Ceremony Programs

For our ceremony programs, I kept with the black and white damask and tiffany blue theme. Originally, I had designed a program which also acted as a paddle fan, but, in my humble opinion, popsicle sticks look cheap and a bit tacky, which is what I used on the original program as a fan handle. The cool thing about designing a tacky program: I got a good idea of what I don't want and sought out more inspiration from photo galleries on various websites. As luck would have it, I found a beautiful program idea on http://galleries.weddingchannel.com/ . Here is the inspiration:

Photo Credit: SB Childs Photography

I added our monogram, switcherooed a few things and personalized it for our ceremony, and wahlah:

Best of all, fiance approves!

Some things you should include in your ceremony programs:

-Date

-Couple's names (or make an elegant monogram and insert it into your document)

-Location

-Ceremony time

-Order of Events (Including: Processional music, greeting, readings, poems, prayers, exchange of vows, ring ceremony, unity candle ceremony, any other ceremony, pronouncement of marriage, recessional music, etc.)

-Members of Wedding Party (Including: Officiant, parents of bride & groom, MOH, bridesmaids, jr. bridesmaids, flower girl, best man, groomsmen, ushers, ring bearer, readers, etc.)

-May also include: explanation of a ritual or tradition used in ceremony, a note thanking guests for sharing your special day, a tribute or memorial for loved ones no longer with us, or a quote or poem about love or marriage

Readings for Ceremony: Part 1 - Apache Marriage Blessing

I really like this one. The officiant can say it either right before or right after the pronouncement of marriage, or you can have a special guest come up and read it.

Apache Marriage Blessing
Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be the shelter for each other.
Now you will feel no cold,
for each of you will be the warmth for the other.
Now you are two persons,
but there is only one life before.
Go now to your dwelling place
to enter into the days of your life together.
And may your days be good
and long upon the earth.
Treat yourselves and each other with respect,
and remind yourselves often of what brought you together.
Give the highest priority to the tenderness,
gentleness, and kindness that your connection deserves.
When frustration, difficulty, and fear assail your relationship-
as they threaten all relationships at one time or another-
remember to focus on what is right between you,
not only the part which seems wrong.
In this way, you can ride out the storms
when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives-
remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment,
the sun is still there.
And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together,
it will be marked by abundance and delight.