Wedding No programs for wedding

[Izzy03]

I understand the point of wedding programs, but I have always viewed them as a waste of money. I have noticed most people leave them behind or throw them away.

I realize that I don''t technically have to provide a program, but technically the bride doesn''t have to carry a bouquet either! Would be a no-no if I didn''t have programs made?

**We are having two flowers girls and two ring bearers, but no groomsmen or bridesmaids. So there isn''t much of a bridal party to mentions.

 

[jcrow]

most weddings i''ve gone to didn''t have programs. that''s A-OK with me

 

[marchswallowbird]

I''m going to provide programs, because on one page I want to remind guests how to get from the chapel to the reception, with a map. Also, there is an hour between the ceremony end and when the reception begins, so I want to remind people of that and let them know what they can go look at (Yosemite) in the meantime that''s nearby.

Lastly, not sure what music I''m including, but I always think it is nice to let people know what they are listening to. Plus it keeps them from getting too bored while they are waiting for the ceremony to begin (they can busy themselves reading the program!)

That said, mine are going to be the printed on the computer variety; simple and inexpensive.

 

[ChargerGrrl]

i too didn't see the need for programs, but did want to provide fans for our guests. so i just combined the two and it worked!

 

[vita*dolce]

i don''t think you have to provide them. every time someone tries to give me a program at a wedding i try to decline it. i definitely agree that they''re kind of a waste of money, you don''t really need to tell people what''s coming next, most of them have a pretty good idea of what to expect.

 

[julabean]

Date: 8/25/2008 7:36:56 PM
Author: ChargerGrrl
i too didn''t see the need for programs, but did want to provide fans for our guests. so i just combined the two and it worked!

Mini thread jack: ChargerGrrl! I LOVE that idea!

 

[ChargerGrrl]

Date: 8/25/2008 7:47:06 PM
Author: julabean

Date: 8/25/2008 7:36:56 PM
Author: ChargerGrrl
i too didn''t see the need for programs, but did want to provide fans for our guests. so i just combined the two and it worked!

Mini thread jack: ChargerGrrl! I LOVE that idea!

THANKS! they were my favorite wedding DIY project.

 

[Gypsy]

I''m not doing them. Paper isn''t important to me.

 

[musey]

The only reasons I've considered doing them are:

1) Our family/friends are quite spread out and don't know each other, so the bridal party/family listing might actually be of interest to people

2) There are a few quotes I'd like to share and can't think of another way to do it

3) Our music will be performed by a classical guitarist and the pieces are a bit obscure, so many of our heavily-music-buffs crowd will probably be curious about titles/artists

4) The biggest reason is that we're not planning on doing much as far as decorating for our outdoor/woodsy ceremony area. Colorful programs would/could add some visual interest, especially if we placed them on each chair.


However, I don't think it's worth the time/money/paper waste. So we probably won't do it.

 

[buttercup80]

We are having a Jewish ceremony and most of our guests are not Jewish - that''s the ONLY reason we''re having programs. I just designed them on Publisher and am going to print them at home on card stock. . .

 

[Izzy03]

Thanks for all the input so far!

I guess in my case, I really don''t need them. Aside from having no bridal party, the ceremony and reception will haven at the same location.

 

[kama_s]

I''m not having programs, even though my ceremony and reception aren''t in the same place. Think of the environment and the trees you''ll be saving

 

[Izzy03]

Date: 8/25/2008 10:13:36 PM
Author: kama_s
I''m not having programs, even though my ceremony and reception aren''t in the same place. Think of the environment and the trees you''ll be saving

I hear you! I am an ecologist so I hate the thought of wasted paper!

 

[Rachie]

Date: 8/25/2008 7:47:06 PM
Author: julabean

Date: 8/25/2008 7:36:56 PM

Author: ChargerGrrl

i too didn''t see the need for programs, but did want to provide fans for our guests. so i just combined the two and it worked!

Mini thread jack: ChargerGrrl! I LOVE that idea!

Jumping on the thread jack wagon: I also love that idea! This would be great for my August wedding next year! Where did you find the fans?

 

[swingirl]

I don''t think a program is necessary. Everyone knows what is going to happen. No one saves them. If you wanted something as a keepsake you could get one nice hand calligraphied sheet made up just to remember who spoke, what songs, etc.

