The hardest part about making your own wedding program is probably finalizing the details of your ceremony! In comparison, the actual do it yourself part is much easier. In this article, you’ll learn how to put your wedding program together, from finding sample program wording and customizing your text to the actual printing. These instructions are also applicable to programs for other functions besides weddings like baptisms, graduations, bar and bat mitzvahs, etc.
Choose Your Programs
An A9 folder is simply an 8 1/2 x 11 inch card stock that is scored in the middle for easy folding. Because of its standard size, it is easy to print in almost any home inkjet or laser printer. You can print on the cover and then print your program details on the inside. If you’d rather have an insert sheet inside the folder for your program details, that’s easy to do.
For this article, I’ll use our Ecru A9 Program Ecru which is a simple but elegant creamy ecru wedding program. Choosing an insert sheet is as easy as choosing a matching or complimentary color in an 8 1/2 x 11 text weight sheet. I’ll print our program details on the insert sheet, fold it in half, and place it inside the folded program cover. I’ll choose our Ecru 70lb Fine Paper 8 1/2×11. This is a smooth and luxurious sheet and a perfect match for our ecru program paper.
Use LCI Paper’s Free Invitation Wording and Word Templates
Now that I’ve selected my program covers and insert sheets, I’m ready to compose my program wording and layout. LCI Paper offers sample wedding program wording that you can adapt to your own program. We also offer free Microsoft Word templates. There is one specific to our A9 program. I’ll use the “Front” template for the program cover and the “Inside” template for the program insert.
Customize Your Text, Fonts, and Font Colors
Here is where you can get creative and make a custom look for your wedding program. Since I am printing on ecru, I will use brown text instead of the standard black text. This is just a personal preference and you can choose fonts and colors that look best to you. To keep it simple and elegant, I’ll use just two fonts–Century Gothic and ChopinScript. To create a monogram, I’ll enlarge one letter in ChopinScript–the groom’s surname initial–and place it inside a text box that I’ll place under the main program cover text. So I don’t overshadow the main cover wording, I’ll choose a much lighter color for the monogram.
Using the sample wording for the inside of my program (which will be printed on the text weight paper) I can customize the program details. Again, I’ll continue the theme that I started on my program cover by using the same fonts, font color, and the monogram.
Print the Program Covers and Insert Sheets
Once I’m happy with my design for the program cover and insert sheet, I can print them using an inkjet or laser printer. Since both the cover and the insert sheet are 8 1/2 x 11, printing couldn’t be easier. I’ve incorporated color into my design, so I’ll use a color inkjet printer.
Before I print, I’ll communicate to the printer that I’m using landscape mode as opposed to a horizontal mode template. The printer driver for your specific printer can be accessed by clicking File/Print/Properties.
Now I can print my program covers and insert sheets.
Fold the Program Covers and Inserts
Now that my covers and insert sheets are printed, I can fold them. The covers are scored for a worry-free fold. The insert are not scored, but since they are 70 pound text weight sheets, they will easily fold.
Finally, I’ll insert the insert sheets into the program covers. Most programs include loose insert sheets as I have made. However, you can certainly glue the inserts sheets to the covers or tie a ribbon around the spine to secure them. It’s just a matter of preference.
Printing your own wedding programs is easy, especially when you use our A9 program folders and 8 1/2 x 11 fine papers as insert sheets. Here’s a tip: Cut down an 8 1/2 x 11 insert sheet to make a 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 sheet. It’s a perfect fit for the A9 program folder!
Recommended Links:
New, Easy-To-Print, Foil Frame Trifold Programs
How To Make a Slim Program – Video
Video – Make Your Own Metallic Wedding Program
Wedding Program with Chiyogami Band and Wax Seal – How To Video
Joshua Birch
