How to Make a Personal Wedding Ceremony Booklet

When guests arrive at a wedding ceremony they are often given a program of the events. Most of the time, it is a generic form, put together with the present wedding details inserted into the appropriate spaces. Instead of using the same thing as hundreds of other brides and grooms, you can make a personalized wedding booklet for your guests. They will remember it for years to come.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer
• Microsoft Word
• Thick cardstock
• White printer paper
• 1-4 photos of the bride and groom
• Three-hole punch
• Decorative ribbon
• Glue

1. Start with the front cover. Set up a blank 8 1/2 by 11-inch page in Microsoft Word. In the center of the page list the names of bride and groom, “The Marriage of Jack & Jill.” List the date and the location, though you want to keep it simple. Use a font that reflects the feel of the wedding--elegant, fun, etc. If there is a theme to your wedding, a simple image can be added as decoration. Print it on the card stock.
2. The next page should list all of the people involved in the wedding and their roles. Acknowledge everyone from the guestbook attendant to the parents of the bride and groom. Again, consider the font because it needs to be easily read. Fancy, serif fonts are hard to read when more than one or two words are used. Print on white paper.
3. The next page should list all aspects of a traditional program: the processional, ceremony and recessional. Don’t forget the names of songs to be sung or played, poems or excerpts to be read and any prayers to be recited. Print on white paper.
4. Use the next few pages to talk about the wedding party. List each member and why they are important to the bride and/or groom. Limit it to three to four sentences, but use that space to establish the special relationship between bride and groom and the attendants. This section can be expanded to include other members of the wedding, though you don’t want to have so much to read that the wedding guests are too preoccupied to enjoy the ceremony. Print on white paper.
5. Follow with a section on how the bride and groom met. Make it sound as fairytale-ish as possible. Print on white paper.
6. Scan in one childhood picture of each the bride and the groom. Also scan in a current photo of the bride a groom. Place all of scanned images on one page with the address of where the newly married couple will be residing. Print on white paper.
7. Place all of the pages of the booklet together, including the cover. Use a blank piece of card stock for the back page. Use a three hole punch the booklet and tie the pages together with bows or knots made of the ribbon. Secure each bow or knot with a drop or two of glue.

Tips & Warnings

• Customize the booklet. Use different sizes, colors and textures of paper or different colors and kinds of ribbon. Use images to tell a story instead of words. Experiment with fonts. Use ink stamps and stickers. Do whatever best expresses the wedding and the couple.