Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Wedding Ceremony & Reception 42 Perfect Wedding Ceremony Programs Guide guests through your service with a program that speaks to your event's aesthetic. By Sarah Schreiber Sarah Schreiber Sarah Schreiber has been writing, editing, and producing lifestyle and weddings content for over seven years. In that time, she has interviewed and worked with hundreds of leading experts to become an authority on all things homekeeping, flower arranging, home design, and wedding planning. Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 11, 2019 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: The Great Romance Wedding ceremony programs give your guests plenty of insight into your big day. That's why we like to think of these paper products as so much more than just that—they're kind of like a cheat sheet to your nuptials. Whether you like the look of signs, individual booklets, or even palm leaves, these guides are a great way to welcome, inform, and thank guests for coming. The best part of designing your programs? No one style fits all. With so much room for personalization, there's hardly any for error, which is why programs often serve as a creative, fun wedding detail. Commemorate the exact spot of your vows by having an illustrator add your wedding arch to the front of a booklet. Looking for something more rustic? Adorn a distressed door with bright frames filled with everything guests need to know. From watercolor signs and repurposed vintage desks to letter boards and window panes, ceremony program inspiration is virtually everywhere you look. Programs are a small part of your wedding ceremony—compared to heartfelt vows and that first kiss, they might even seem like an afterthought. However small, they're a chance to tell your loved ones your story, and the stories of those who helped you get to this defining moment. Like the rest of your nuptials, make your programs count. 30 Creative Wedding Signs That Will Welcome or Direct Your Guests 01 of 42 Wooden Wonder Brett Heidebrecht Paper Daisies Stationery created a wooden program poster that was as pretty as it was informative. Guests received all the information they needed before taking their seats. 02 of 42 Monogrammed Beauty Mike Cassimatis How pretty was the subtle floral pattern on this couple's monogrammed wedding ceremony program? 26 Monogram Wedding Ideas We Love 03 of 42 Flower Pop Melissa Schollaert Photography Moody gray programs get a burst of brightness thanks to a pink and tangerine floral design—perfect for a late summer wedding. 04 of 42 Block the Aisle Austin Gros Photography Keep paper programs from blowing away in the breeze with monochrome blocks—providing rolled up blankets doesn't hurt either, especially if the day is particularly chilly. Seasonal Ideas for a Fall Wedding 05 of 42 Simple & Understated Anna Shackleford Sometimes the best option is one that's simple and understated. These programs were finished with the couple's monogram and a floral wreath design. 06 of 42 Vintage Desk Tracy Enoch Photography A vintage desk, modernized with the addition of overgrown florals and an industrial lantern, served as the perfect backdrop for this southern bride's chalkboard wedding itinerary. 07 of 42 Sky High Lauren Fair Photography A ceremony sign goes sky high (and becomes Instagram-worthy) thanks to oversized circle balloons tied with a vibrant tassel. 08 of 42 Scroll Through Esther Louise Photography Featuring loopy calligraphy and paper flower bursts at the top, this bride's oversized ceremony scroll was an unconventional—but breathtaking—alternative to individual programs. 09 of 42 Leafy Green Brandon Kidd Photography This couple took a note from their Hawaiian destination wedding and used a large fan palm leaf (move over, chalk boards!) as their wedding ceremony program. Gold calligraphy offered the prettiest contrast against the leaf's cheery green. Island Time: Tropical Wedding Ideas We Love 10 of 42 Frame-Worthy Plum & Oak Photo This bride combined something old and new with this vintage frame program. Adding a spray of blooms—we're loving the juxtaposition of burgundy roses and soft green eucalyptus—brought the frame right into the 21st century. 11 of 42 Eucalyptus Garland J. Layne Photography Chalkboard wedding signs are most definitely a trend, but this bride made it her own by adding a string of fragrant eucalyptus. Loosely draped, a greenery garland adds subtle sophistication. 12 of 42 Bird of a Feather Carrie Patterson This bride's mother and brother worked together to hot glue single feathers to wedding programs. The result? A textured, natural effect that brought an interesting touch to an otherwise minimal look. 13 of 42 Distressed Door Brandy Angel Photography At a rustic Georgia ceremony, an old, distressed door became a unique program prop when adorned with framed blurbs about the couple's wedding party and love story. 14 of 42 Gold Leaf Kayla Barker On their big day, Aften and Travers offset a gold-leaf laurel program, calligraphed by Whitney Farnsworth Calligraphy & Design, with the real thing. Presenting the programs with fresh flowers, greenery, and halved figs upped the drama factor (and looked so good in photos!). 15 of 42 Mirrored Jon Cu Photography Thanks to a white dry-erase pen (and masterful calligraphy skills!), a vintage mirror became the ultimate ceremony prop. 16 of 42 Woven Fans Marni Rothschild Pictures For her South Carolina nuptials, this bride kept her guests comfortable by fitting ceremony programs onto wide whicker hand fans—which also doubled as wedding favors. Destination Wedding Favors Inspried by Travel 17 of 42 Through the Window Sposto Photography Strategic spray-painting and pretty handwriting meant a repurposed window pane became the perfect rustic wedding ceremony program. 