Wedding Order of Service: Templates, Wording & What to Include
Regardless of the size of your wedding, it’s often the finer details that shape the whole experience for your guests – and one such detail is the wedding order of service.
The order of service is a great way to guide your friends and family through your ceremony. It’s a beautiful touch and makes a great keepsake, especially when it ties in with the rest of your wedding stationery.
Bridebook, the UK’s #1 wedding planning platform used by over 2.8 million couples, has pulled together everything you need to know about writing and producing one, with order of service templates for a range of ceremony types, including Church of England ceremonies, civil ceremonies, humanist ceremonies, and more.
What is a Wedding Order of Service?
Ultimately, the order of service for a wedding is a printed or digital guide handed to guests on arrival that sets out the running order of the ceremony, including any hymns, readings, music, and a list of who is involved.
The wedding order of service can be anything from a whole booklet to a single sheet, though the typical length of a wedding order of service is around 4-8 pages in an A5 booklet format.
Not all ceremonies will have one. Civil ceremonies that are very short, without any music or readings, for example, probably won’t need one. But they are often used in religious ceremonies where guests are expected to join in with singing hymns.
So, do you need a wedding order of service? Well, an order of service isn’t necessary – it’s not a legal requirement for any type of ceremony, for example – but it does help guests follow along, is a lovely way to showcase your wedding style, and doubles as a great keepsake.
What to Include in a Wedding Order of Service
Alongside the running order of your ceremony, you can include additional details in your wedding order of service to make it feel more personal to you – things like the music that will be playing as you sign the register, your favourite love quote or poem, or a personal note to family and friends to thank them for being there.
Below, we’ve outlined all the things you need for your wedding order of service content:
Always include:
- Your names and the wedding date
- Venue name and ceremony start time
- Welcome or processional details (music track or hymn, who is walking in)
- The order of the ceremony – each section listed clearly (welcome, readings, vows, ring exchange, signing of the register, recessional)
- Names of your officiant, readers, and musicians
- Words to any hymns, songs, or responses guests are expected to join in with
- Recessional details (music track or hymn)
Optional extras:
- A welcome message
- Photos of you together, the venue, or a meaningful image
- A dedication or in-memoriam section
- A note about going on to the reception
- Poem or quote that you love/feels relevant
- Thank-you message on the back page
Church of England Wedding Order of Service: Wording & Template
There are certain choices that can be made for a Church of England wedding ceremony that ensure it’s personal to you as a couple, while other elements will be as standard and replicated in their own way for other denominations, such as Baptist or Methodist churches.
Always discuss any potential personalisation or variations with your vicar ahead of time.
Below is a typical Church of England wedding order of service template:
- Processional (bride/couple entering): Include a note on the music being played or performed.
- Welcome and opening prayers: The vicar will speak about the purpose of marriage and God’s will for it.
- Hymn 1: Include the wording in full so guests can sing along.
- Readings: Anyone present can do a reading from the Bible, typically one from the Old Testament or Psalms, and one from the New Testament or the Gospels. Name any loved ones who are reading.
- The Marriage: This includes the declaration of intent, the vows, and the exchanging of rings.
- Prayers and/or second reading: Again, include the names of anyone reading.
- Hymn 2: Include the wording in full so guests can sing along.
- Signing of the register: You might also want to note the music being played or performed while you do this part.
- Hymn 3: (optional)
- Blessing and dismissal: Everybody exits.
- Recessional: Include a note on the music.
Remember, when it comes to a C of E wedding order of service, the vows you make cannot be rewritten or changed in any way for legal reasons. These will always read as:
‘I, (name), take you, (name) to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy law. In the presence of God, I make this vow.’
Catholic Wedding Order of Service: Wording & Template
Similarly to Church of England ceremonies, Catholic weddings include several sacred, time-honoured rituals that can’t be changed, and the order will be set out by your priest.
A Catholic wedding order of service can include mass, but it doesn’t have to. The structure and length will differ significantly though, so it’s important to know ahead of creating your order of service whether you are including mass in your ceremony or not.
