Do I Have To Have A Wedding Program?

[rachelia160]

Thanks for all the helpful replies!! 

 

@@smileitseb I swear ALL BOYS ARE THE SAME and can't plan ahead!! 

 

 

We didn't do one and I don't regret it at all. Everyone knew eachother as we did a welcome party and we all hung together all week. Everyone knew who was who and it would have been redundant. Of course everyone has their own opinion


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This was my train of thought. I know they're nice, I was just wondering if they were strictly necessary and I'm glad to hear they aren't!

 

 

We aren't doing one, but we also don't have a bridal party. But my sister got married in Mexico and everyone is so well acquainted by the wedding that it isn't really necessary to tell people who the bridal party is. The only reason I considered doing one is if I do fans for the ceremony I might do a program fan. But I think I've nixed this idea because I'm too lazy to worry about the fans and lugging them down there. Ha!

 

I am doing an itinerary though, but that will include more than just the wedding day. My plan is to share it electronically (we set up a Facebook group for guests) before we leave and then have it printed out for them as they arrive. As a guest I like to know where I'm supposed to be and when, so I want to provide that to my guests! I'm sure 85% will ignore it though

 

 

When I was planning on doing one I wanted to do a fan, but I'm with you...I'm lazy, DIY dificient, and already stressed about packing stuff as it is!!

 

I'm doing an itinerary as well that I'm including in the welcome bags. If I hadn't done that I probably would have been more on board with a program, but between invitations, itineraries, menu cards, yadda yadda...it just felt like I didn't need another piece of paper!

 

 

@@rachelia160

 

Also having the same groomsmen situation.  I still want to be able to have something in print to remember the day...especially since one of my best friends is going to be our Officiant, I thought it would be nice to recognize her someone in there.  I realize nobody will save them.  but we will. 

 

then there is the whole, do I print them in Spanish and English because our guests speak both only Spanish, and or only English.

ahh

 

 

My one hesitation now in not having one is the sentimental value of it just to remind me of the day   I'm sure it would be nice to look back on.

 

Hi @rachelia160  We thought it would be fun to do square program fans instead of traditional programs. One side has a paragraph with us thanking everyone for being part of our day (didn't list the bridal party or anything) and the other side is very short and sweet - it says:

 

Order of Ceremony:

 

Music Starts

We Get Married

Everyone Parties

 

Hoping everyone likes it!  And it really is a good fan too, and people will need it in the Jamaica heat!

 

I bookmarked a link to a program like this, I think it's so cute!! And if I do one, I'll probably do a fan, too.

 

 

I DIY'd petal fan programs.  They were a lot of work, but they basically cost me nothing.  I love seeing the programs in pictures, but not sure how useful everyone thought they were.  Nobody was like: "wow, your programs were so helpful".  On a personal level, I always like knowing where we are in a ceremony, so I appreciate them.

 

 

The link for DIY template is here: http://www.ayleebits.com/2006/06/10/diy-fan-programs/

 

 

This is GORGEOUS!! If I wasn't so DIY stupid I would totally do this!

 

NOW JADE sent a printed timeline to all of my guests the night before the wedding on where to meet and what time.

 

They do????! That's amazing!!! I've already been worried about rounding everyone up at the right time since everyone will be in "Vacation Mode," but I'm sure that will help.  Thanks for letting me know!

 

I wanted programs, mostly for the sentimental value so I can look back or my kids can see them. I would have loved to see my parents program bc they can barely remember what was done at their wedding. I think they look good in pictures and I made raffia fan ones so they are useful. You can always make the template snd add in groomsmen names a month out. I also made a note on there thanking guests, reminding them to take their fans and maracas and the order of group pics so they don't wander away. Plus as a guest I love programs, it is something to prevent boredom and being type A I like knowing the order of which things are happening. My 2 cents

 

My biggest reason for wanting them is the sentimental value. And I'm the same way, I like knowing what's happening in a wedding or event, but I'm not sure everyone is as type A as me!

[calgarybride2015]

I get sentimental value I saved one of everything I did do (invite, timeline, pre travel items, OOT cup, maracas, fan, etc).