18 of 42 Letter Board Mandee Johnson Photography At a minimalist Palm Springs wedding, a trendy letterboard sign welcomed friends and family as they gathered for the ceremony. 19 of 42 Print Motif Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography Printed using the same pattern as the pouch that carried their wedding rings, Sarah and Greg's programs brought their ceremony's aesthetic together. 20 of 42 Mini Signs Tec Petaja Nikki and Kiff set up several mini signs (which featured a map and itinerary) throughout the grounds of their sprawling Michigan venue to keep guests on track and on time. 21 of 42 Door Décor Wild Whim Design & Photography Hosting your wedding at a restaurant? Consider covering the exterior door with an oversized greeting sign. Simples adds, like an itinerary or a description of who's who in the wedding party, would make this unique sign the perfect program. 8 Tips for Throwing a Bridal Shower at a Restaurant 22 of 42 Soft Edges Tenth and Grace Thanks to Seniman Calligraphy, this program booklet's frayed edges and calligraphed monogram brought a vintage, old-world element to a desert ceremony. 23 of 42 Chalkboard Tree Katie Stoops Photography From its mosaic design to its ombré effect and tree illustration, this wedding sign, created by chalk artist Li Prillaman, served as a program and a piece of art at Brittany and Andrew's Virginia ceremony. 24 of 42 Hand-Drawn Keepsake James & Schulze Featuring an illustration of the exact spot where they exchanged vows, this couple's ceremony programs were incredibly personal. The hand-drawn image by Lana's Shop was a sweet, artistic touch in the moment, but also served as a keepsake—a visual reminder of where it all began for the newlyweds. 25 of 42 Starry Fans Peer Johnson These programs were unique two-sided paper fans—one side with a star map illustrating the precise view of the night sky on the evening of the wedding, and the other side outlining the ceremony and festivities to follow. 26 of 42 Chalkboard State Joe Goger A simple illustration of Texas added a personal touch to Leah and Michael's chalkboard display. 27 of 42 Something Blue Heather Waraksa These light blue wedding programs, topped with the happy couple's initials, included a short and sweet rundown of the ceremony. 28 of 42 Dual Citizenship Programs Kate Headley These travel-inspired programs featured a linen cover, each guest's escort card, and a logo of crossed silhouettes of the British and American flags, representing the bride and groom's nationalities. 29 of 42 Peekaboo Programs Charlotte Jenks Lewis The covers of the program booklets were die-cut with the quatrefoil shape so that the couple's monogram peeked through the cutout. 30 of 42 Say Aloha Erica Chan Inspired by the island's native plants, the bride designed the programs (using her own inkjet printer!) with imagery resembling the fauna of the tropical surroundings. 31 of 42 Program Paraphernalia At a North Carolina wedding, attendees were given a program, a pouch of lavender to toss during the recessional, and a wooden fan to beat the heat. 32 of 42 Tying up the Details Samm Blake Hand-tied cards outlined the celebration's attendants, a combination of friends (from as far back as high school) and family. 33 of 42 Pretty in Pink Megan Sorel Photography These programs were bound with hand-dyed silk ribbons that matched the wedding party's bouquets. 34 of 42 Lovely Letterhead O'Malley Photographers The bride put her artistry to work to design ceremony programs complete with a custom crest that topped the page. 35 of 42 Picture Perfect Matthew Moore Photography These photo-filled programs, featuring highlights from a couple's relationship, double as a trip down memory lane. 36 of 42 Illustrated Timeline Meredith Perdue The MOB sketched a wedding-day timeline to keep guests on schedule. At the top of the timeline, the couple's two cats, Selah and Thor, were illustrated in Highland wear holding a banner announcing the celebration of the "Day of Hope," while their dog, Harper Jo, was pictured next to a bonfire wearing L.L. Bean Boots. 37 of 42 Dual-Sided Fans Stephanie Bassos Photography A program fan outlined the service on one side and showcased the couple's initials on the back—the same design that graced part of the invitation suite. 38 of 42 Musical Accompaniments Jen Huang These wedding programs asked guests to choose from a "Celebration Station" containing a buffet of noisemakers—and to hoot and holler when Summer and Bryan were pronounced husband and wife. 39 of 42 Marvelous Motif Jessica Antola These graphic ceremony programs featured a floral motif that was also used in the wedding invitations. 40 of 42 Lyrical Linens Shawn Connell In lieu of programs at this wedding, guests were given linen handkerchiefs printed with lyrics from the grooms' favorite song, "Sabali" by Malian duo Amadou & Mariam. 41 of 42 Frosted Glass Shannon Von Eschen The bride's dad made the frame for the glass program sign by Tayrn Eukland Calligraphy at this winter wedding. 42 of 42 Campy Portraits Harrison Studio A summer camp-inspired suite from Smitten Studio showcased an arrow motif and silhouettes of the couple, which were printed on fans and programs. 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