embellished with stick-on crystals!!! Simples!!!! It may not have been the most professional job ever, but I liked the way they looked and my guests enjoyed them!!

It is indeed Rev Tim!! I was getting a little worried as he just sent me a very brief outline and I was getting a bit scared that I would never have a clue about what would happen! (Thank god for the rehearsal!)

I've done a little bit on Word, I think like you I'll use his brief outline then add my music choices, readings etc in. I know that not everyone will keep them and we only have 15 guests but I just like them look of them. Yours looked so cute!!

 

[brer rabbit 28]

Ah thank you Joanne. You are always so kind and helpful .

I think I might give them a go as a keepsake. I've been eyeing up some Mickey fans on Etsy too!