Carol Service Printing for London Churches and Schools: Orders of Service and Posters

Carol service printing sounds like a small job. It isn’t. Someone has to put a programme in every hand and a poster on every wall. All of it has to be ready before the first note. If you are organising an event in London this year, a bit of planning now saves a lot of panic later.

This guide covers what to print, which sizes work, and the mistakes that catch people out. ExactPrint prints the artwork you supply, so everything below is about getting that artwork ready.

Why Carol Service Printing Needs an Early Start

Carol season usually falls in mid to late December. That is a narrow window, and it is shared with rehearsals, rotas, flowers and about forty other jobs. Print is the one task you can finish early, so finish it early. Future you will be grateful.[CW1] 

Start with three plain questions

1. Who is coming? Families, neighbours, regulars, people who have never been before?
2. What will they hold in their hands? One sheet, or a proper booklet?
3. How will they find out? A poster, a banner, or both?

Answer those and the rest gets much easier.

Words and Licences Come First

Here is a small thing that gets missed. Lyrics and readings may need permission, and only you can check that. Ask your own church or school about the words and any copyright licence before the artwork goes anywhere near a printer. Do it early, because answers can take a while to come back.

Order of Service Printing: Keep It Easy to Read

Your guests will hold it in their hands for a good while, so make it kind to tired eyes. Order of service printing works best when the page is calm and the type is big.

Two sizes cover most needs. [CW2] An A5 order of service measures 148 x 210mm, so it fits in one hand. An A4 order of service measures 210 x 297mm and gives you more room for large type and the full running order.

Pick the one your guests will read more easily. ExactPrint’s A5 order of service page lists urgent orders shipped on the same day, and the A4 page lists same-day dispatch for urgent needs.

A few habits make the page better:

• Use big type. Picture someone at the back without their glasses.
• Write the running order in plain words.
• Leave white space. A crowded page feels like a tax form.
• Thank your helpers with a line at the end.
• Proofread twice, then hand it to a friend.

When One Sheet Is Not Enough

Some programmes grow. Readings, a choir list, notices, a note from the organiser. If yours is getting long, the A5 stapled brochure suits longer programmes. You keep the same A5 size, just with more pages to work with. The page lists same-day delivery at checkout for urgent orders.

Carol Concert Posters: Get People Through the Door

The best carol concert posters do one job. They tell people what is on, and where, in about three seconds. Anything more and people walk past.

Lead with the event name in big letters. Add the date, the time, the place and one line that makes people want to come. Leave out the rest. The full details belong in the programme.

Size is the next choice. An A3 poster measures 297 x 420mm, which suits noticeboards and hall walls. An A2 poster measures 420 x 594mm and gives you a larger surface, so people can read it from further away.

Got a long corridor? Go bigger. Got a crowded board with six other notices? Also go bigger.

The A3 poster page lists delivery in London on the day of order, and the A2 poster page lists a same-day option at checkout.

Add a Roller Banner Near the Entrance

A roller banner is tall and narrow, which makes it easy to spot from across a room. The pull up roller banner 800 x 2000mm is one option if you want guests to know they have found the right door. Plenty of people say pull-up banner instead, and they mean the same thing. The banner page lists same-day delivery across London.

Keep the design simple. One headline, one short line, and your event detail. A banner is read at a distance, so tiny print is wasted on it.

Pick Your Print: Sizes at a Glance

Here is the whole list in one place.

A Simple Print Plan You Can Follow

Here is an order that keeps most people out of trouble.

1. Settle the running order with everyone involved.
2. Check lyrics and any licence with your church or school.
3. Write the poster wording first, because posters go up first.
4. Build the artwork and proofread it twice.
5. Order posters and any banner so people can plan.
6. Order programmes once you have a better idea of numbers.
7. Do a last proof check before you press the button.

Mistakes That Sneak Past Tired Organisers

Typos in the Big Type

The bigger the text, the louder the typo. Read your headline backwards, one word at a time. It sounds odd, but it works.

Forgetting the Practical Details

Posters without a place or time make people ask questions. Programmes without a running order make guests whisper. Put the basics where eyes land first.

Cramming Too Much In

If everything is important, nothing is. Choose what matters, and let the white space do some work.

Conclusion: Plan Early, Print Calmly

Good carol service printing is mostly planning. Choose your sizes, check your words, proofread twice and give yourself time. Do that and the evening mostly takes care of itself, whether you are in Hackney, Southwark or Islington.

ExactPrint can print the artwork you supply for your London event, from programmes to posters and banners. Ready to get the word out? Start with an A5 order of service, then add posters and a banner.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size should an order of service be?

A5 fits easily in one hand and a coat pocket. Choose A4 if you want bigger type or more room for the running order. Pick whichever your guests will read most easily.

How many orders of service should I print?

Count your seats, then add a few spares for latecomers and helpers. A rough guess usually runs short. If numbers are unclear, check with whoever manages bookings or seating before you order.

Can I print carol lyrics in the programme?

Check first. Lyrics and readings can carry copyright, so ask your own church or school whether a licence covers you. ExactPrint prints the artwork you supply, so that check is yours to make.

Which poster size should I choose?

A3 suits noticeboards and smaller spots. A2 gives you a bigger surface that people can read from further away. Measure your display space first, then pick the size that fits.

When should I order my printing?

Earlier is easier. Carol season usually falls in mid to late December, so settle your wording and proofs well ahead. Rushed proofreading is where most mistakes sneak in. Then you can order calmly.