Programs - 1 for every guest necessary?

SaraAlexine

The person that has done all my paper products has been so easy to work. Absolutely love her and she does an amazing job.She has made me a few samples of fan programs that I'm in love with. Her prices have been great so far, but the fan programs are $2.50 per program and that turns out to be about $375 for 150 fans for each guest which is way over what I want to spend.My question is -Are you printing enough programs for each person, or enough for 1 per couple (+ a handful more for the single guets).  If I cut my order in half I'd be much more willing to spend the $$$.Thanks!

trix1223

No.  My DD had tons of programs left over after her wedding.

jessicravens

I am doing 1 per family, and a few extras for the single ones.  Plus, they get left behind at the church.

danieliza1127

I made 100 for 120 guests and had a ton leftover.  Plan for 1 per couple and none for kids and you'll be in good shape.  The only reason you would need one per person is if you're planning to sit them on the seats before the guests arrive.  If you're just handing them out or putting them in baskets, you definitely don't need one per guest.

ffmaid

how do you plan to distribute them? In a basket at the entrance ( way less then half)Handed out by ushers to each person ( need 100%) ushers handing out 1 per couple for fans would be wierd in my mind

larissaknox15

honestly we are not even having programs! just like favors, theres always way too many left over!! BTW we are getting married the same day. . . . Congrats and good luck!

hrchick72

We are going to have one per couple, one per single person, and add 10%. That will be plenty for everyone who needs/wants to have one. We'll have the ushers hand them out as they seat guests.

[Deleted User]

Our ceremony and reception is in the same place. Our ceremony is in a garden...so instead of worrying if the programs will blow away or if they will be left at the ceremony site we are using them at our reception. Plus, i dont want ppl distracted or worried that they didnt pick up a program as they came in. Some of my friends that have gotten married would do the programs last minute and after realize the time of getting the programs wasnt worth it. (i'm not saying programs aren't worth it, its just advice from newly weds)I know personally my family would like to know who is who in my wedding, and since we are announcing everyone as they enter the reception, i am making 2 programs per table (6-8 ppl at each). They will stand up like a Tpee (around my centerpiece). i know personally i have never kept a program. Most ppl just look at them, but grandparents, parents, etc would be most likely to keep them as memorbillia. Don't stress over it. I looked at how much i needed based on how many ppl were at a table and not the guest count as a whole. Good Luck! Blesssing to you and yours!

dnajmi

This is a great question!!  Thanks for posting!We are having a similar problem, FI is a graphic designer so wanted to do the programs himself.  We bought DIY kits from Michael's but they were packs of 40.  We are having about 100 people.  We bought 3 packs but I told him I only thought we needed 2, and he totally disagrees with me...im sending him all the answers on this post!!I would love to be able to save $40 and return one!Thx!!

christalandadam

We made enough for about 70% of the guests. It was 90+ degrees outside and humid and we still had extras. See if you could buy the template and ensemble them yourself.

futuremrsTEH

Wow...I was just asking myself this question lastnight! I plan to make my programs this weekend and have decided on 1 per couple as well as 1 per single guest and none for children. Our wedding is next weekend and will most likely be 85+ degrees so I have decided on making fan programs. With 350 guests, I didn't want to spend all that money on programs (even DIY was going to cost me $1/program). Several of my married friends have told me that they made 1 for every guest and they had at least 30-40% of them leftover or left behind!

brandinblake

we are doing such a simple wedding that we are opting not to do the programs. We just went to a wedding a couple of weeks ago and they had them...we only took one for us as a couple and it ended up in the floorboard of the car so it got ruined anyways. i would save on the budget and if you decide to go for them only buy for one per couple and one per single person and just put them out in front in a basket by the guest book

Shelly85

I've talked with a couple of my girlfriends who have recently got married, and my wedding planner...and everyone has agreed that programs CAN be helpful/useful but everyone also agreed to save the money and just forget about them.

faith194

We had a super simple ceremony, but a lot of family involved(the readers, the musicians, the singers, etc). We had enough for every invitation and still have 40% left over(they were in a basket before the guests sat down). It was an outdoor ceremony, so it wasn't like "ooh, should I take one?" I mean, it was obvious what they were, but a lot of people didn't take one. That is okay, though.

beccabloom

I've always hated the program idea because it's one more thing that people barely look at and leave behind. I don't like being wasteful or spending money on things that will ultimately be forgotten. Programs have a place when you have a wedding that has unusual customs that need explaining or when you need to give directions from the ceremony to the reception. I'm planning on having an all in one location so we wont have individual programs but I am considering a single large framed version at the entrance to the ceremony.

rhondafromrialto

I am making one large one to frame for people to look at as they arrive at the ceremony, and a few extras just in case someone is dying to have one.  All of my friends made way to many and they all went to waste. 

elicole

The idea of having something framed and posted at the entrance to the ceremony is so cute! I can just see a super cute framed easel with a creative rendering of a family tree etc. the idea behind a program is to simply let people know who is who- ie the maid of honor is the brides sister etc. A simple ceremony is a simple ceremony- like slice and bake cookies- no directions should be needed!

SaraAlexine

Wow! Thanks for the great responses. Definitely rethinking the idea of programs all together!

thisishalloween

My love & I decided we're doing a framed one next to our guestbook & then printing out a few for the "reserved" seats. That way, the moms, grandparents, etc will have the option of a keepsake. Total to print? 25 + 3 8x10s. Total cost? About $25 DIY! Goodluck & Congratulations!