Program Issue!!!

cmalork

So... I need some DIY possible help when it comes to a program issue!

Our wedding is in 40 days and we had the programs printed. In the mist of getting everything together I forgot to add the House Party and the Honorary Groomsman name's on the program. Having their names on there is a HUGE deal to me and I am so upset at myself that I forgot! My mom says we cannot have them reprinted and doesn't see the big deal in them not being on there. And now we just found out that one of the groomsmen on the program will not be able to attend the wedding at all due to work.

How do I recognize the House Party and the Honorary Groomsman and let everyone know of the change to the missing groomsman???

Jen4948

I would do nothing.

To be honest, it shouldn't be such a huge deal, and there shouldn't be an "honorary" groomsman in the first place-either he is or isn't a groomsman.

And what is a "house party" and why do they need to be mentioned at all?

As for the groomsman who can't be there, consider that he'll be there in spirit.

Just leave things be.

mlg78

Wtf is a house party?  Well, I know what a "house party" is, but how does that apply to a wedding?  I'm also perplexed by this honorary groomsman. 

Programs aren't that expensive to print.  If you must, pay for it yourself...

cmalork

The House Party are the ones that pass out the programs, greet the guests, stand by the guest book area and they are helping the guests find their way to the ceremony.

The honorary groomsmen is a good friend my mine and my fiance's but he works off shore and is not sure if he will be able to at the wedding. My fiance asked him to be a groomsmen but he had to decline for that reason.

The programs were printed where my mother lives and were tied together by her and my sister since they live out of town and I am not there to help. We would have to print another page, untie the programs, add it and retie it them back. It would be a lot of work and my mother was not too thrilled with that idea.

mlg78

cmalork said:

The House Party are the ones that pass out the programs, greet the guests, stand by the guest book area and they are helping the guests find their way to the ceremony.

The honorary groomsmen is a good friend my mine and my fiance's but he works off shore and is not sure if he will be able to at the wedding. My fiance asked him to be a groomsmen but he had to decline for that reason.

The programs were printed where my mother lives and were tied together by her and my sister since they live out of town and I am not there to help. We would have to print another page, untie the programs, add it and retie it them back. It would be a lot of work and my mother was not too thrilled with that idea.

No. No, no, no, no, no. Just no.  Where on Earth did you get this idea?  This is not an honor to bestow on anyone.  It's a job...and you don't give "jobs" to those you hold near and dear to your heart.  People can sign guestbooks on their own.  People can get programs on their own.

As for your programs...either pay for them yourself and do the work yourself or use what has already been created.  You have 40 days so there's plenty of time.

cmalork

Thank you for your advice. Every bride is different and has their own ideas.

JoanE2012

cmalork said:

Thank you for your advice. Every bride is different and has their own ideas.

Well, that's a pretty awful idea.  Put out a guest book and a pen and I promise you people will know what it is and sign it.  Leave your programs in a basket at the entrance or on every seat and I promise you people will pick them up. 

You're giving your friends jobs on your wedding day when they should just be enjoying themselves.  Please don't do this.  It's menial and is definitely not an honor.  

cmalork

Well, they have already been asked and the wedding is 40 days away so this is not something I can change. They will just be helping at the beginning, then they will walk down the aisle and then they will be taking pictures and enjoying the evening.

This is something that has happened at most weddings I have been to and I have been in a House Party. This is not something we see as a job.

As I said, every bride is does things in their own way. Not everyone agrees with it, but is how it is.

I was looking for advice on programs, not if my House Party was a good or bad idea.

southernbelle0915

cmalork said:

Well, they have already been asked and the wedding is 40 days away so this is not something I can change. They will just be helping at the beginning, then they will walk down the aisle and then they will be taking pictures and enjoying the evening. 

This is something that has happened at most weddings I have been to and I have been in a House Party. This is not something we see as a job.

As I said, every bride is does things in their own way. Not everyone agrees with it, but is how it is.

I was looking for advice on programs, not if my House Party was a good or bad idea.

So the honorary groomsman isn't going to attend? I don't think it matters that he's on on the program - I actually think it might confuse people who are looking for someone else to be walking down the aisle during the processional. Except he's not even in attendance... Unless you want to reprint everything, you kind of have to be ok with leaving him off. 

Is what you're calling a House Party, "ushers" perhaps? I'm a little confused on the term and their role, but helping people find their seat and giving them a program is usually something "ushers" do. In that case, give them a boutonniere and a name tag if your programs are already printed. 

We printed our programs ourselves. Using blank templates from Michael's. With a 40% coupon it was really quite cheap. If you want to re-print, that's a thought.

TeddiD34

Lurking is good when you're new to a board. This would have been avoided.

'Just saying...

 

Jen4948

cmalork said:

Well, they have already been asked and the wedding is 40 days away so this is not something I can change. They will just be helping at the beginning, then they will walk down the aisle and then they will be taking pictures and enjoying the evening.

This is something that has happened at most weddings I have been to and I have been in a House Party. This is not something we see as a job.

As I said, every bride is does things in their own way. Not everyone agrees with it, but is how it is.

