The front-page story
Write it as news, in the third person, with the main fact first.
Amy Marsden and Joe Whitfield will marry at two o'clock this afternoon at Healey Barn, nine years after they met at a pub quiz in Jesmond. Amy, 34, a physiotherapist from Hexham, won the tie-break that night. "He has never forgiven me," she said.
Names, ages, jobs, the time and the place are all in the first three sentences, followed by a quote.
Our love story
If you prefer to tell it yourselves, write in the first person and keep to moments. Dates matter less than details.
We met on a Thursday in March 2018. Joe was on the next table at the quiz and got every question in the music round wrong, loudly. I asked for his number so we could arrange a rematch. He says the first date was the chip shop afterwards, and we have agreed to disagree for nine years.
A welcome note
Thank you for being here. Some of you have travelled a long way, and all of you have put up with a lot of wedding talk. This paper tells you what is happening today and a few things you may not know about us. Please take it home.
Three or four sentences is enough. Sign it with your first names.
Who's who
One line each: how they know you, and something guests could ask them about.
- Sam Okafor, best man. Joe's friend since primary school. Holds evidence and has been asked not to use it.
- Priya Nair, maid of honour. Met Amy on the first day of university. Organised the hen do with military precision.
- Linda Marsden, mother of the bride. Made the cake. Do not ask about the first attempt.
Order of the day
4.30pm, wedding breakfast. In the barn. Your table is listed on page 5.
A time, a title and one useful line.
In loving memory
Keep this simple and separate from the jokes. A plain box on a quiet page works best.
- We are thinking today of the people who would have loved to be here, and who are very much part of it.
- In loving memory of Margaret Whitfield, 1941 to 2022, who always said this would happen.
- A seat is saved today for those we miss. We carry you with us.
Ask close family before printing names. Some people would prefer a general line.
Letters to the editor
Ask parents and friends for three sentences by email. Open each one with "Sir" for the newspaper feel, and print who it is from.
SIR, I wish to complain in the strongest terms that it has taken my son nine years to do the obvious. I am otherwise delighted. Carol Whitfield, mother of the groom.
Small ads
- WANTED: one groom, punctual. Apply at the front at 2pm.
- FOR SALE: single life, barely used, one careful owner.
- LOST: best man's speech. If found, please do not return.
Photograph captions
Say who is in the picture, where and when, in the present tense: Amy and Joe on Whitby beach in 2019, shortly before the rain.
The thank-you
To our parents, for everything. To our wedding party, who have given up weekends, money and patience. To everyone who travelled. And to each of you, for being part of the best day we have had.
Name the people who paid, the people who helped and the people who travelled.
Practical notices
- Share your photographs at [album address] and tag them #[yourhashtag].
- The bar closes at 11.45pm. The coach to the hotel leaves from the main gate at 12.15am.
- Confetti is welcome on the lawn and banned in the barn.
- We would love you to be present with us during the ceremony, so please keep phones away until the drinks.
Three rules for all of it
- Short sentences. If you run out of breath reading one aloud, cut it in two.
- Specific beats sentimental. "He irons his football shirts" says more than "he is my best friend".
- Nothing that would embarrass anyone in front of their grandmother.
For headlines, see 75 headline ideas. For what goes on each page, see what to put in a wedding newspaper.
Would you prefer someone else wrote it?
I interview you both, write and design the whole paper and have it printed and delivered. See how it works and the prices. If you are making your own, the template pack gives you eight laid-out pages to start from.