This post is sponsored by Minted.com
A wedding program letting your guests know the 411 is practically non-negotiable, so why not make it a memorable one?
Whether you choose a low-maintenance chalkboard to address all of your guests at once or a unique wedding program for each guest, everyone needs the deets! (We’re suckers for that chalkboard aesthetic, btw. Have a look at our list of fabulous chalkboard wedding invites and you’ll see why!)
We’ll show you some unique wedding program ideas and answer some of the most commonly asked questions about this important ceremony feature. Let’s get started!
Fun & Whimsical Wedding Programs
1. The Love Birds
by Minted: Morgan Ramberg
We can’t get enough of the sweet birds and artistic flowers adorning this wedding program. The design strikes the perfect balance of whimsy and romance! It comes in three fantastic color themes, too.
Bonus: Minted offers an entire wedding stationery suite with the same design with everything you’ll need, from wedding invitations to favor stickers to a customized wedding website just for you!
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Flat Card
2. Wedding Program Bags
by Zazzle: Creative Union Design
Wedding program bags are trending right now, probably because they are cute while being functional, too. They come in kraft, ecru, and white.
As of right now, it looks like they’re sold out of ecru, but by the time you read this, it may be back. (We thought you really can’t go wrong with the white or kraft anyway.)
Fill each bag with favors, biodegradable confetti, flower petals, little mints – your imagination’s the limit. They’re 100% food safe.
Dimensions: 5 x 8 inches
Sold in sets of 50
3. Summer Palm
by Minted: Baumbirdy
When we saw these, we immediately thought of the carnival-themed weddings we’ve featured on the site in the past. They’re so much fun, and the sky’s the limit when it comes to color themes!
If you love the idea of a vintage big-top wedding theme or an Adventure in Wonderland, step right up – we’re right there with ‘ya. Comes in four color themes.
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Flat Card
4. Modern Infographic Wedding Program
by Etsy: PuffPaperCo
There are a few versions of these out there, we just happened to like this one best. It’s hilarious, and the activities on the back are a fun idea for keeping your guests occupied (weddings often have a lot of downtime).
We also like that you can leave it up to PuffPaperCo to personalize them and print or opt to download and print them on your own.
Dimensions: 5 x 7 inches
Printing: Standard or Downloadable
Card Type: Flat Card
Vintage Chic Wedding Programs
5. Art Deco Foil-Pressed
by Minted: Katie Zimpel
These wedding programs are nothing short of exquisite! Your guests will automatically feel like they’ve been transported to 1940’s Hollywood to hobnob with the stars of the silver screen. Comes in three color themes and eight foil choices.
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Foil-pressed
Card Type: Flat Card
6. Floral Mosaic
by Minted: GeekInk Design
Speaking of the silver screen. Ever seen Anita Ekberg in the famous “fountain scene” from the movie La Dolce Vita? In it, she frolics in a Roman fountain wearing a busty, low-cut evening gown.
Well, for us, mosaic designs inevitably conjure images of Italian grottos or Greek bathhouses. So did these programs.
So classic. So sexy. Like Anita in that gown.
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Flat Card
7. Art Deco Gold and Burgundy Ceremony Program
by Zazzle: Beverly Claire Vintage Love
Rich burgundy and shining gold are such a dramatic combination, perfect for an evening art-deco wedding. Champagne tower? Check. Top hat and tails? Check. Jay Gatsby? Nope, he’s fictitious. Sorry.
Comes in two luxe colors.
Dimensions: 5 x 7 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Flat Card
8. Vintage Peacock
by Zazzle: AudreyJeanne
This program is fantastic! Vintage elegance at its finest – we envision Victorian lace, sconces, candelabras, ALL the things. The best part? We’ve got indoor plumbing, air conditioning, and makeup isn’t lead-based anymore! Score!
Dimensions: Size: 8.5 x 11 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Flat Card
Destination Inspired Wedding Programs
9. Tropical Bouquet
by Minted: Elly
You can’t get much more memorable than a destination wedding in a warm, tropical getaway. Lazy days on the beach, tiki bars, drinks from coconuts – your guests will love these programs almost as much as they’ll love the vacay! Comes in three exotic color themes.
