What should you include in a wedding order of service?

Start with a cover page showing your names, the date, the time and the venue. Inside, list the ceremony in the order it will happen. For a religious wedding, that might be the processional, welcome, hymns, readings, sermon or address, vows, ring exchange, prayers, communion or blessing, and the recessional. For a civil ceremony, it might be the registrar's introduction, the legal preliminaries, your vows or promises, the signing of the marriage schedule, and the announcement.

For each reading or hymn, include the title and the name of the person reading or leading it. If guests are expected to stand, kneel or join in, add a small note. You can also include the words of any responses or verses that guests need to say aloud. This is especially helpful if your ceremony includes parts in another language.

Other useful items are a welcome message from you both, a thank you to your families, and a note about the reception. Some couples add a photo or a short poem. You do not need to include every legal detail, but you should avoid anything that contradicts the ceremony itself. If you are unsure about the exact wording of the legal declarations, check with your registrar or officiant before printing.