Wedding Programs
Your Guide to Sending Out Wedding Invitations, Thank You Cards, Save the Date Cards and more
With all of the wedding planning you have to do before the big day, knowing when to send out save the date cards, wedding invitations, thank you cards, etc can be a huge hassle. Here’s a handy guide to fill you in on when, what and how to handle all of your stationery needs.
Save the date
Sent up to six months in advance of the wedding, these cards can be a fun way to kick off your engagement and wedding plans. If you’re planning a destination wedding, these cards are essential heads-up notices to guests who’ll need some lead time for making travel plans. The look of these cards can hint about the style and formality of the coming wedding or not–it’s up to you.
Wedding invitation
A wedding invitation is often not just a card in an envelope but a small suite of cards, enclosures and envelopes. The idea behind this more-is-more strategy is two-fold. First, the more information your guests receive to help make their wedding day experience wonderful, the better their chance of having a great time. Second, those little extras (the inner envelope, the matching enclosures) help create that this-is-something-very-special feeling.
A classic wedding invitation includes
- The invitation
- A lined inner envelope for the invitation
- Enclosure cards – These might include the invitation to your wedding reception, a valet parking notice, a pew card (for certain guests for whom you’ve reserved special seating), etc. If you’re having a destination wedding, use these cards to invite guests to other pre-and-post-wedding get-togethers, too.
- The response card – This is the ‘RSVP’ for your guests to fill out and return to you. This card should be enclosed along with an envelope pre-printed with your address and stamped. Note: don’t stamp those response card envelopes going to guests living outside the US.
- Map card – These helpful cards can be printed on the same paper as your invitation with the same ink to match the invitation.
- The outer envelope – This should be printed with your return address. Then you write out, by hand, the addresses of your guests or hire a calligrapher to do it for you.
Informal notes
Many stationers offer informal notes–essentially extra cards the same style and size as your wedding invitation’s response card with matching envelopes. These handy blank cards can be used for thank you notes, gift enclosures, and, importantly, for special hand-written personal notes for special guests. You may want to enclose one of these cards in the invitations you send to your parents, your future in-laws and everyone in the wedding party, for instance.
At home cards
These cards bear the address of your new home and when you’ll be moving in. They can be enclosed with your wedding invitations.
Wedding programs for the ceremony
Shaped like a large card, a brochure or a booklet, these programs are given out to guests at the wedding ceremony. A wedding program usually contains a schedule of the ceremony but can also include special notes about the members of the wedding party and other information that might help make your guests’ ceremony experience all the better. If your ceremony will be conducted in a language not all your guests are familiar with, consider adding a translation of the important parts. The wedding program doesn’t have to match the look of your wedding invitation but it should reflect the same formality and theme.
Place cards and menu cards for the reception
These cards give you the opportunity to add a stylish flourish to every place setting at the reception. Again, these cards don’t have to match your wedding invitations but they should reflect the tone of your overall wedding theme.
Thank you notes
You’ll be using these practically from the moment you announce your engagement. Consider getting two styles of notes. Order a set that matches your wedding invitations for sending thanks for wedding gifts from guests. Order a second, uniquely designed set for shower gifts and sending to all those wonderful people who made a special effort to make your day unforgettable.
Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but visit GetMarried.com for the best wedding planning ideas including real wedding videos, blogs for brides, wedding invitations, wedding dress galleries and so much more. Visit Get Married online at http://www.getmarried.com or tune in and watch on Lifetime at 7:30 EST Monday through Friday with your host Colin Cowie and co-host DeAnna Pappas.
About the Author
Chris Horton provides articles for wedding related topics to help brides and grooms make planning their weddings an easier task by offering tips and advice from wedding professionals. For more great tips for planning weddings, watch Get Married every weekday morning M-F on Lifetime at 7:30AM EST and CST or visit them online at http://www.getmarried.com.
