You do not want different margins. Period. You want something that looks like different margins, yes, but margins, in Word are a Section property and you do not want a different Section. A section break does not care which page it is on, if you put text in front of it, it will move so you would end up with your special margins on your second page.

Using the first-page header/footer settings lets you do things that are only on the first page.

You can emulate different (wider) margins on the first page by putting borderless textboxes or frames in the different first page header.

How can I get a different header/footer on the first page?

See Letterhead Textboxes and Styles Tutorial - two-page template download that demonstrates use of:

• Textboxes in headers and footers to reserve space for preprinted letterhead (or cover page) - simulation of wider margins
• Use of the StyleRef Field to insert information from the body of a letter into the continuation page headers automatically. Note that either a character style or a paragraph style will work with the StyleRef field. The style does not have to change any formatting - it can just serve as a marker for the field. In the tutorial the styles used do have formatting functions as well -- primarily the paragraph spacing and the designation of the following style. See Styles for more on styles.
• Insertion of a date automatically that will not change when you open the document at a later date.

You could also use a style set with different paragraph indents on the first page, but that would require that you change styles when you move to the second page.


The rest of this is unsolicited advice in response to questions you haven't asked. Feel free to skip it.

From your questions, I suspect that you have relatively little training on using Word. You may know another word processing program or programming very well, but Word has a number of peculiarities. Trying to use it without training is an uphill battle.



If you are developing templates for others to use, I strongly urge you to spend some time learning Word. You will save yourself (and your users) considerable time and grief.


Start with the entire tutorial at:
Basic concepts of Microsoft Word: An introduction by Shauna Kelly



Then move to an exploration of use of Styles.
Understanding Styles in Microsoft Word

Tips for Understanding Styles in Word by Shauna Kelly



From there, learn about the different kinds of templates, their uses, and where they should be stored.
Templates in Microsoft Word



If you are using Word much at all, the time you spend doing this reading will repay itself four-fold within an amazingly short period. I promise.


I resisted learning Styles for years thinking I didn't need them. What I didn't understand was that they were central to how everything else in Word works.


If you are using automatic numbering or Tables of Contents (figures) here are some more pages.
How to create numbered headings or outline numbering in Ribbon Versions of Word by Shauna Kelly

How to create a table of contents in Microsoft Word by Shauna Kelly

Complex Documents



At the beginning I mentioned Sections. Sections are very useful but also confusing. Headers and footers live in sections, as does page numbering. Word will insert section breaks without telling you when you change page orientation or numbering. Sections / Headers and Footers in Microsoft Word 2007-2013