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Flat Card
10. Mountain Side Sketch
by Minted: Jessie Steury
A ski-lodge wedding in the majestic mountains is incredible, too. We think the foil accents on this wedding program perfectly reflect the magic of the scenery. Comes in four color themes and eight foil colors perfect for any palette.
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Gold Foil
Card Type: Flat Card
11. Hearts in the Sand
by Zazzle: Ava Paperie
Perfect for a more casual summer beach wedding. We think the cute heart design on this program is so romantic!
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Flat Card
Outdoor Wedding Programs
12. Wedding Program Fan Damask
by Etsy: MayaGracePrintz
Help your guests out during that ceremony in the sun with a wedding program fan! The color theme on this one is so fresh, too. Black, white, and vivid turquoise are the perfect combo for a bright springtime wedding.
Dimensions: 7 x 7 inches
Comes in sets of 20
13. Starry Skies Summer Wedding
by Minted: Kelly Schmidt
What’s more romantic than twilight in the summertime? Starry skies, fireflies, balmy weather. We can practically smell the fresh-cut grass and night-blooming jasmine! This lovely program comes in four rich colors.
By the way, this is another one of those programs from Minted that are part of a more extensive wedding stationery set, including your custom wedding website!
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Flat Card
14. Nighttime Rooftop
by Minted: Sumak Studio
The marble pattern featured on these wedding programs reminds us of a rooftop wedding overlooking the city lights at night. All five color themes are so sophisticated, and the subtle glittering foil accents make them extra special. Comes in your choice of eight foil colors.
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Foil-Pressed
Card Type: Flat Card
15. Lush Greenery – Boho Garden
by Minted: Phrosne Ras
We LOVE a daytime brunch wedding at a garden or country club, and these were practically made for it! Sweet and delicate flowers bordering elegant font – so romantic. Comes in seven color themes.
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Flat Card
16. Bottle Tag Program
by Etsy: CiaoBellaStudio
Another excellent program idea for a warm summer wedding. The rustic vibe and practicality of these bottle tags will perfectly complement a backyard or DIY wedding. Line them up on the table as they arrive – your guests will appreciate it!
These programs are downloadable, so they give you the freedom to choose whichever paper or card stock you wish for printing. Easy peasy.
Dimensions: 3.5 x 9.5 inches
Card Type: PDF Download
City Wedding Programs
17. Love in the City
by: Minted: Shiny Penny Studio
Whether it’s on a rooftop or in a chic modern venue, city weddings are fabulous if getting dressed up and hitting the town is more your speed! We think the graphic design of these programs is an excellent complement to an urban wedding, complete with skyline sketches. Comes in eight color themes.
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Flat Card
18. Newspaper Program
by Etsy: SLCreativeDesigns
Read all about it! When newspaper programs hit the scene a few years back, we thought they were so charming! They’re great for a city-themed wedding, but we’ve seen them featured in vintage weddings, too. Either way, your guests will get a kick out of them on the big day. (And they’ll appreciate the crossword on the back while they wait.)
Dimensions: 8.5 x 11 inches
Printing: Vellum
Card Type: Flat Card
19. Sheet Music
by Zazzle: Go4Wedding
We included this program here because the first thing that came to mind was a sophisticated museum wedding with a string quartet. Never seen a museum wedding venue? Check out this one at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. Gorgeous.
Dimensions: 4 x 9 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Flat Card
High Art Wedding Programs
20. Bold Geometric
by Minted: Morgan Kendall
While we’re on the subject of art museums – if you read our post on the Top 15 Wedding Blogs for 2021, you may remember how we mentioned the uptick in weddings with an artistic flair.
The juxtaposition of color and geometric design featured on this program is just one example of how that may look. Comes in eight vibrant color themes to match virtually anything.
Again, this design is available in a full array of wedding stationery along with your very own customized website through Minted.
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Flat Card
21. Luxe
by Minted: Elly
Shimmering accents in an organic, flowing pattern make this wedding program design unique, and its elegance would fit beautifully in any ceremony.
Comes in five beautiful colors and your choice of eight foils.
