invitations3

PROGRAMS . . .
. . . are an optional but beautiful asset to your wedding ceremony. They can serve as a momento of your special occassion for those who attend. It is also a way to give mention and appreciation to those who are serving
and helping to make your day an
"affair to remember."

While you may choose to order your
invitations from an invitation company, you can still personally design and print your own programs. The examples on this page should help you decide which best suits you.

Programs are presented at the beginning of the ceremony usually by an usher or hostess. They are sometimes rolled and tied with a pretty ribbon or printed on an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet, half or tri -folded with a pretty wedding design or photo and names of the bride and groom on the front. The wording is usually on the inside.

The information to the right is what needs to be on your program. How you decide to design and lay it out is up to you. If you are using a folded sheet, you can put the order of service on one side and the wedding party list on the opposite. You may want to use the back side for a personal note or an expression of thanks to those who helped you get to this day with your sanity intact!

When listing the wedding party members, you may use the layout on the right, listing bridesmaids and groomsmen alphabetically by last names or you may want to list them in the order that they will enter during the processional, so that your guests may follow along and identify with each person as they enter.

Feel free to adapt the information to the right to suit your own ceremony and add or delete positions in the wedding party as you see fit.

The Marriage Ceremony Uniting
Stephanie Lynn Lange
and
Adam James Erickson
Saturday, October 6, 2001
Our Savior Lutheran Church
Kensington, Georgia

PROCESSIONAL
     Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bach
BRIDE'S ENTRANCE
      Trumpet Voluntary . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Clark
READINGS
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
EXCHANGE OF VOWS & RINGS
NUPTIAL MASS
OFFETORY
     On Eagle's Wings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M. Joncas
COMMUNION
     One Bread, One Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Foley
PRESENTATION OF ROSES
     Ave Maria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Schubert
RECESSIONAL
     Rondeau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  J. Mouret

OFFICIANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Father John Baker
MUSICIANS
      Joyce McCloy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Soloist
      Roger Barnes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Organist
      William Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Trumpeter
READERS
       Sandra Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aunt of the Bride
       John Bergeron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friend of the Groom

Our Wedding Party

PARENTS
     Mr. and Mrs. Steven Lange
     Mr. and Mrs. Frank Erickson
MAID OF HONOR
     Laurie Schuk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friend of the Bride
BEST MAN
     Matthew Vallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friend of the Groom
BRIDESMAIDS
     Shannon Lange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister of the Bride
     Julie Lange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Sister-in-law of the Bride
JR. BRIDESMAID
     Casey McCloy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neice of the Bride
GROOMSMEN
      Nicholas Erickson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brother of the Groom
      Evan Randle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friend of the Groom
JR. GROOMSMAN
      Michael Lange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nephew of the Bride
FLOWERGIRL
     Haley Fontenot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neice of the Groom
RING BEARER
     Scott Lowrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friend of the Groom
USHERS
     Rick Lange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brother of the Bride
     James Erickson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brother of the Groom

. . . are a wonderful and considerate enclosure to add to your wedding and reception invitations, especially for out-of-town guests unfamiliar with the area. It is wise to include directions to the site from several different directions since you will probably have guests coming in from various cities and states. You can include directions to the reception on the same card as the wedding map or create two different maps.
Hand-drawn maps are fine if they are clear and uncluttered. Avoid the temptation to draw too many streets and landmarks. Put only the ones absolutely necessary. Try to be as accurate as possible. You can also attempt to design a map on the computer using straight lines and text boxes. If you're not sure where all the roads are try checking www.mapquest.com. This site will provide you with maps to and from any location in the U.S.A. that you can print out. You may want to also include directions in sentence form and a phone number on the back side, if you think that your map is not completely clear.

Include? or Not Include?

. . . many people have raised the question as to proper etiquette regarding gift registry cards. While tradition states that it is "faux pas" to include them in your wedding invitation, must we be reminded, "this is the millenium". With people's lifestyles being fast-paced and busy, it has now become a convenience to include a small enclosure stating where you and your groom are registered. 90 % of the people attending your wedding and many who are not WILL purchase a gift. They would prefer to get you something that you really want.
By not enclosing a gift-registry card, your invitee now has to search for a gift that he/she thinks is suitable, may or may not match your taste, design style or color OR call you or someone else in the family to find out where you are registered. By including the card in your invitation, you will save your guest time and frustration and you won't be making a trip to Sears later to return a really ugly lamp!
If your family or bridesmaids are planning to give you a bridal shower, let them know where you are registered and offer to give them some registry cards to include in shower invitations as well. Trust me, you're guests will not be offended...but grateful.