 

[swimmer]

Date: 8/25/2008 9:21:39 PM
Author: buttercup80
We are having a Jewish ceremony and most of our guests are not Jewish - that''s the ONLY reason we''re having programs. I just designed them on Publisher and am going to print them at home on card stock. . .

Yeah, explaining the all Hebrew ceremony to a largely Catholic and Atheist crowd was our primary reason for printing them at work...but they came in handy for sun shielding by the Groom''s side.

 

[julesbeth]

I am also thinking of not doing them. It is more money, more time, more effort and MORE GRAY HAIRS.


Our ceremony is pretty short - I think people generally know whats going on.

 

[clop]

Woohoo! No programs is an excellent idea! (Partially because my wedding is this Saturday, and we don''t have them finalized yet).

Ultimately I think we''d need them because we''re singing two hymns at the request of our parents, and we need to provide the lyrics. Only 12 guests out of 115 will know the lyrics. Actually they are the only 12 that will be singing anyway, so perhaps we don''t need them afterall.

I will show this thread to the fiance, to bolster my argument

 

[clop]

Date: 8/26/2008 10:21:03 AM
Author: julesbeth
I am also thinking of not doing them. It is more money, more time, more effort and MORE GRAY HAIRS.



Our ceremony is pretty short - I think people generally know whats going on.

Ditto! However our ceremony is 50 minutes long.. Maybe it will give them something to do to ward off nodding off.

 

[swimmer]

threadjack/ Clop, how is your dress?

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I''m not doing programs nor am I doing a rehersal/rehersal dinner. My feeling is that we''ve all been to and in weddings before. We know what goes on and in what order it happens.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I think it is fine not to have them. Though it is nice to know what your in store for

 

[pjean]

Date: 8/26/2008 10:22:19 AM
Author: clop
Woohoo! No programs is an excellent idea! (Partially because my wedding is this Saturday, and we don''t have them finalized yet).


Ultimately I think we''d need them because we''re singing two hymns at the request of our parents, and we need to provide the lyrics. Only 12 guests out of 115 will know the lyrics. Actually they are the only 12 that will be singing anyway, so perhaps we don''t need them afterall.

I will show this thread to the fiance, to bolster my argument

I''m planning on having just lyrics, nothing else. While my ratio of singers to non-singers will be only slightly better (

) I think the non-singers will feel more comfortable if they can follow along. (Less uncomfortable? Whatever.)

 

[pocahontas]

I''ll be doing the same as Chargergirl. I also want to provide fans for my guests and don''t like the idea of using up more paper than is necessary so I''ll be printing my program up on my fans. Also, since I''m getting married in the DR, combining the fans and programs means one less thing to travel down with.

 

[clop]

Date: 8/26/2008 11:15:09 AM
Author: pjean

I''m planning on having just lyrics, nothing else. While my ratio of singers to non-singers will be only slightly better (

) I think the non-singers will feel more comfortable if they can follow along. (Less uncomfortable? Whatever.)

Ah, not a bad idea. Though that may be a thorn in the fiance''s side, because it will be a blatant reminder of what he doesn''t want in the ceremony.

It makes sense though for the other guests to be able to follow along. I think it will be hard to understand half the people singing in english, half in chinese.

Threadjack sorry! Hi Swimmer! Thanks for your inquiry! I updated my last thread a few days later... it''s definitely not as bad as before, but now there are other smaller issues, but it''s 4 days away from the wedding, and it''s not terrible, though certain parts are awkward. It doesn''t bother me anymore - nothing''s perfect, I tried, and while it doesn''t look great, it''s not hideous.

 

[happy in love]

We didn''t have them. They just weren''t important to me, and lots of times I either don''t really pay attention to them at other''s weddings, or I keep referring to it through the ceremony cuz I get wrapped up in "who''s that" and stuff.

Bottom line IMO, if you want them go for it, but they are not a huge necessity.

 

[aprilcait]

I wouldn''t have had a program either if the music director at the church we were married in hadn''t insisted that we have one. If I was a guest, I wouldn''t miss a program (I always leave them behind even when I try to remember to bring the program with me).

 

[Rhea]

I like the idea of them, at least the idea as done by Martha. I didn''t do them and have only been to one wedding that did have them.