 

 

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[MrsCtoB]

I definitely don't think you HAVE to do one. I think you should do one, only if you want to. I agree, by the wedding day, I think your guests will have a good grasp on who is who. I have raffia fans decorated and I am thinking I might print a simple program myself. Only for a keepsake but I don't expect my guests to even notice, to be honest lol 

[beckys98]

@@rachelia160 Are you definitely doing a menu card?

 

We are doing a Jamaican menu so I kind of feel like we should so people know what they are eating but, again, I'm lazy (and free-time-challenged). I thought we could include a note of thanks on the reverse side, and I guess it would add some color to the table...

 

I also need to find a good design that I like for all this stuff. I haven't found one yet, but it should probably be next on my to-do list!

[hellosassypants]

We are skipping the wedding programs. It's mainly our family and some friends which they already know who is who. I think we will do the wedding favors and stick with that.

[andreaberretta]

Hello brides!! I made my own programs, and I'm planning to put them on each room for our guests to know when to be ready.  I also put a phrase in the front (that I got from google oopsy!) to thank everyone for making the effort to be there with us.

 

In our case, we are having a Welcome Dinner a day before the wedding, and also I wanted to specify the different locations we are having for the ceremony, cocktail and reception. 

 

I think that if you are having every ceremony and reception party in the same location, then you don't really need the programs.

 

I attached my itineraries here. 

 

 

[racht33]

@andreaberrettaI love your program!!!  Did you create your own template for this?

[girlinthecity97]

@@rachelia160 - I just got married and opted not to do one. I too flip flopped but in the end had my hands full with all the things that I definitely wanted. Additionally, we had a small bridal party & 60 guests attending so I felt less guilty about not having one given the small scale of things.  

 

Also, @@calgarybride2015 raises a great point about guests getting to know each other in advance of the wedding.  My guests did just that whether it was introducing themselves when they spotted others with our welcome totes, or over drinks at the welcome party or during nightly meet ups at the martini lounge.  No one judged or commented about the absence of them & in the end, I am glad I skipped them.  

 

I know some people feel guests should receive something upon arrival for the ceremony, if that's you, I would suggest folded fans with a cute tag that welcomes them to the ceremony or something along those lines.

 

Happy Planning!

Edited March 4, 2015 by girlinthecity97

[rachelia160]

@@rachelia160 Are you definitely doing a menu card?

 

We are doing a Jamaican menu so I kind of feel like we should so people know what they are eating but, again, I'm lazy (and free-time-challenged). I thought we could include a note of thanks on the reverse side, and I guess it would add some color to the table...

 

I also need to find a good design that I like for all this stuff. I haven't found one yet, but it should probably be next on my to-do list!

 

Yes, menus are a go, I just got them in the mail yesterday. It was half to let people know what they're eating, and half to just make everything seem a little fancy and to fill up the table a little.  

 

 

As you can see, we included the thank you at the bottom, so considering that's already good to go, I think I'm gonna skip the program.   I don't think anyone will be horribly scandalized or declare the wedding a DISASTER because I didn't have one, so why give myself one more thing to stress about?

 

(PS, my menu and invitations and menu were done by Courtney Jones Design at https://www.etsy.com/people/cjonesdesign. They turned out AMAZING! Everything was just delivered from Vistaprint yesterday and I couldn't be happier!)

[beckys98]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I love this menu card. So beachy and pretty, and I was looking for an Etsy vendor. Guess I know what I'm scoping out tonight

 

Yes, menus are a go, I just got them in the mail yesterday. It was half to let people know what they're eating, and half to just make everything seem a little fancy and to fill up the table a little.  

 

 

As you can see, we included the thank you at the bottom, so considering that's already good to go, I think I'm gonna skip the program.   I don't think anyone will be horribly scandalized or declare the wedding a DISASTER because I didn't have one, so why give myself one more thing to stress about?

 

(PS, my menu and invitations and menu were done by Courtney Jones Design at https://www.etsy.com/people/cjonesdesign. They turned out AMAZING! Everything was just delivered from Vistaprint yesterday and I couldn't be happier!)