Wedding program etiquette
It's interesting:"Best man speech writing put this challenge into sharp relief: You are not a professional comedian (at least we don't think you are), but everyone at that wedding ..."
According to etiquette and design maven Martha Stewart, wedding programs are not a necessary component of any type of wedding service. It is perfectly fine for a couple to decide not to use programs at all. Programs are, however, a special touch that can help personalize the ceremony and provide a keepsake of the special day for the bride and groom as well as for their guests.
Purpose of a Program
Wedding programs provide a basic order of the wedding ceremony's events as well as the names of the wedding party, other important family members, officiant, readers and other participants. Programs can include words to hymns or songs and explanations of different symbols used throughout the ceremony. Since wedding programs are not viewed as a necessity, there is no strict etiquette regarding what's included in the programs- you can be as creative or basic as you'd like. The tone and style of a wedding can be established by using a certain fonts and types of language within the program. For example, a bold and modern program that uses the participants' first names only and an abbreviated date convey a casual tone while a more classically worded program might be used to denote a more formal occasion.
Basic Information
At a minimum, most programs will include the names of the bride and groom as well as the location and date of the wedding. According to wedding-planning site The Knot, it's best to keep your wording simple and brief when creating a program since guests should be able to read the program between the time they are seated and the beginning of the ceremony. A concise order of the ceremony is incorporated- any readings or hymns are usually listed. Martha Stewart's wedding-planning guide recommends that a program include the names of the participants as well as a brief description of their relationships to the bride and groom. This can be a good way to help the audience attach faces to names they might recognize. It is good etiquette for the bride and groom to include a thank-you message to their parents to any other people special people they'd like to thank. It is also considered appropriate to include a memorial for deceased family members. As a nice touch, many programs recognize the musicians who take part in the ceremony as a way to thank them for their contribution.
Extra Information
Since there are no formal rules regarding programs, couples can allow their creativity to shine. Many brides and grooms like to use the program to share a special verse or poem. Pictures can be included if the bride and groom wish, and some couples even include the story of their proposal or their first meeting. If the wedding couple decides to use any cultural or religious customs within the ceremony, the program would be a good place to describe their meanings. Ceremonies can be crowded, and it can be hard for some guests to hear vows, readings and songs, so many programs customarily include the words to these parts of the ceremony so that guests can appreciate their significance. This can be especially valuable when the bride and groom have written their own vows. If any components of the ceremony take place in a language that some of your guests do not speak, translations may be appreciated.
The Knot suggests that the distribution of programs to wedding guests is also flexible. Some couples ask special friends or family members to pass them out as guests arrive while others place the programs in a decorated basket or tray and allow guests to take their own.
Tags: bride groom, family members, bride groom well, groom well, include names, include words, many programsSource: www.ehow.com
