A Catholic wedding is a beautiful and meaningful celebration of two people’s love and commitment to each other. The ceremony is filled with rich symbolism and tradition, and the program can help guests follow along with the proceedings. If you’re planning a Catholic wedding, you’ll need to create a program that includes all of the important elements of the ceremony. Here is a simple Catholic wedding program template that you can use as a starting point:
The Ceremony
The Catholic wedding ceremony is divided into two main parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Liturgy of the Word includes the readings from the Bible, the homily, and the prayers of the faithful. The Liturgy of the Eucharist includes the offertory, the consecration, and the distribution of Holy Communion. The following is a detailed outline of the ceremony:
Processional: The wedding party enters the church and walks down the aisle to the altar.
Opening Prayer: The priest or deacon begins the ceremony with a prayer.
Readings: There are two readings from the Bible, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament.
Homily: The priest or deacon gives a homily, or sermon, based on the readings.
Prayer of the Faithful: The congregation prays for the couple and for the world.
Exchange of Vows: The couple exchanges their wedding vows.
Blessing and Exchange of Rings: The priest or deacon blesses the rings and the couple exchanges them.
Nuptial Mass: The priest or deacon celebrates the Mass, which includes the offertory, the consecration, and the distribution of Holy Communion.
Concluding Rite: The priest or deacon concludes the ceremony with a blessing.
The Reception
After the ceremony, the wedding party and guests proceed to the reception. The reception is a time for celebration and dancing. The following is a typical reception timeline:
Cocktail Hour: Guests arrive and enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
Grand Entrance: The newlyweds make their grand entrance into the reception.
First Dance: The newlyweds share their first dance as a married couple.
Dinner: Guests are served dinner.
Speeches: The best man, maid of honor, and other guests give speeches toasting the couple.
Cake Cutting: The newlyweds cut their wedding cake.
Dancing: Guests dance the night away.
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. By following this simple Catholic wedding program template, you can help ensure that your ceremony and reception are everything you’ve dreamed of.