A Roman Catholic wedding order of service with mass template should include:
- Processional: The priest often walks to the altar as part of the processional. When the priest arrives at the altar, the wedding party will then start their journey down the aisle.
- Entrance rites: The priest will begin with a prayer.
- Liturgy of the Word: List the names of your chosen friends and family who will recite readings from the Bible. This will be followed by the responsorial psalm, which guests typically recite in unison.
- Gospel: A selected passage from the Gospels read by the priest as the congregation stands.
- Homily: Guests sit as the priest gives a speech about marriage and the couple specifically.
- Rite of Marriage: These are your vows, alongside a blessing, and the exchange of rings.
- Offertory: This is where selected guests, chosen by you ahead of time, will walk down the aisle to offer gifts, while seated guests are invited to make donations to the church via a basket or plate that’s passed around.
- Liturgy of the Eucharist: The priest will bless the bread and wine – invite your guests to kneel and bow their heads.
- The Lord’s Prayer: This is recited in unison, so include this on your order of service in case your guests don’t know it.
- Holy Communion: Invite Catholic members of the congregation line up to receive the Holy Eucharist.
- Nuptial blessing: The priest will say a final prayer which will end with the words, Go in peace. Your guests will respond by saying, Thanks be to God.
- Concluding rite and recessional: Include a note on the music playing as you depart.
A Catholic wedding order of service without mass template should read:
- Processional
- Entrance rites
- Liturgy of the Word, including the responsorial psalm
- Gospel
- Homily
- Rite of Marriage
- The Lord’s Prayer
- Nuptial blessing
- Concluding rite and recessional
Civil Ceremony Order of Service: Wording & Template
Civil ceremonies in the UK are conducted by a registrar and cannot include any religious references, which undoubtedly impacts what goes into your wedding order of service. That said, the running order is more flexible than that of a church service and you can include a wide variety of readings, poems, and music, and write your own wedding vows to go alongside the legal ones, if there are no religious connotations.
The order of service for a civil ceremony should read:
- Processional: You may want to include your music choice here.
- Welcome and introductions: Usually the registrar will speak about the couple and the meaning of the occasion, alongside any legal preliminaries.
- Readings: Include the names of your chosen speakers and the names of the passages, poems, or quotes they are reading.
- The marriage ceremony: The legal vows will come first, which of course are set by law, followed by the exchanging of rings and any promises or vows that you would like to say to each other. You don’t need to include these in your order of service; it’s beautiful for guests to simply listen.
- Signing of the register: You may want to touch on the music being played or performed here.
- Recessional: Again, it’s worth mentioning the music and any notes guests need to know upon departure.
Humanist Wedding Order of Service: Wording & Template
The wedding order of service for a humanist or celebrant-led ceremony has a lot more flexibility than others in our list, including the option to include unifying rituals such as a hand-fasting, unity candle lighting, or something else entirely.
In fact, there is no set running order and so your wedding order of service should simply reflect the ceremony you have planned together with your celebrant.
If you’re looking for a typical example humanist wedding ceremony structure, however, our template for a non-religious order of service wedding would be:
- Processional: Include your choice of music and performers.
- Welcome from the celebrant: Their introduction will be agreed by you beforehand.
- Readings or poems: Unlike a civil ceremony, you could have prayers alongside passages from novels, films, or poems. Include the names of your speakers.
- Personal vows: These can be personalised or facilitated by your celebrant.
- Ring exchange: You may also want to recite vows during this symbolic moment.
- Unity ritual: This is optional and may include hand-fasting or candle lighting, for example.
- Closing words: You could end with a specific passage of prose or poem, or simply some closing words from your celebrant.
- Recessional: Include a note on the music that will play as you depart.
Wedding Order of Service Design & Printing
Whether you choose to have your wedding order of service professionally designed and printed, or you go down the DIY route, will depend on your own circumstances and wedding budget, but if you can, aim to keep it in line with your wedding invitations and the rest of your on-the-day stationery for a cohesive look.