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Foil-Pressed
Card Type: Flat Card
22. Abstract Watercolor
by Etsy: ThePaperedWedding
Watercolors are always a dramatic touch to any wedding decor or stationery, and the color combinations here are no exception! You can opt to print them yourself or let the skilled artisans at ThePaperedWedding do the job.
Dimensions: 5 x 7 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Folded
Charming Rustic Wedding Programs
23. Lovely Winter Land
by Minted: Petra Kern
It never ceases to amaze how a skilled artist can take a simple design and turn it into something so expressive.
If you’re having an elegant rustic wedding in the wintertime, this program is just perfect. Simple font, a sprig of fragrant evergreen, and luxe paper make a great combo!
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Flat Card
24. Simple Heart
by Zazzle: Blondie Graphics
We really like the sweet little heart featured on this wedding program, and the typeset font is just perfect for those who’d like a rustic wedding with a unique flair!
Comes in three size options.
25. Mason Jar Fans
by Zazzle: CardHunter
Another neat fan program option if you’re throwing an outdoor barnyard wedding complete with mason jars, fairy lights, and barn door accents. We’re gonna make a crazy prediction and say that rustic country weddings aren’t going out of fashion any time soon, and that’s just fine with us!
Comes in four shapes, sold in sets of ten.
Classic Romance
26. Classically Us
by Minted: Simona Camp
Your wedding is all about celebrating how great you are together, so why not feature your favorite engagement pic on your stationery? It’s super romantic and makes for a gorgeous design option – we especially like the elegant font featured on this wedding program.
Dimensions: 4 x 9.375 inches
Printing: Standard
Card Type: Flat Card
27. Elegant Hydrangea
by Zazzle: RusticWeddings
We really like this program in particular because of the white and gold combo. White flowers are classically romantic, perfect for a black-tie affair in a glittering ballroom. And, everyone loves hydrangeas, am I right? Comes in three sizes.
Wedding Program Wording and Etiquette
Let’s begin at the beginning, shall we?
What’s a wedding program for, exactly?
A traditional wedding program provides information for everything the guests need to know about the details of the day. Usually, it features:
- The wedding ceremony date and starting time.
- The order of events during the ceremony. (Include things like readings, the ceremony music, blessings, etc.)
- The location and timing of the wedding reception.
A program really comes in handy if there are components to the ceremony you’d like to spotlight. For instance, having a multi-cultural wedding may include an explanation of the beautiful traditions from each that you’d like to showcase in your program.
You don’t have to have a wedding program, of course. There’s an easy way to decide if you need one: put yourself in your guests’ place.
Would you like to know the meaning behind the particular music or readings for the ceremony? Would you feel a little more at ease having detailed instructions on where and what time the reception is on hand?
See? A program is helpful for your guests in all sorts of ways.
What do you write in a wedding program?
This can be a bit trickier, especially if you’d like to list the members of your wedding party on your program. Families are seldom cookie-cutter these days, and most have questions about how to list your parents’ names, if you should you list your step-parents, whose name goes first on the wedding program, etc.
Rules of thumb
- Begin with your names.
- Then, if you’d like, name the officiant and anyone else your guests will focus on upfront.
- List the wedding party in order of appearance.
- List your parents and siblings (if you’d like)
Relatively straightforward, right?
Like we said above, this traditional outline isn’t for everyone. For those situations of half-siblings, step-parents, and everyone else that doesn’t fit the “template,” use your best judgment.
For example, if you adore your step-mom and she’s bent over backward to help with this whole wedding business, why not include her? If there’s triflin’ over that from Aunt Susie (or your mom, quelle horreur!), remember that it’s your wedding. If they care about you, they’ll move past it.
If in doubt, or if you have good reason to think listing names on the program may cause some static, don’t list names! Or just include those up at the altar by your side, like the bridal party, groomsmen, flower girls, and ring bearers.
Program Your Plan
Plenty of soon-to-be brides (and grooms!) experience butterflies when drawing up the wedding programs. The reality of it all sinks way in when you see the details of your day on paper.
It’s exciting, and you should try to enjoy every second of it. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools at your disposal (like that wedding program) designed to take some stuff off your plate so you can enjoy the process and take it all in.
Happy planning!
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