DIY Wedding Programs
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Princess Diana Charles Official Royal Wedding Program $42.99 |
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OFFICIAL ROYAL WEDDING PROGRAM / PROGRAMME & POSTCARDS $15.80 |
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THE OFFICIAL ~ ROYAL WEDDING PROGRAM / PROGRAMME ~ MINT $7.90 |
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Gartner Platinum Hearts Tri-Fold Wedding Programs Paper 50 Count-NEW w/Envelopes $9.99 |
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“TO LOVE AND TO CHERISH WEDDING BULLETIN PROGRAM COVERS” PINK,LAVENDER,50 COUNT $5.75 |
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12 Pink Fourish Damask Wedding Favor 2″ x 4″ Pillow Box Shower Cherry Blossom $2.65 |
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Wedding Program Bulletin – Pink & White Roses with Greens $6.95 |
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Printable Wedding Program – White Roses, Yellow & Pink $5.91 |
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Printable Wedding Ivory Rose w/ Blue Background Program $5.91 |
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OFFICIAL ROYAL WEDDING KATE & WILLIAM PROGRAMME PROGRAM – 27 page – Long Version $12.99 |
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OFFICIAL ROYAL WEDDING KATE & WILLIAM PROGRAMME PROGRAM $12.99 |
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Printable Wedding White Rose Programs Bulletin $5.95 |
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Wedding Program Bulletin – White Calla Lillies with Silver Accents and Rings $6.95 |
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Wedding Program – White, Silver Gray and Black Scroll Bulletin $6.95 |
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Printable Wedding White Rose Programs Bulletin – Sea Foam Green Background $6.95 |
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Wedding Program – White Rose with Silver Rings & Thank you message $6.95 |
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Wedding Program – Ivory Roses with Pink Tips added Bookmark Side Edge $6.95 |
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Printable Wedding White Rose Programs Bulletin – Silver & Pearl Background $6.95 |
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Printable Wedding Pink Rose Programs Bulletin – Photo Style Program $6.95 |
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Wedding Program Bulletin – Autumn, Orange, Burgandy & Golden Leaf $6.95 |
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Wedding Program Bulletin – Pink Roses with Gold Bands $6.95 |
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Printable Wedding Program – Children in a Garden with Yellow Accent $6.95 |
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Wedding Program – White Rose with Chocolate Background and Gold Accents $6.95 |
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Wedding Program – Dark Red Daisy with Silver Rings – Pink Accents $6.95 |
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“WEDDING BULLETIN COVERS”/FLOWER GIRLS/MARRIAGE PROGRAM $4.99 |
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Fall personalized fan wedding program $125.00 |
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Fall personalized fan wedding program -you print $20.00 |
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Queen Princess Elizabeth Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten Wedding 1947 Program $19.99 |
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Princess Anne Captain Mark Phillips Wedding Program 1973 $19.99 |
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Hawaiian Tropical Orchid Beach Destination Wedding Program Fan Bamboo Handle $4.50 |
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DAMASK WEDDING PROGRAMS CUSTOM MADE TRI-FOLD OR SINGLE $17.50 |
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DAMASK WEDDING PROGRAMS CUSTOM MADE TRI-FOLD OR SINGLE $17.50 |
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DAMASK WEDDING PROGRAMS CUSTOM MADE TRI-FOLD OR SINGLE $22.50 |
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DAMASK WEDDING PROGRAMS CUSTOM MADE TRI-FOLD OR SINGLE $22.50 |
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DAMASK WEDDING PROGRAMS CUSTOM MADE TRI-FOLD OR SINGLE $35.00 |
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Wilton Print Your Own Fan Kit $9.99 Create a distinctive favor for your special day! Wedding fans not only keep guests comfortable, but let guests wave their approval of the bride and groom! Assembled fan measures approximately 10 in. long. Includes 24 fans, 24 ribbon bows, 24 fan handles, 24 adhesive strips…. |
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Wilton Ivory Keeping with Tradition Bifold Programs $9.37 WILTON: Print-Your-Own Bi-Fold Programs Kit. This kit makes it easy to make your own programs that have a custom-printed look! These programs have a traditional bi-fold design and feature a delicate pearlescent border on the front. They come pre-scored for easy folding and once folded measure 8-1/2×5-1/2 inches. Instructions for personalizing and printing are included. This package contains fifty … |
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100 Wedding Programs – Love/Single White Rose – 640 $22.99 Shrink wrapped in packages of 100 Text: Love Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, Keeps going to the end. Love extravagantly. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:7, 13 (THE MESSAGE) These are blank on the inside allowing you to custom print the details of your ceremony. The size is 11″ x 8 1/2″ (before folding) 5.5 X 8.5 when folded. You can print them (on your home … |
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White Plastic Program Fan Handles (Set of 100) $43.50 These blank white plastic handles are perfect for any do-it-yourself favor fan. These handles are 9″ long and egonomically designed for comfort. Set of 100… |
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Blank Wood Program Fan Handles (Set of 100) $36.50 These blank natural wood handles are perfect for any do-it-yourself favor fan or wedding program fan to keep your guests cool and informed.These handles are 9″ long and egonomically designed for comfort. Set of 100… |
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White Paper Paddle Fan, 3 pieces #BF3 $5.95 Round paper fan 9 1/2 inches across and 14 inches long including the bamboo handle. This white fan has paper on both sides perfect for drawing, printing or writing on (auction numbers, wedding programs etc.) and really a functional fan, too!! Tie a bow around the base for wedding favors. These fans are perfect for your outdoor wedding!… |
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Christy – The Complete Series $20.69 Determination, faith, and optimism are powerful forces that enable individuals to positively affect the lives of themselves and others. Christy, a captivating 1994 television series based on the book by Catherine Marshall and reminiscent of the Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie series, is the story of an idealistic 19-year-old woman named Christy Huddleston (Kellie Martin) w… |
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William & Kate $4.98 The royal love story of Prince William and comely commoner Kate Middleton captured the hearts of the world, and the Lifetime movie William & Kate takes viewers deep inside the relationship. William & Kate is well acted and no expense was spared to re-create key parts of Scotland and England as a lush backdrop to this modern-day fairy tale. William is played quite competently by Nico Evers-Swindell… |
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Best in Faux $1.99 … |
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Proactiv Solution 3 Step System Kit, 2 Month Supply $34.59 Our basic clear skin kit includes full-size bottles of the essential Proactiv® Solution system. This system, developed by dermatologists, uses Combination TherapyTM to help heal and stop breakouts at their source. Includes: Revitalizing Toner to balance skin tone Repairing Lotion to help attack bacteria… |