Wedding Programs From Around The World

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the wedding party and guests – and finally, the wedding program. While it may seem like an afterthought, wedding programs can be one of the most memorable parts of the big day.

Elegant Vines

The wedding is a day that you will remember for the rest of your life. It is a moment to celebrate and honor love. Most weddings have programs for guests so they know what is going on throughout the ceremony and reception. 

These programs are usually handed out at entrances, tables, or with other promotional materials, but some couples choose to create custom versions with their own wording and artwork.  

What’s in the personalized wedding menus varies from culture to culture, but it typically includes: who officiates; when, and where; names of the bride and groom; introduction music (processional); religious text or quotes (a Christian example would be Love is patient, love is kind); who presents gifts; names of all bridesmaids/groomsmen; recessional song (exit music); signature drink information; and sometimes an order of events. 

Traditionally, this paper gets tossed into a fireplace or onto the couple as they exit after saying I do. Today, many people frame these pieces of art instead. Here are some examples of wonderful wedding programs template from around the world. If you’re looking for more information about creating your own personalized version, check out blogs like Wedding Paper Divas. They give tips on what to include and where to find unique inspiration.

Classic Simplicity

In many cultures, wedding programs are less about the bride and groom’s story and more about announcing the celebration. They serve as a way to get the word out to guests that there’s an event they should attend. 

Traditionally, they’ll list each member of the wedding party (including parents), so-called honor attendants who may help with things like holding up trains or reading letters at a ceremony, and any person who will offer a prayer during the service. There might also be information about where the reception will take place and any transportation arrangements necessary for guests. 

At Jewish weddings, for instance, this often includes where to park your car! Guests can find all the info they need on their invitations, but it’s helpful to have it on paper too. When picking out programs, try something classic with little adornment that won’t distract from what you’re trying to communicate. 

You want something elegant enough for such an important day without being showy or over the top–a nice white linen cardstock is perfect. For languages that use non-Latin characters, don’t forget to consider how these scripts will appear in English. 

If you’re worried about having trouble copying them yourself, ask for help from someone fluent in both languages; if not, just type them into Google Translate before printing. For those in the United States, most stores carry generic stock art of brides and grooms holding hands while posing against backdrops of lily ponds or sunsets.

Alluring Aubrey

The wedding program can be an important part of the ceremony or reception. It is a formal document that lists key people and their roles, vows, and other important information. Wedding programs come in many shapes and sizes. It’s up to you to make it as formal or casual as you want. You can use your wedding colors, favorite font, logo, or anything else that represents you and your partner.   

There are two ways to arrange a wedding program: horizontal or vertical layout. A horizontal layout has all the names on one side of the paper, then has each table on the other side with its name. A vertical layout has all names on top with tables below them in order by seating position so you know where everyone should sit at their table. 

Other than orientation, there is not much difference between these two layouts. Other tips for creating your wedding program include using something like fonts from The Hunger Games if you’re having a post-apocalyptic theme and designing something with flowers if that’s what you’re into. Lastly, don’t forget to include RSVP cards.

Ornate Baroque

Traditional wedding programs from the Baroque period of art can be seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Wedding programs from this time are typically very ornate and detailed, with delicate borders, gold edging, and elaborate illustrations. 

Such a program might display a day’s schedule for the bride and groom as well as their family members. The tradition was to print these on silk paper or parchment, usually using two colors of ink. These days, you can find pre-printed templates online to print yourself on cardstock. If you want something more personal, try getting custom stationery designed. 

You can also buy ready-made cards that include spaces for writing your own text (like Kate Spade) or pre-written ones which will have a line for Bride’s name and Groom’s name at the top but then allow you to customize all other lines to your liking (examples: Paperless Post). 

I think it would be fun if our guests wrote short messages to us on these because they could say whatever they wanted! I like Paperless Post because they don’t charge per page, so it doesn’t matter how many lines we fill up.