Wedding Vows & Ceremony Discussions

Are programs necessary?

We're getting married outside in the summer. Our ceremony will be brief (no more than 30 minutes, probably even less) and on the secular side. So is it necessary to have programs for the ceremony? A lot my married friends tell me that the majority of theirs got left behind, and they feel like no one would have missed them if they weren't there. Are programs meant more for longer, religious ceremonies held in a house of worship?

I just don't know what I would write on a program besides the names of our wedding party and officiant, and maybe a thank you note to our guests. Other than that, I don't really see the point. It would seem kind of silly to me to write an outline of our ceremony when it's going to be so short.

Thoughts?? Are any of you other ladies skipping programs? Does it bother you when you attend weddings and they don't have them?

Re: Are programs necessary?

  • We are not doing programs. Solely based on we both feel it is a waste of paper. I mean sure paper is recycable but still. I have never actually been to a wedding i dont think that didnt have one though.
    But we are having a civil ceremony.... there will be 2 readings, other than that pretty straight forward... I cant imagine anyone getting upset or confused.
    Though I bet my mum and aunt will try to tell me they are necessary...
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  • @SunshineShades my mom is saying the same thing! But I don't see the point in having them for a brief ceremony. As a guest I do enjoy looking through them before the wedding begins, but I've only seen them at more religious ceremonies that might confuse guests, or ceremonies that include a lot of songs, readings, etc.
  • edited January 2012
    I'm not planning on having them, I think they're more important if there are religious aspects that guests many not be aware of, or the couple wants to honor someone, or explain songs, etc.  I just don't have anything I want to say badly enough to justify the cost. 
  • mandy270mandy270 member
    10 Comments
    edited January 2012
    My FI and I are also having an outdoor wedding and the only reason that I want to have programs is because they are going to double as personal fans for the guests. Never know how hot it will be in August in WI. If we didn't have a double reason for them, we would do without.

    I've been to weddings without programs and didn't have a problem with it at all. One less thing to get stuffed in my purse and stay there forever.


    These are the type of programs we will be using: http://wedding-paper-products.com/Fan-Programs.php
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  • Not necessary.

    They're useful for ceremonies where the guests need to say things or look up a hymn in a book.  The only other thing that might be helpful to guests is a list of the wedding party and names and their relationship to you, but you can do those explanations in speeches.
  • I would agree. If you are having a long ceremony, especially at a church, they are important since they have the readings and music in them. In your case, it seems they would not be missed!
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  • I am not doing them.  It is such a small wedding anyways, everyone knows who is who!
  • We were going to skip them too, but FI is Lutheran and his pastor recently let us know that there is some "call and response"-ish stuff that the guests need to be aware of and need to know what to say, so the entire back side of our programs contains all of this they need to know. 
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  • The only thing we liked about programs was to include a personal note to our guests thanking them for coming and for their support. Instead we wrote a nice note to all of our guests and are going to frame it and put it by the guest book. I personally dont like programs- I feel they make the service feel like a play or recital.

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  • I'm doing programs mostly for the "thank you guests" part; I originally wasn't going to do them but I found a program that I thought was very sweet. There was a section obviously thanking the guests, but there is a section with "words of wisdom for marriage from mom" and it's a few lines where our moms share their best advice for a happy marriage.

    At the back is a crossword puzzle about my fiance and I and I think it's a nice touch. Definitely not for everyone but something I enjoyed!
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  • Thanks for your feedback everyone. I am still debating, but I do like mandy's idea of having programs mainly as fans for the guests. My wedding is in the DC area in August and I know it will probably be hot/humid! So maybe they are worth it for that reason alone. I will figure it out! :)
  • I'm not doing them either. When I get programs, I spent the first minute reading everything that is coming up, and that kind of spoils the surprise. I guess I'm afraid guests would be looking more at their program than at us :). Plus, I hate wasting paper.
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