Ceremony Programs

lndskelly

I was just wondering how many people are doing ceremony programs. I'm leaning towards not doing them in order to save money and I can't remember ever really caring about getting them at previous weddings I've gone to. How do other people feel about them? Are they a must have or can do without? I plan on putting a tube of bubbles on every ceremony seat with a card that says something like "Please blow bubbles as we exit as Mr. & Mrs." (outdoor wedding). Thoughts?

dljackma

I am in the same boat as you. I reaaly don't want to spend the money on the or the time designing them myself so I am leaning towards not having programs. I know when I go to weddings I don't really care if they have one or not.

emarston1

Personally, I like them especially if it's a religious service.  It's nice to know what's coming up so you can kind of track where you are during the service.  Plus it gives me something to do while I'm waiting for the ceremony to start, etc.

lndskelly

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_ceremony-programs-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:88Discussion:bd653f31-3ae4-4b58-8617-d13e53767c94Post:154e97c5-5612-4039-8dfa-50e058b7fc45">Re: Ceremony Programs</a>:
[QUOTE]Personally, I like them especially if it's a religious service.  It's nice to know what's coming up so you can kind of track where you are during the service.  Plus it gives me something to do while I'm waiting for the ceremony to start, etc.
Posted by emarston1[/QUOTE]

<div>Yeah, that's the thing - we are having a secular ceremony (we are atheist) so there won't be anything other than our officiant speaking and us saying our vows. Pretty simple stuff. </div>

rcj2rcd

Programs aren't required, but I always like them. If you're looking to cut costs, then skip the programs, no one is going to say "gosh, I can't believe there weren't programs!!" (and if they do, they have issues...) If you want, you can make a mini program listing the WP, music, a little thank you to the guests, etc. I was looking at knot pics for inspiration for my programs and saw these really cute mini pocket sized programs.

sammichele

We're having an outdoor ceremony also and I've been thinking about skipping the programs.  If anything I just wanted to have all of the WP & parents names, and maybe a "in memory" section.  I like your idea for a card with the bubbles though - I bought bubbles a while back and I might have to steal that idea!

lndskelly

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_ceremony-programs-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:88Discussion:bd653f31-3ae4-4b58-8617-d13e53767c94Post:ce3aa5d9-31f7-4606-a641-9d3f094725e7">Re: Ceremony Programs</a>:
[QUOTE]We're having an outdoor ceremony also and I've been thinking about skipping the programs.  If anything I just wanted to have all of the WP & parents names, and maybe a "in memory" section.  I like your idea for a card with the bubbles though - I bought bubbles a while back and I might have to steal that idea!
Posted by sammichele[/QUOTE]

<div>Go for it :) I thought it would make a really cute picture if everyone blew bubbles as we exit the ceremony but wasn't sure they would know exactly when to do it without the card for instructions. I like this idea especially because everything is happening at the same location and we are staying the night on-site so there would be no other "leaving" opportunity for people to blow bubbles and such. I fount this picture that seems to incorporate all the elements we are both thinking about: short program/bubbles: <a href="http://weddings.theknot.com/Real-Weddings/79681/detailview.aspx?type=3&id=79681&STOPREDIRECTING=TRUE&wedding%20details=programs">http://weddings.theknot.com/Real-Weddings/79681/detailview.aspx?type=3&id=79681&STOPREDIRECTING=TRUE&wedding%20details=programs</a></div>

Sue-n-Kevin

I guess it depends on what you think the programs should be.......

I have some that I bought months ago, now re-thinking whether I want to use them (book style) versus making some that are fans (since it will be August). My intent was to use them to name the ceremony associated people (wedding party), detail the Memorials (for my brother and Kevin's Dad), and have the music named and the personal reasons for selecting it (ie the newspaper article detailing my Mom's wedding 60 years ago mentioned her Mom, my grandma, walked in to "Ave Maria", so we are having that for the Moms). I have also grappled with the idea of putting our vows in there (horrors!), because we are in our mid 50's and that crap means a lot to us.

In a nutshell, to me they serve as a personal reference for the people attending your ceremony who may not understand everything happening or the significance. You don't have to have them. For many, they will be fodder for the recycle bin. But for close friends, or family, they serve (IMO) as a way to detail what is happening and why it matters to YOU.