Baton Rouge Wedding Programs

Baton Rouge Wedding Tips from Capital Entertainment

If you are on a tight budget or if you are contemplating not having wedding programs, there are a few things you should consider before you make your final decision. While wedding programs are not "required" in formal wedding etiquette, but it is a good idea to have them if you:

1. Are having a large wedding, where most people won't know or recognize member of the wedding party.

2. If you have several people you need to thank for making your big day possible, such as your wedding planner, bridal assistant, music coordinator, etc.

3. If you are having a religious or traditional wedding, where you will need to highlight the order of ceremony, so that guests who aren't familiar with that type ceremony can follow along.

4. If you are having a long ceremony, where guests will have to prepare to wait a long time, it would be a good idea to have a program that outlines that for them.

If you are having a small, intimate ceremony with only family and close friends, then programs aren't really necessary. Once you have decided whether or not you are going to have them, here are some basic tips to follow when you are constructing your wedding program.

Program types:

The two most popular types of wedding programs are the booklet program and the double-sided flat program. The booklet program usually has two holes in it and all the pages are tied together with ribbon that matches your wedding colors. Each page is something different, for instance, the first page might be the introduction with your names and wedding date, the second page may list the wedding party, the third may outline the ceremony, and the fourth page may be for you to say thanks. The double-sided flat program condenses the above information on the front and back of a piece of flat card stock. You can dress it up, by adorning it with a little bow and a piece of vellum. You can also make them read easily by having the ceremony outline and directions to the reception on the back, and your names, wedding date, wedding party, and special thanks on the front. You can set either type up however you want, just make sure they read easily and that the ceremony outline is easy to follow.

Program cover:

The wedding program cover usually consists of you and your fiance's names, your wedding date, and possibly an engagement photo or a beautiful design that matches your wedding invitations.

The Ceremony Outline:

This is where you will list what will happen during your ceremony. For instance, your ceremony may include processional music, greeting, readings, prayers, exchange of vows, ring ceremony, unity candle ceremony, pronouncement of marriage, recessional music, and maybe some extra ceremony music. While your ceremony may not include some of these things, or some extra traditions not listed here, you can usually get a good list of things to include from your officiate.

Bridal Party Members:

This is just a simple list of the people in your bridal party and you should include people such as parents of the bride and groom, grandparents, readers and the officiate, as well as your maid of honor, bridesmaids, best man, groomsmen, flower girl, and ring bearer. It is also nice when listing party members such as the bridesmaids to also list how you know them. For instance:

Maid of Honor: Sarah Brown (sister of the bride)

Bridesmaids: Josie Richards (friend of the bride) & Amanda Hall (sister of the groom)

Extra Things You May Want To Include:

In addition to the above information, here are some extra things you may want to include:

1. An explanation of traditions or rituals used in your ceremony. This is important if you are having a Jewish, Catholic, or Hindu ceremony, and some of the guests that who will be in attendance won't be familiar with what is going on throughout the ceremony.

2. Requests for the audiences' participation. This is important if you want them to participate in communion, affirmation of the marriage, or singing as is required in some traditional wedding ceremonies.

3. Memorials. If you are planning on lighting the unity candle in honor of someone, then you should let your guest know. If you have some family members that are no longer with you, but you would still like to honor them, you can make that known as well. For instance: "We would like to thank you all for sharing in our happiness and we would like to honor those who are no longer with us: Owen Brown (grandfather of the bride), Shirley Hall (grandmother of the groom), and Adam Reece (cousin of the groom)."A good thing to keep in mind is that memorials usually are only in honor of family, but if you and your fiance have a mutual friend that has passed on, don't hesitate to honor them as well.

4. An explanation of the significance of the location. If your ceremony or reception location means something special to you and your fiance, let your guest know. For instance: "The ceremony is being held here at Springfield Methodist Church, the site of the bride's baptism." or "The reception is being held at Springfield Valley Country Club, the site of the groom's parents wedding reception in 1975."