The concept of organized wedding programs are as old as the history of marriage itself. Weddings have always involved certain rituals, in every culture around the world, whether it be a printed ceremony guide or a spoken tradition handed down through the generations. Marriage itself is a piece of fabric that has been woven into the collective consciousness of mankind, regardless of race, creed, religion, sex or geological location. It is the expression of the need to have another person in your life that loves you, cares about you, and will be there for you regardless of the superficial circumstances that surround you. With this realization in mind, it is no surprise that these ceremonies are of great importance to those that partake in them.

Wedding programs provide a basic outline and literary orientation for a marriage ceremony. In other words, they let the guests know how the ceremony will be conducted, and in which order the events of the ceremony will take place. They also list the participants of the ceremony, also known as the wedding party. If you are planning an upcoming wedding, then for the convenience of your guests you will want to make sure they will have access to the best wedding program possible. The wedding programs are handed out at the beginning of the wedding upon the guests entrance, so that they are fully informed from the time the ceremony begins.

A wedding program is normally composed of four parts; the introduction, the ceremony order, the names of the attending wedding party, and the closure also known as a special note. The introduction contains the names of the bride and groom, as well as the time, day of the week, date, and location (including city and state) of the ceremony. The ceremony order describe the segments such as the processional, prelude, seating, vows, and readings that will occur during the ceremony. You can also include the titles and/or lyrics of the songs that will be played, and even the wording of prayers here. In the wedding party section all of the participants of the wedding are listed. You should use full names instead of nicknames, and use formal titles like Miss, Mr. and Ms. The last part of the wedding program will include a closure or a special note, which thanks your guests and the hosts of the wedding. You can also use the closing to honor a deceased family member or friend. It is best to end the program with a quote or poem to make your program more memorable.

The following is an example of a wedding ceremony program wording. This is not a comprehensive example of all of the elements necessary, but this guide will help you organize the wedding program.

The Marriage Ceremony Uniting

Jeffrey Jones
and
Lisa Smith
on Friday, February 1, 2009
at 6:30 in the evening
St. Joseph's Church
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Prelude .......................... "You Came Along"
Solo .................................."Love is in the Air"
Lighting of the Candles
Seating of the Mothers
Processional ................"Canon in D"
Invocation
Wedding Message .........Rev. John Paisley
Solo ..................................."On Bended Knee"
Exchange of vows
Exchange of rings
Announcement of marriage
Solo .................................."Forever More"
Presentation of the Bride and Groom
Recessional ..................."Ode to Joy"