Put the guest's next question first
List the ceremony start, reception location and the next major event clearly. Use a venue name beside an address when guests will travel between locations. Keep private vendor timings, setup instructions and surprise plans out of the guest version.
Make the ceremony easy to follow
Include the order of service when it will help guests participate. Spell out unfamiliar traditions briefly and identify readings or speakers. A newspaper can hold more context than a single program card, but short explanations are easier to use during the ceremony.
Introduce the people who matter
Pair a portrait with a name, role and a sentence about your connection. Include pronunciation help only where useful. Check spellings and ask people whether they are comfortable with a photograph and personal anecdote being shared.
Plan where guests will find it
Place copies at the ceremony entrance, on chairs or in welcome bags. Decide whether you want one per guest or one per household and keep a few spare copies. If it doubles as a weekend guide, hand it out early enough for the information to be useful.
ON THE PAGE
A closer look at the design.
Actual sample pages from Modern Romance. Open a page to explore the PDF. Replace the fictional details and sample photographs with your own.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Before you make it yours
- Guest-facing schedule, not the vendor run sheet
- Names and ceremony roles checked
- Travel between venues explained
- A clear plan for distributing copies
GOOD TO KNOW
A few things you might be wondering.
Can this replace a traditional ceremony program?
Yes, if the ceremony information guests need is included and easy to find. For a long service, consider a separate order-of-service insert.
Should I include exact times for everything?
Include confirmed arrival and transport times. Broad labels such as dinner followed by dancing may be more useful than minute-by-minute reception timings.
