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Make a wedding program

Make a wedding program for a Christian ceremony or a ceremony without a church. The order of service is ready, you add your names, readings and vows. Free to print.

I · The ceremony

II · Contents

What goes in your wedding program

A wedding program is the folded sheet your guests pick up as they take their seats. It tells them what happens, who takes part and which readings and songs you chose. It also names the wedding party and, on the back, thanks the people who helped. With Ordofolio you make one at your own pace. The order of service is ready, with a short note on each part, and printing it is free.

You choose one of two ceremonies:

  • Christian wedding ceremony: a church wedding with scripture readings, a message from the pastor, the vows and a blessing. Most Protestant and non-denominational churches follow this shape; your pastor says where your church differs.
  • Wedding ceremony without a church: a ceremony led by an officiant or a friend, with your story, a reading, your vows and a unity ritual.

Want to see the order first? Pick a ceremony above and choose "See the order of service". Looking for a reading? Browse the scripture readings for a wedding and the poems to read at a wedding; 1 Corinthians 13, on love that is patient and kind, is read at more weddings than any other text.

What goes in the wedding program

A Christian wedding ceremony has five parts:

  1. Prelude and processional: the music as guests arrive, the seating of the families and the entrance of the wedding party.
  2. Gathering: the welcome, an opening prayer and, if you want it, the giving in marriage.
  3. The Word: one or two scripture readings, a hymn and the pastor's message.
  4. The vows: the declaration of intent, the exchange of vows and rings, a unity candle if you choose one, and a prayer for the couple.
  5. Closing: the pronouncement, the blessing, the kiss, the presentation of the couple and the recessional.

The wedding party, a line in memory of those who have died and your thank-you note go on the last page.

  1. I. Prelude and processional

    PreludeSeating of the familyProcessionalEntrance of the bride

  2. II. Gathering

    WelcomeOpening prayerGiving in marriage

  3. III. The Word

    Scripture readingSecond readingHymnMessage

  4. IV. The vows

    Declaration of intentExchange of vowsExchange of ringsUnity candlePrayer for the coupleThe Lord's Prayer

  5. V. Closing

    PronouncementBlessingThe kissPresentation of the coupleRecessional

  6. VI. After the ceremony

    The wedding partyIn loving memoryThank youReception

italics = optional

In a ceremony without a church the opening prayer, the message and the blessing are left out. Your story and the words from family or friends take their place.

III · How it works

Four steps to a printed program

  1. Choose the ceremony

    A Christian ceremony or one without a church. The order of service is then ready, with a short note on each part.

  2. Fill in each part

    Your names, the readings, the vows and who does what. Choose from the library or write your own words.

  3. Let your officiant review it

    Send the pastor or officiant a link. They leave comments and approve the program before you print.

  4. Download and print

    A PDF for home printing on Letter paper, one for the print shop and a large-print version for older guests.

One sheet of Letter paper, printed on both sides and folded once, gives four pages: 4 and 1 on the outside, 2 and 3 on the inside.outside41inside23fold line1folded

IV · Printing

Printing at home or at a print shop

You get three PDFs. One for home: two half-letter pages on each side of a Letter sheet, printed on both sides and flipped on the short edge. One for the print shop, with single half-letter pages. And a large-print version for guests who no longer read small type.

At home you fold each sheet in half and staple the stack in the fold. The program measures 5.5 by 8.5 inches, the size of a folded Letter sheet. Print one sheet first as a test.

V · Privacy

Your names stay with you

  • No account needed
  • Everything stays in your browser
  • A shared link is encrypted
Read the privacy policy

VI · Examples

How it looks

VII · Texts

Popular texts

Scripture readings

Poems

VIII · Questions

Frequently asked questions

How many pages does a wedding program have?

Most programs run 4 to 8 pages. Titles and names take little room, full readings and the words to a hymn take more. The page count is always a multiple of 4, because every folded sheet gives four pages. Ordofolio fills the program up to the next multiple, for example with a poem or a photo.

What does it cost?

Nothing. Making and downloading a wedding program is free, and you do not need an account. You pay the print shop yourself if you use one.

Are the scripture readings already in the program?

Each reading comes with its reference and a short note. The King James Version is free to print and Ordofolio puts it in the program for you. For a modern translation such as the NIV or ESV you paste the text yourself, and Ordofolio adds the credit line its publisher asks for.

Can we put our own vows in the program?

That is your call. Print them so guests can read along, or keep them a surprise and print only the heading. Many couples print the traditional vows and speak their own.

Can our pastor or officiant review the program?

Yes. Send them a link. They read the program, leave comments and approve it. The officiant has the last word on the ceremony.

Who can see our program?

Only you, as long as you do not share it. Everything stays in your browser on your own device. If you share a link, the program is encrypted and the key sits in the link, after the hash sign (#). Our server cannot read it.

IX · Further reading

Further reading