I was looking for advice on programs, not if my House Party was a good or bad idea.

If "every bride does things in their own way," then you don't need advice at all.  Just go and do whatever you're going to do, regardless of whether or not we think it's a bad idea. 

We're not here to validate bad ideas. If we think it's not a good idea, we're going to say so.  You don't get to decide what advice you're given. If you can't handle that, don't post here.

Maggie0829

cmalork said:

The House Party are the ones that pass out the programs, greet the guests, stand by the guest book area and they are helping the guests find their way to the ceremony.

The honorary groomsmen is a good friend my mine and my fiance's but he works off shore and is not sure if he will be able to at the wedding. My fiance asked him to be a groomsmen but he had to decline for that reason.

The programs were printed where my mother lives and were tied together by her and my sister since they live out of town and I am not there to help. We would have to print another page, untie the programs, add it and retie it them back. It would be a lot of work and my mother was not too thrilled with that idea.

@cmalork - I am not going to comment on whether or not I think a House Party is a good idea.  But I do want to know why you think you need these kind of roles for your wedding?  Do you think your guests have never been to a wedding before so they won't know what to do?  And even if they have never been to a wedding before a lot of things are self explanatory.  So I just want to know why you felt the need to have a House Party?

atlastmrsg

JoanE2012 said:

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cmalork said:

Thank you for your advice. Every bride is different and has their own ideas.

Well, that's a pretty awful idea.  Put out a guest book and a pen and I promise you people will know what it is and sign it.  Leave your programs in a basket at the entrance or on every seat and I promise you people will pick them up. 

You're giving your friends jobs on your wedding day when they should just be enjoying themselves.  Please don't do this.  It's menial and is definitely not an honor.  

Calling it "awful" is harsh.  I remember when I was a child, I loved being the program girl at a wedding.  I felt really important.  Now that I'm older, I know it was probably given to me to keep me occupied, but that's okay by me.  Maybe this bride has children/family/friends who want to involved so they feel like part of her special day.  Just because you disagree doesn't make a "house party" awful.

 

I'm not having guestbook/program/etc helpers at my wedding.  I think my guests are smart enough to pick up a program on their own.  But that doesn't mean I think it's "awful."  If I had a child that wanted to be involved, I'd give them a task like this.  It's not menial if the helpers want to participate that way.

itzMS

SAHoehle said:

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JoanE2012 said:

cmalork said:

Thank you for your advice. Every bride is different and has their own ideas.

Well, that's a pretty awful idea.  Put out a guest book and a pen and I promise you people will know what it is and sign it.  Leave your programs in a basket at the entrance or on every seat and I promise you people will pick them up. 

You're giving your friends jobs on your wedding day when they should just be enjoying themselves.  Please don't do this.  It's menial and is definitely not an honor.  

Calling it "awful" is harsh.  I remember when I was a child, I loved being the program girl at a wedding.  I felt really important.  Now that I'm older, I know it was probably given to me to keep me occupied, but that's okay by me.  Maybe this bride has children/family/friends who want to involved so they feel like part of her special day.  Just because you disagree doesn't make a "house party" awful.

 

I'm not having guestbook/program/etc helpers at my wedding.  I think my guests are smart enough to pick up a program on their own.  But that doesn't mean I think it's "awful."  If I had a child that wanted to be involved, I'd give them a task like this.  It's not menial if the helpers want to participate that way.

These aren't children. That's not the OP's intention. We had some nieces (ages 10 and 12) who picked up the programs at my wedding and handed them out. That's a horse of a different color.

House parties are a sort of "tradition" (I guess?) in some Southern states. It's basically a job to put your not-quite-good-enough-to-be-a-bridesmaid friends in. Many women who have a large pool of sorority sisters utilize "house parties" as an "honor".

Being a guest is an honor. Being in a "house party" is awful.

MobKaz

You could attach an addendum and make it look like a playbill.  You could title it, "Matinee Players", "Understudies",  or "Not Quite Ready for Primetime Wedding Party".  If you have a sports theme, it could look like a page from a playbook and the header could be "Second String" or "Junior Varsity".

vmj23

I don't know why everyone is being so judgmental about your house party.   It's not something I have every heard of, but it's your wedding! And you weren't asking for their opinion on that!!     Anyway, is your program a booklet? Possibly add an insert?   Or can you reprint them yourself?  There are a lot of templates online.  Or maybe just not do programs at all?  I don't plan on having them, but we have a very small wedding party and quick ceremony. 

Jen4948

jenni1221 said:

I don't know why everyone is being so judgmental about your house party.   It's not something I have every heard of, but it's your wedding! And you weren't asking for their opinion on that!!     Anyway, is your program a booklet? Possibly add an insert?   Or can you reprint them yourself?  There are a lot of templates online.  Or maybe just not do programs at all?  I don't plan on having them, but we have a very small wedding party and quick ceremony. 

"It's your wedding" is not an excuse for being rude.  People should not be asked to do chores by way of being "involved" in a wedding, especially if they are not members of the wedding party, which a "house party" isn't.