Event Program and Order-of-Service Booklet Printing Australia

A well-printed event program does more than list what happens next. It tells your guests they are somewhere that matters, sets the tone before a single word is spoken, and gives them something to take home. Whether you are printing order-of-service booklets for a funeral, conference agendas for a two-day summit, graduation programs for 400 families, or race-day guides for a country meet, the same core questions come up: what size, how many pages, which paper, how long will it take?

This guide covers all of it, from spec decisions to artwork setup, so you can order with confidence and receive something your audience will actually appreciate.

What Format Do Event Programs Use?

The A5 saddle-stitch booklet is the standard for almost every event program format in Australia. At 148 x 210mm it fits naturally in one hand, slides into a jacket pocket or clutch, and prints economically on a half-A4 sheet.

Page counts run in multiples of four (because each printed sheet becomes four sides when folded): 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, or 32 pages. The four cover pages count in that total (front cover, inside front, inside back, back cover), so a 12-page booklet gives you 8 internal pages of content.

A4 is sometimes used for conference agendas where a large delegate list or complex timetable needs more space. Check whether your content genuinely needs the extra room before upgrading the size, A5 handles most events comfortably.

Paper Stock and Finish Options

Cover stock is where readers form their first impression. Interior stock is where legibility lives. Choosing both correctly prevents the most common print regret: a flimsy cover that curls after one read.

Cover options

For funeral and memorial booklets, the matte laminated 250gsm option is the most commonly chosen. It feels considered and dignified, resists fingerprints, and holds up if guests keep the booklet for years.

For corporate conferences and trade events, gloss laminated 250gsm gives a polished, professional result and photographs well in post-event social content.

Interior pages

Interior pages are printed on the same stock as the selected cover, matching the finish throughout. For text-heavy content, a matte or uncoated stock improves readability significantly compared to high-gloss. If your program includes full-page photography, gloss stock makes images pop.

Order-of-Service Booklets: Funeral and Memorial Printing

Printing a funeral or memorial order of service is one of the more sensitive print jobs you will handle. The practical considerations are straightforward; the emotional stakes are higher.

A few things that make the process smoother:

• Order early if you can. Production runs 3-7 working days after proof approval. If you are working within a typical 5-7 day funeral window, upload your artwork the same day you have confirmed the ceremony details.
• Double-check all names and dates. The print team will produce exactly what you supply. Read the proof carefully before approving, full name spellings, dates, and photo orientation are the most common sources of error.
• Keep the layout clean. A centred layout with generous margins, a clear cover photo, and a simple run-of-show reads more easily than a dense design. Leave breathing room.
• Typical content to include: cover photo and name, dates of birth and passing, welcome and introduction, order of proceedings (entrance music, readings, eulogy, hymns, tribute, commendation, recessional music), a short note from the family, acknowledgements.
• Photograph: including one or two personal photos inside is standard and always appreciated. Supply images at the highest resolution available and at least 300dpi at the intended print size.

For small family services, 50-75 booklets is a typical order. Larger community memorial services may need 150-300.

Conference and Corporate Event Programs

Conference agendas and event programs serve a different purpose to order-of-service booklets: they are working documents that delegates consult throughout the day. Legibility and navigation are the priority.

Structure to consider for a conference program:

What to include

• Welcome message from the organiser or keynote sponsor
• At-a-glance schedule: time, session title, room or track
• Detailed session listings: speaker name, title, affiliation, talk description
• Speaker biographies (short, 3-5 sentences each)
• Venue map or floor plan
• Networking and social event details
• Sponsor acknowledgements and logos
• WiFi password, hashtag, app or QR code for digital companion

Design and layout tips

Use a consistent grid so delegates can scan quickly. Separate tracks with colour coding where content runs in parallel streams. A landscape A5 orientation (210mm wide x 148mm tall) works well for timetable-heavy content, the wider format suits multi-column grids.

If your conference runs multiple days, allocate one section per day rather than interleaving all sessions. Tabbed dividers can be simulated by printing a dark band at the edge of each day’s section, creating visual markers even without physical tabs.

Graduation and Ceremony Programs

Graduation programs carry an archival quality: families keep them. The print quality you choose reflects on the institution and becomes part of someone’s memory of the day.

Key inclusions for graduation programs:

• Institution name, ceremony title, date and venue
• Academic procession order
• Welcome from the Vice-Chancellor or President
• Graduate list by faculty or discipline (this section usually determines page count)
• Degree and award descriptions
• Acknowledgement of Country
• Order of proceedings (processional music, address, graduation rites, recessional)
• Institutional history or statement of values (optional)

A longer graduate list, anything over 100 graduates, often pushes the page count to 20-32 pages. Print specifications stay the same regardless of page count.

Race Day Programs

Race day programs are a reliable use case for high-volume, cost-effective booklet printing. Country racing clubs, provincial circuits, and metropolitan meetings all use printed guides alongside digital apps because not all attendees arrive with charged phones or data.

