Wedding Order of Service Template: What to Include and a Free Builder
The order of service is the small booklet or card guests are handed as they arrive. It tells them what is happening and when to stand, sing or listen, and it is often kept as a souvenir. It can be a single card or a folded booklet, and it is easy to make yourself.
What to include
- Your names, the date and the venue
- The title and the order of each part of the ceremony
- The names of anyone who is reading, speaking or performing
- The titles of readings, songs and music, and the words of any hymn or song guests will join in
- The name of the celebrant or registrar, if you would like to include it
- Any instructions guests need, such as when to stand
- A short thank-you or welcome note
- Details of what happens next, such as photographs or where the reception is
A sample running order
Every ceremony is different, and your registrar or celebrant will tell you which parts are required. A simple civil ceremony often looks something like this:
- Welcome and introduction
- Entrance of the bride
- Opening words
- A reading
- Exchange of vows
- Exchange of rings
- Declaration of marriage
- The first kiss
- Signing of the register
- Recessional
Religious ceremonies follow their own order, and your officiant will give you the wording.
Build and print yours
Type your names, the date and the venue, then edit the running order, one item per line. The card builds as you type. Choose Print or save as PDF to print it or save a copy.
Your order of service appears here as you type.
Check before you print
- Check the order matches the plan agreed with your celebrant or registrar
- Check the spelling of every name, including the readers and the wedding party
- Check the date, the venue and every time
- Check the words of any song or hymn are correct
- Ask someone who has not seen it to proofread it
- Print a test copy and check it on paper
- Print a few more than you have guests, so no one misses out
- Keep a copy for yourselves
Ideas for wording and format
Keep it short and easy to read. One side of a card is enough for a short ceremony, and a folded booklet suits a longer one with several readings or hymns. A simple welcome from the two of you at the start, and a short thank-you at the end, makes it personal without adding much length.
Frequently asked questions
What goes on a wedding order of service?
Your names, the date and the venue, the running order of the ceremony, the names of anyone reading or performing, the titles and words of music guests join in with, and a welcome or thank-you note.
Do we need an order of service?
No, but it helps guests follow the ceremony and gives them something to keep. It matters most when there are hymns, several readings or guests who may not know the order.
How long should an order of service be?
Keep it as short as the ceremony allows. A single card often works for a short civil ceremony, and a folded booklet suits a longer one.
Can we make our own order of service?
Yes. Use the builder above to print a simple card, or copy the running order into a design tool or a word processor.