Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Wedding Ceremony & Reception 23 Unique Ceremony Program Ideas We Love By Chloe Gorman Chloe Gorman Chloe is a digital editorial assistant for Martha Stewart Weddings. She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University and currently resides in Connecticut. Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 28, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Brandon Kidd Photography Get creative with these informative cards. 01 of 23 Brandon Kidd Photography Ceremony programs are an integral part of your service. After all, their job is to inform your attendees of the day's events, identify the members of your wedding party, and even provide an overview of certain traditional or religious elements that you decided to incorporate. Not only are these ceremony staples helpful, but they also serve as a great opportunity to personalize your big day. That's why we love to see couples get creative with their programs. Whether it's adding a personal touch, like illustrated silhouettes of each bridesmaid, a hand-drawn illustration of the wedding venue, or an unexpected medium (like a book or calligraphed petal pouch!), there are so many ways to customize these elements for your specific ceremony. Take this large fan palm leaf, for example—it perfectly nodded to the couple's Hawaiian destination event. Gold calligraphy added an elegant contrast to the leaf's vibrant green hue. When you create your own ceremony program, there's no wrong way to bring them to life. No matter the season or style, there is a unique option out there for any big day. If you're planning a vintage wedding, consider recreating one couple's calligraphed scrolls, complete with a wax seal. They can also be incredibly useful, especially during warmer months—keep your guests cool at your summer wedding with a program that doubles as a fan. Speaking of dual uses, it's always a great idea to choose a program that has a purpose beyond the service, like printed popcorn bags (perfect for snacking or for the exit toss!). You could also design something completely unexpected—something that doesn't look like a program at all. Ready to discover how you can personalize this important ceremony detail? Click through to see some of our favorite unique programs from real celebrations. 02 of 23 Scrolls Studio 1208 Is there anything more vintage-inspired than these scavenger hunt scrolls? Becca Joas calligraphed each program, which Elizabeth from GLASS Event Planning rolled into a scroll before adding a black wax seal. 03 of 23 Palm Leaves Amanda K Photography A palm leaf border gave a burst of color to these hanging programs by Tie That Binds. 36 Ways to Use Leaves Throughout Your Wedding 04 of 23 Watercolor Abby Jiu Photography Modern watercolor paintings created by the bride were used on the back of these otherwise traditional fan programs. A leafy ribbon held each element together. 43 Dreamy Watercolor-Inspired Wedding Ideas 05 of 23 Handkerchiefs Taylor Lord Attendees dried their happy tears with these screen-printed handkerchiefs by Under Pressure that also featured the service's details. 06 of 23 Large Fans Lightbloom Photography The groom designed these large rectangular fans, which doubled as programs and favors. The gifts helped their attendees keep cool in the summer heat. 11 Wedding Program Fans to Keep Guests Cool 07 of 23 Popcorn Jose Villa Not only did these bags full of Trader Joe's popcorn provide a quick pre-ceremony snack, but they also displayed the service's details. Unexpected Wedding Food Ideas Your Guests Will Love 08 of 23 Paper Pyramids Sarah Cramer Shields These tiny graphic pyramids came complete with mini ceremony details, and were packed with petals for tossing. 09 of 23 Flags Chaz Cruz Guests were gifted colorful flag programs by Bellz & Whistlez at this rainbow-inspired event. 10 of 23 Petal Bags Forged in the North At this French destination wedding, attendees were given rose petal-filled pouches that included the names of the wedding party; they were encouraged to throw the petals as the couple walked back up the aisle. Creative Wedding Exit Toss Ideas 11 of 23 Newspaper Programs Artsinfotos Photography If you both enjoy the Sunday paper, make like this creative couple, who replaced a traditional ceremony program with a custom newspaper. 12 of 23 Silhouettes B. Schwartz Photography On this personalized program, Aubrey Rasmussen—a graphic designer and friend of the bride—denoted the members of the wedding party with a small silhouette that "stood" over each person's name. 13 of 23 Vintage Fans Sawyer Baird We're loving the unique tile shape of these fan programs. The bride crafted each with pictures of different big-day elements. See more Beautiful Ways to Add a Pop of Green to Your Wedding here 14 of 23 Map Fans Josh Gruetzmacher Holding your wedding at a large venue? Take notes from this couple, who included a map of their location, Cornerstone Gardens, on the back of their programs. 15 of 23 Paper Planes Lili Durkin Photographer These paper plane programs might have brought guests back to their childhood, but their minimalist vibe proved that they were much more elevated than a schoolyard craft. 16 of 23 Western Motifs Birds of a Feather The vibrant pattern on these programs, which were handmade by the bride, was incorporated into so many elements of this desert wedding, from the ceremony backdrop to the table runners. 17 of 23 Maps Swell Press As far as map-inspired stationery goes, this program by Swell Press Paper is one of the most detailed we've seen. It offered guests a look at the venue's surrounding forests and was secured with a mountain-embossed closure. Adventurous Ways You Can Use Maps and Globes Throughout Your Wedding 18 of 23 Wedding Booklet Jen Wojcik Photography At his surprise wedding, the groom worked with Peanut Press Creative to create a booklet for his future wife. It outlined the event's guests, a design mood board, and venue information. 19 of 23 Starry Fans Peer Johnson These unique fans included an overview of the order of events and a precise view of the night sky on the evening of the wedding. 24 Celestial Wedding Ideas That'll Have You Starry-Eyed 20 of 23 Tri-Fold Elizabeth Messina Photography Aprile Elcich designed these tri-fold programs, which opened to up to reveal illustrations of each member of the wedding party. 21 of 23 Field Guide Briars Atlas Guests received a "field guide" for this camping-themed event. The book also described different Jewish traditions that were incorporated into the wedding. 22 of 23 Clipboard Set Free Photography DM Paper Designs used various fonts and text sizes to create these eye-catching cards. To guarantee they didn't fly away, Jet Set Wed secured each piece of paper to a tiny clipboard. 23 of 23 Driftwood Michelle Elyse Photography For their beach wedding, these newlyweds gathered pieces of driftwood, which they painted with the names of their "best mates" as a nod to their nautical theme. Beautiful Ideas from Beach Weddings Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit