Counting down to your big day? Whether you’re having a small wedding ceremony or a large celebration, you’ll need to keep your guests informed about what to expect from the big day. This is where an order of service can help your wedding day run smoothly.

Discover how to create a DIY order of service for your wedding that suits your style with this handy guide from Adobe Express.

What is an order of service for a wedding?

An order of service lets your wedding guests know what to expect from your ceremony. It usually details what will happen and when, such as the ceremony start time, when you’ll be exchanging vows, and any readings or hymns.

Including an order of service as part of your wedding stationery means everyone knows how long the service will last and what they need to do.

You can have orders of service sent out with invites, placed on seats before the service, or handed out by ushers as guests arrive. While these are not mandatory, they help keep things running smoothly and can act as great keepsakes for both you and your guests.

What to include in a wedding order of service.

Each wedding order of service will be different, depending on how your day looks and your personal preferences.

However, there are a few things you should consider when you create your wedding order of service:

Front cover.

The front cover should tie in with the wedding theme, and reflect you as a couple. It’s a handy way to stir excitement on what’s to come. Engagement photos can work well here, with some simple text to commemorate your names and the date of the ceremony.

Order of the ceremony.

This should form the main content of your order of service. You can include the ceremony timings and order of events as a list at the start and then go into more detail. Or you could create a step-by-step itinerary throughout your booklet.

Hymns and lyrics.

You’ll also need to include the words and lyrics to any hymns or songs you want people to sing along to. No matter how popular the tunes you choose, there will undoubtedly be at least one or two guests who don’t know the lyrics, and you want everyone to feel included.

Any readings.

Many couples also include the text from any readings they have during the ceremony. It might be a short poem, or personal anecdote shared by one of the wedding part. Including it within your order of service is a nice way to remember the moment, while ensuring your guests can follow along.

Final thanks from the couple.

At the end of the details about the service itself, you can include a final thank you from the couple. Thank your guests for making time to celebrate your love and your big day in writing.

Details of the reception.

The next phase of the day is usually the reception, so include details for guests on where it is, how to get there and what to expect.

Wedding order of service template ideas.

How to make an order of service for a wedding.

Making your DIY order of service for a wedding is easy with Adobe Express. With a wealth of free software tools at your disposal, you can create professional-looking booklets in moments.

1. Choose your design.

First, select your preferred design from an array of templates. You could use a flyer design if your service is quite short, or make the most of booklet templates for longer ceremonies.

There are thousands of templates to choose from, and each one can be customised to your preference and theme.

2. Type out your order of service – plus any hymns, songs, or readings.

Once you have your basic design, it’s time to add text. Include a rundown of the order of events, and add in separate sections for any hymns, songs, or readings included in the service. This is especially important if you want people to join in, as some guests may not know the words.

3. Experiment with fonts, backgrounds, and other imagery.

Once you have your text down, you can select your preferred fonts – perhaps a bolder font for headers, and something simple and delicate for general text.

You can also add and remove backgrounds, frames, and decorative imagery to align with your wedding theme. Play around with the design until you are satisfied with the overall look.

4. Add a few photos for a personal touch.

Photos of the happy couple in the lead up to the wedding are an easy way to add a personal touch to your orders of service. It also creates a special keepsake for the couple and guests to treasure.

Upload the photos you want to use and experiment with where to place them – perhaps one on each page, or even a photo collage on the front cover.

5. Print your wedding order of service.

Once you are completely satisfied with the design of your wedding order of service, you can print your flyers or booklets with Adobe Express. You’ll want to make sure you have enough for each one of your guests, and a couple of spares for keepsakes.

Alternatively, you could download your design and email them to guests ahead of the service.

Tips for your wedding order of service.

Creating a DIY wedding order of service may seem daunting, but it can be a fun and cost-effective way to stamp your personality onto the event.

These top tips can help you get started with your own design ideas.

• Add as many pages as you need. There are no rules on the length of a wedding order of service, so you can make it as long or as short as you need. Customise it to the length of your service and other aspects of the day.
• Use your wedding colour scheme. Use the colours from your wedding within your order of service to complement the flowers, outfits, and other decorations.
• Match the order of service to your other wedding stationery. You can also create a consistent theme throughout your other wedding stationery. Match your order of service to your invitations, place cards, and any other stationery you create.
• Make sure it’s easy to read. While experimenting with fun fonts is great, you’ll want to make sure your final choice is easy for people to read. This is especially important for any song lyrics or hymns.

More wedding order of service examples.

How can Adobe Express help you personalise your wedding order of service?

Adobe Express makes it easy to personalise your order of service and other wedding stationery, to ensure it fits your wedding’s theme and colour scheme.

1. Make the most of free wedding schedule templates.

Start by creating an outline of the day using free wedding schedule templates. That way, you’ll know exactly what to include in your order of service. You can customise the templates to tie in with your colour scheme – and even hang them up at your venue for extra visibility.

2. Create the perfect front cover for your booklet.

Create a professional-looking cover for your wedding order of service booklet with free cover templates. Add your names, the venue and the date of your wedding for the perfect memento.

3. Add a photo collage of the happy couple.

A photo collage of the happy couple is always a nice touch. Upload your photos to Adobe Express and then use any of the collage templates to design an eye-catching layout.

4. Experiment with fun and floral text effects.

Once you have your basic outlay, you can experiment with fun fonts and AI -generated text effects. Try a floral text banner or frame, or some fancy fonts for weddings.

5. Include a QR code for wedding reception details.

One of the easiest ways to get your guests from the wedding to the reception is to include a QR code within your wedding order of service. Once the guest has scanned the QR code, they get all the details of the reception straight to their phone.

Generate your own wedding stationery with the AI template generator.

With the Adobe Express AI Template Generator, you can create DIY wedding orders of service quickly and easily. Simply enter a text prompt to describe your colour scheme, the format, and any additional features.

Once you have a template you like, you can personalise it by altering the colours, fonts and styles, adding images and much more. This free-to-use software lets you create bespoke designs in an instant.

Once you’re happy with your design, simply download and print or share. You can also use it to create coordinating stationery for other aspects of your wedding, such as place cards or even invitations.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

Do I need an order of service for my wedding?

No – an order of service is not mandatory. However, it can help guests understand their roles at various points during the day, and minimise the need to explain things to people on the day when you’re busy.

How many orders of service do I need for a wedding?

You will need a minimum of one per family/group, although many people like to give an order of service to each guest as a keepsake. You may also want to have a few spares to keep, or as a backup if someone loses theirs.

How many pages can my wedding order of service be?

A wedding order of service can be as long or as short as you like, depending on the length and complexity of your service. Common choices include four- and eight-page booklets.

Who hands out the order of service at a wedding?

The order of service at a wedding is usually handed out by people in the wedding party, such as bridesmaids or ushers, as guests arrive. But you could also send them out with your initial wedding invitations, or have them placed on seats before people get there.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features, including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our pricing page for details and to compare plans.