How to Write Your Wedding Order of Service

Your wedding day is a celebration of love and commitment, and the order of service plays a crucial role in guiding your guests through this special occasion. Designing your own order of service allows you to personalise the ceremony, ensuring that it reflects your unique style and preferences. No idea where to start when it comes to writing your wedding order of service? No worries! We have created the ultimate guide to creating the perfect order of service to help your wedding ceremony go as smoothly as possible.

What is an order of service?

Simply put a wedding order of service is a small booklet that outlines what’s going to happen throughout the day and at roughly what time. It’s a nice way to let your guests know what to expect from your wedding day. In addition to being useful, they can also serve as a nice keepsake for your guests! So, be sure to match the design of your order of service to all of your other wedding stationery.

What to include?

The information you include in your order of service differs slightly depending on if you’re having a religious ceremony in a church or a civil ceremony. This is because a religious ceremony is usually longer and includes things like hymns, readings, prayers and maybe a sermon. The front and back cover can be the same for both though. On the front cover, you should include the names of the bride and groom, the address of the ceremony and the time and date. It’s good etiquette to use the back cover to write a message of thanks for the guest’s attendance and to anyone in particular who has helped make the day a success.

Religious Ceremony

• Entrance of the bride, plus details of the music for the processional
• First hymn (name of hymn and words if you want)
• Welcome by priest or vicar
• The marriage ceremony
• Prayers
• First reading (name of the reading, author and which guest/ member of the bridal party is doing the reading)
• Blessing
• Hymn
• Second reading (name of the reading, author and who’s doing the reading)
• The signing of the register (you might want to include names of witnesses)
• Recessional with details of the music (name of the song plus composer/ artist)

Civil Ceremony

• Entrance of the bride with details of the music (name of song and artist)
• Welcome by Registrar
• First reading (name of the reading, author and which guest/ member of the bridal party is doing the reading)
• The marriage ceremony/ vows/ details of any special ceremonies like a candle or sand ceremony
• Exchange of rings
• Second reading (name of the reading, author and which guest/ member of the bridal party is doing the reading)
• The signing of the register (details of background music)
• The exit of the bride and groom (with details of the music)