A folded A5 format is the most common style, usually four or eight pages long, depending on the length and structure of your ceremony. You may also opt for a single sheet if your ceremony is brief – choose an A5 sheet or an A4 sheet folded in half.
Alternative order of service ideas
You’ll find a range of alternative order of services for weddings out there right now. Novelty newspaper-style order of services are a great way to showcase your personality and wedding style (and they make a fun keepsake), while fans or paddle-shaped order of service cards work brilliantly for destination weddings and summer occasions.
There are also scroll formats available which really bring a sense of occasion – speak to your wedding stationer about these options.
For DIY designs, Canva has free wedding order of service templates to choose from, but keep in mind that standard paper won’t give a professional finish and could look cheap. Aim to use quality card stock (270-350gsm for a booklet cover) and ensure the margins are set correctly for folding. Or, even better, have your design professionally printed.
Vistaprint is a common option for couples on a budget, while Etsy and Not on the High Street feature a range of UK-based designers offering semi-bespoke illustrated or letterpress designs.
For the most memorable mementos, independent wedding stationery designers will help you craft something truly unique and may cost less than you might think.
Whichever route you go down, remember to allow yourself enough time to make or order your designs. Allow at least two to three weeks for personalised printed orders, and up to six weeks for bespoke illustrated orders of service.
When it comes to quantity, order one per guest plus 10-15% extra for your own keepsakes and any guests who don’t RSVP but attend.
Wedding Order of Service: FAQ
Do you need an order of service at a wedding?
A wedding order of service isn’t a necessity, but it is a great way to help your guests understand what is happening during your ceremony and follow along – whether that’s singing songs or hymns, knowing when to sit or stand, and generally anticipate the next part of the proceedings.
Since a wedding order of service is so personal to the couple, it also makes a lovely keepsake from the day.
If your ceremony is going to be especially brief, with not much personalisation in terms of readings, vows, or music, then you may not need an order of service at all.
What should a wedding order of service include?
Your wedding order of service should include the basics such as your names and wedding date, the name of your venue and ceremony start time, along with the general order of the ceremony listed clearly (the welcome, readings, vows, ring exchange, signing of the register, recessional).
You should include the names of people involved, too, including the names of your officiant, readers, and musicians, and the words to any songs or responses your guests are expected to join in with.
How many pages should a wedding order of service be?
Wedding orders of service will vary depending on the length, structure, and type of wedding ceremony, but generally they are somewhere between 4-8 pages long and an A5 booklet format.
How much does it cost to print a wedding order of service?
The cost of your wedding order of service will depend on several factors, including how long it is, who is printing it, how many you need, and the style and paper quality.
Prices can start from as little as 80p per item for single or double-sided cards, while luxury designs can range from £3-£10 each.
When should I order my wedding order of service?
As a general rule, allow at least two to three weeks for personalised printed orders, and up to six weeks if you’re going for a bespoke illustrated design. It’s worth finalising your ceremony content, readings and running order well before this, so you’re not racing the print deadline. If you’re ordering close to the big day itself, check with your stationer about rush options, though these often come at an extra cost.
Can you have an order of service at a civil ceremony?
Yes, lots of couples choose to have a wedding order of service for their civil ceremony, particularly if there is personalisation, such as readings and songs.
What is the difference between a humanist and civil wedding order of service?
The main difference is that a civil ceremony order of service will have a certain structure to follow to keep it legally binding, including the legal vows and preliminaries. Civil weddings are also not allowed to include any religious references, so your order of service cannot contain any hymns or readings with religious connotations.
In contrast, a humanist wedding ceremony can be structured however you like, and personalised with readings, songs, and symbolic rituals that work for you as a couple.
How do I make my own wedding order of service?
To create your own DIY wedding order of service, consider using a template on software such as Canva or even Microsoft Word, and have it professionally printed or print yourself on quality card stock. Aim to keep it similar in style to the rest of your wedding stationery by using the same fonts and colours as your invitations, menus, place cards and more.
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Browse stationery suppliers on Bridebook, view portfolios, and enquire directly today.
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