How to Write Your Wedding Program in Microsoft Word

Elegant Wedding Program You Can Do Yourself

By Lolaness, published Dec 20, 2005
Published Content: 474  Total Views: 2,729,392  Favorited By: 169 CPs
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Right up there with your wedding invitations and thank you notes are the wedding programs. They’re not mandatory, but they make a wonderful keepsake and help your guests feel part of the ceremony by knowing things like what readings and music will be performed, and what rituals will be included in the ceremony.

About the Program

Wedding programs can be as simple as a single printed sheet of paper or as complex as a color-printed, bound booklet. What’s most popular? Something in between the simple and the complex, things like several pages folded book-style and held together by ribbon in your wedding colors.

You basically have three options when it comes to how you make your wedding program.

1.Design it on a computer with a word-processing program and print out your copies on nice cotton, vellum, or parchment paper.

2.Design it on complex software like Pagemaker or in a graphics program like Photoshop if you have the skills necessary.

3.Order the programs from an invitation catalog or your local print shop.

Of course, we like doing things ourselves because it saves some money and lets us add our own unique touches that no print shop can give. So as we move on to how we’re going to make our wedding programs in Microsoft Word, let’s remember that a basic wedding program should include the following things:

•Both of your names and the wedding date, either on the cover or at the top of the page if you choose to create a single sheet.

•The names of members of the wedding party (bridesmaids, best man, flower girl, etc.) and the names of people who are performing readings or music.

•The names of both of your parents, and the name of the person performing the ceremony.

•A break-down of the events of the ceremony, so that your guests can follow along and feel more a part of the action.

•If your ceremony includes rituals that some people might not be familiar with, give a brief overview of the significance of the ritual.

•Include any specific instructions for guests if applicable.

Making the Program in Microsoft Word

Takeaways
  • Collect quotes and gather information before you type.
  • Use pretty fonts and different font sizes to add a professional pizzazz.
  • Print on quality cotton, vellum, or parchment paper and secure with ribbon.
Did You Know?
A new trend is for officiants to stand with their back to the guests, so that the couple is facing them - this lets the guests feel more part of the ceremony, and they can better hear the vows.
Comments
Showing Comments 1 - 15 of 15
 
 
argh this was nice till i tried to make my own. i got it all done then it refused to print the text and graphics on the same side of the page. then when i tried to print the opposide side of the page it would print up side down.... when folded in half... im at a loss at what to do now.

Posted on 02/01/2008 at 8:02:21 PM

 
I did not think the instructions were user friendly-I think the pages in the instuctions are not in the correct order. It was easier for me to create my own format.

Posted on 12/14/2007 at 9:12:56 PM

 
The directions are correct and made an awesome pamphlet! Use the "2 Sheets per sheet" When the document comes up it will not look landscape or two sheets, but it comes out like a book when you print. Pay attention to the pages, that is the hardest part.

Posted on 09/19/2007 at 7:09:00 AM

 
Thanks so much! I am getting married in 31 days and I was worried I would not be able to get my programs done. Now I have it under control. Thanks again!

Posted on 09/05/2007 at 6:09:00 AM

 
Thank God for Matt and Nicole's advice, I'm sure it saved me a lot of frustration and time! Thank God for these areas to submit feedback too!!!

Posted on 09/02/2007 at 6:09:00 PM

 
This doesn't work at all. I am so frustrated I could puke.

Posted on 08/08/2007 at 9:08:00 AM

 
the article was very helpful with wording and such, but yes, the printing instructions are incorrect. in word, you do NOT have to make page 1 page 4 of your program. just stick to like how you think you would do it...page 1 being the cover, page two being the wedding party, page 3 being the ceremony outline, and page 4 being the back of the program. when you go to print it, just check-mark "manual duplex" when the printing screen comes up and it should work!!

Posted on 07/29/2007 at 9:07:00 PM

 
Follow the exact instructions except change "Book Fold" to "2 pages per Sheet". It will then print so you can fold it over - you will have to play with how you line up the paper when you reload one side to print on the other

Posted on 07/11/2007 at 9:07:00 AM

 
I just don't know how to do it.

Posted on 05/14/2007 at 12:05:00 PM

 
Nicole's instruction worked for me when it came to printing the wedding programs, the rest of the article helped me create the programs. Thanks a lot.

Posted on 04/13/2007 at 12:04:00 AM

 
This was so very helpful. I was going crazy trying to figure it out. Just to let everyone know that if you are doing a Wedding program you want to hit "2 pages per sheet" instead of "Book fold". This will allow it to print all one one page and than it is Wedding Program ready. Make sure to print this out on regular paper first. That way you do not waste any of your Wedding programs. I also would suggest that you write on a blant sheet of paper first and then print so that you know which way to put the paper in also cutting down on wasted Wedding programs. Once again thanks for putting me in the right directions to print these.

Posted on 03/17/2007 at 8:03:00 PM

 
How did yall manage to print yours? I ended up doing a second one in word, because this one I never could figure out.. When I did I used columns and I noticed that when I tried to print in front and back side it would be upside down from the other page.. and would open wierd.. - Please tell me how to print using THIS method!

Posted on 02/14/2007 at 10:02:00 AM

 
I thought I was pretty computer savvy, but never could figure out how to print according to these instructions. I ended up using the first file I created with these instructions for the cover and half the inside pages, then had to create another file for the other half of the inner pages. That way, I printed pages 1 and 2 (as directed, then just flipped them over and turned them upside down to print on the back of the pages with the second file. Complicated and took me way too long, but at least it got me going in the right direction.

Posted on 09/19/2006 at 2:09:00 PM

 
The printing instructions did not work. I wasted alot of paper trying to get it to print correctly.

Posted on 07/05/2006 at 8:07:00 PM

 
This article helped me to create my own programs. Although the instructions for printing did not work for me. I don't know if I was doing something wrong. Luckily I have some computer background, and messed around to get them to print correctly. Thanks for the tips to create these, and save money.

Posted on 06/27/2006 at 2:06:00 AM

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