Q: Besides the basic information about the ceremony and wedding party, what else should I include in my wedding program?

A: Your wedding program is a great place to include some personal touches. It's always nice to include a memorial section and a heart-felt thank you. Here's one of my favorite examples:

In Memory...

As we celebrate our marriage, we have not forgotten those who have passed on, instead, we remember them in our hearts. The bouquet at the front of the church is in remembrance of our family members who are no longer with us; especially _________.

In addition to the flower arrangement at the alter, the bride’s bouquet contains family heirlooms from _________ and the rosary her mother received on her wedding day.

Thank You...

First and foremost, we would like to thank God for bringing us together. Through him our love will always endure. We would also like to thank our parents for their unconditional love, guidance and influence in our lives. We love you. Words cannot express how thankful we are to be blessed with such wonderful family and friends. Thanks to each and every one of you for being a part of our special day.

If you need help writing your thank you or memorial section, Copper Ink Wedding Designs can help. You can look at what others have written for inspiration.

Q: What if we are writing our own vows? Should we include that wording on the program?

A: I think it's a great idea. If you're in a large church/outdoor area (or you speak softly or start tearing up), chances are the guests in the back of the church won't be able to hear what you're saying. Adding the wording from your very personal vows allows your guests to follow along and makes your program a nice keep-sake. If you want other ways to personalize your program, maybe you include a (brief) story of how you and your fiancé met or how he proposed. Or making your story into a graphic masterpiece is a fun way to do it too.

Nora and Travis loved the Dr. Suess poem "Oh, the Places You'll Go" so they included the entire poem on their wedding program (doubling as a fan).