A race day program typically includes: meeting name and venue, race schedule with start times and distances, race fields (horse, barrier, jockey, trainer, odds), form guide notes, track conditions, and sponsor acknowledgements. Advertising from sponsors frequently offsets or covers the print cost entirely.

For race meetings, quantities from 200 to 2,000 are common. Order well enough in advance to allow for the proof round and final production, late changes to race fields can sometimes be accommodated as a quick text edit before print approval, but discuss this with the print team at the time of ordering.

Setting Up Your Artwork for Print

A5 booklet files require a few technical settings to come back correctly from print. Getting these right eliminates back-and-forth at the proof stage.

Key artwork requirements

• Page size: 148 x 210mm (A5) with a 3mm bleed on all four sides of every page
• File format: PDF (preferred), SVG, or Adobe Illustrator (.ai)
• Resolution: 300dpi minimum for all embedded photographs and raster artwork
• Colour mode: CMYK, not RGB, convert before exporting
• Fonts: outlined or embedded (do not submit live text unless using a PDF export that embeds fonts automatically)
• Crop marks: include in the PDF export
• Page order: supply pages in reading order (page 1, 2, 3…) unless your supplier specifies a printer’s spread layout

Supplying pages

The total page count includes the four cover pages. Supply the interior pages separately from the covers only if your printer requests this. Most printers (including Paperlust Print Shop) accept a single multi-page PDF with the cover as pages 1 and 2 (front and back outside covers) plus interior pages in sequence.

If you are using design software such as Adobe InDesign, Affinity Publisher, or Canva, each has a PDF export preset for print. Select “bleed and slug” in InDesign, or equivalent in your software, to include the 3mm bleed automatically.

How to Order A5 Event Booklets in Australia

Paperlust Print Shop handles A5 saddle-stitch booklets from $1.04 inc. GST per unit, with 8-32 page counts in multiples of four and six cover stock options including laminated finishes.

For more context on binding types and how saddle-stitch compares to perfect-bound and other formats, see our guide to booklet printing in Australia.

The ordering process:

1. Select your page count, cover stock, and finish at checkout
2. Upload your print-ready PDF
3. Receive a digital proof within 1-2 business days
4. Approve the proof in writing
5. Production runs 3-7 working days after approval
6. Australian delivery via express (1-2 days metro) or standard (2-5 days metro)

For large-quantity orders, rush requirements, or custom finishes such as flat foil on covers, contact the team directly via the product page for a quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard size for an event program in Australia?

A5 (148 x 210mm) is the most widely used size for event programs and order-of-service booklets in Australia. It fits comfortably in one hand, stores easily, and prints economically. A4 is sometimes used for very content-heavy conference programs, but A5 covers most events.

How many pages can an A5 saddle-stitch booklet have?

Saddle-stitch A5 booklets support 8-32 pages in multiples of four. This includes the four cover pages (front, inside front, inside back, back cover), so an 8-page booklet contains four internal content pages.

How long does it take to print order-of-service booklets in Australia?

Production at Paperlust Print Shop runs 3-7 working days after you approve your proof. Proofs are typically ready within 1-2 business days of upload. Add Australian express delivery (1-2 days metro) for your total lead time. Plan accordingly if you are printing for a funeral, as timelines can be tight.

Can I include photos in an order-of-service booklet?

Yes. Full-colour photo printing is standard. Supply portrait photographs at the highest resolution you have, and ensure they are at least 300dpi at the intended print size. A full-page A5 photo at 300dpi requires an image of approximately 1748 x 2480 pixels or larger.

What paper is best for a funeral order-of-service booklet?

The 250gsm matte laminated cover option is the most commonly chosen for memorials and funerals. It has a dignified, soft-touch finish, resists fingerprints, and holds up well for guests who keep the booklet as a keepsake. Interior pages on matte stock keep the tone consistent and improve text readability.

Is saddle-stitch suitable for all event programs?

Saddle-stitch is appropriate for booklets up to 32 pages. For longer documents (annual reports, full conference compendiums, detailed race books with large fields), perfect binding allows higher page counts. See the booklet printing guide for a comparison of binding types.

Do I need to supply the artwork, or can someone design it for me?

You supply print-ready artwork. Paperlust Print Shop does not offer in-house design services for booklets. If you need a designer, your order confirmation can be forwarded to a graphic designer who can prepare the A5 PDF to spec. Canva, Adobe InDesign, and Affinity Publisher all support A5 booklet templates.

What file format should I use for my booklet?

PDF is the preferred format. Export from your design software using a print-quality PDF preset with bleed included (3mm on all sides), embedded images at 300dpi, and fonts outlined or embedded. AI (Adobe Illustrator) and SVG files are also accepted.

Ready to print? Visit the A5 booklets product page to select your specs, upload your file, and get a proof started. For custom quantities, rush jobs, or cover foiling options, use the enquiry form on that page to reach the team directly.