Wedding Ceremony Programs

With just 15 days to go, it's time to do some finalizing, and one of those bits is the creation of the wedding ceremony program. Is it necessary? No, but it's certainly helpful to the guests to know what's coming next, a great memento of the occasion and gives the couple a chance to give out a thank you to all those who came to the celebration. But what exactly should be included in the program?

1) The order of the ceremony: processional, Scripture readings, hominy, vows, rings, pronouncement of marriage, kiss and recessional.
2) Details: What is the music? What are the Scriptures? What is the title of the message? If there are specific religious traditions, it might help to explain these for guests of a different denomination or faith. Same goes for cultural traditions.
3) Wedding Party: Who are the maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, flower girl, ring bearer, master/mistress of ceremonies, officiant and ushers.
4) Personal thank you: This gives the couple a chance to thank their family, friends and co-workers for sharing in their day.
5) New address: Where will the couple be living?
6) Hashtag: To officially tell the guests how to tag all things wedding so the couple can see photos and posts on social media after the wedding.
7) Invitation to the Reception: Sometimes directions, a map and times are here.
8) Photos and bios: Sometimes couples will have information about how they met and their engagement photo.

Sometimes memoriams of deceased family members, poems, Bible verses, song lyrics and the like are also included in the program.

There are also clever presentations for programs. Some people turn their wedding programs into a fan. I even saw one with triangular pieces attached by a grommet at the point that spread into a fan. For outdoor and potentially warm weddings this is clever and helpful. Some are rolled like a scroll, trifold, several layers, or different shapes and colors. Mix fonts and colored printing. Just like the ceremony itself, you can make the program likewise.

As for the number, you can print out one for everyone, or one per family. The second is more cost efficient, of course.

So finalize those ceremony details and get ready to put it together. Make it uniquely you!

Discussion: What do you feel is necessary for the wedding program? What is unnecessary to you?

Prayer: Lord, you have told us to do things decently in and in order and the wedding program helps keep everyone on the same page, literally. We thank you, Father, that you are a God of order. May your presence be all over these programs. In Christ, Amen.

Uniquely God's

I wept a few times yesterday. I was putting together a binder of the wedding ceremony for your Daddy. While reading through the vows, exchanging of the rings, declaration of marriage and introduction of the newlyweds, I kept wiping away tears. I could hear my daughter and her fiance reciting the words and kept getting choked up. But that didn't get me nearly as much as a decision Ayla made. I asked her what she wanted to walk down the aisle to, and she said she was thinking about using a segment of the song "Your Hands Are Cold" from Pride & Prejudice by Dario Marianelli. This is one of my favorite songs of all time. To me it is the perfect blend of piano and violin in a breathtaking crescendo that is euphoric. Plus, cinematically, Darcy is walking through the fog in the wee hours of the morning to the woman who bewitched him body and soul. Ahhh, so romantic. The same piece of music is used earlier in the film when Elizabeth stands precariously on the edge of a jutting rock over a cliff in the Peak District of the United Kingdom, the wind blowing through her hair and whipping back her coat as she thinks about Darcy. But to top that all off, that portion of the song has been the ringtone on my cellphone for Ayla for the last three years. When that song plays, I think of my daughter. So to hear that is what she wants to walk down the aisle to her beloved got me all teary eyed again. How will I ever get through this service?

Special touching moments like this make your wedding ceremony yours. While the service itself is about worship of the Almighty and professing sacred vows before him, adding individual touches unique to the couple make it even more distinct and personal. Themes, colors, decorations and music mold the worship service into a microcosm example of what each couple is as a God-selected team, made up of two gifted, talented, crafted souls.

I am so looking forward to celebrating this wedding day with my daughter and future son-in-law in just 16 days. And looking forward to celebrating an equally unique celebration with Anton and Kayla next June. I am proud of these couples and what they are selecting to do in their ceremonies and receptions. But mostly grateful that though they are each very different personalities, each are created in God's image and will be glorifying Him in every aspect of their marriage celebrations. Praising Him for Who He is and thanking Him for what He has made ... especially the musical talent of Marianelli and a song that has multiple, precious meanings for us and now yet a new one to come on this most important of days.

Discussion: What are some unique aspects of your wedding that are representative of you as individuals and as a couple? How do those moments glorify the Lord?

Prayer: Lord God, you are so amazing and we proclaim your name and lift our holy hands in praise to you. Thank you for the uniqueness in each of us. We pray we reflect your character as we go about our daily lives. And we pray the personal touches of our weddings, reflect you as well. In Jesus, Amen.