Are Programs Neccessary??

caseyhaynes429 · May 2011

I feel like everyone just throws them away.. But would it be rude not to have one because it would mention the readers/readings/songs? Or do you think people wont even notice??

[Deleted User] · May 2011

No, they aren't necesssary, but a nice touch especially if you have a lot of guests that either aren't Catholic and/or if you are having a full Mass.

We had a full Mass and did programs. But we didn't spend a lot of money on them. I designed them myself and printed them at home myself.

Calypso1977 · May 2011

we did not have programs. i didnt think they were necessary, and we had a latin mass (although teh church did provide the english-latin missals for following along).

90% of our guests were catholic, and i honestly didnt want to spend the time or money making up programs just to list out song names, wp members, etc. i always throw them away or often dont even take them when im at other weddings.

ootmother2 · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_programs-neccessary?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:11082fd5-7b69-4953-aff4-9aefb40140f1Post:8e161a2e-1757-4506-b242-5b4d246bf2d2">Are Programs Neccessary??</a>:
[QUOTE]I feel like everyone just throws them away.. But would it be rude not to have one because it would mention the readers/readings/songs? Or do you think people wont even notice??
Posted by caseyhaynes429[/QUOTE]

They're not required by any means and it's not rude to skip them.

We decided that if we were going to do them, we would do them well. So it was 5x4 with a ribbon in the wedding colors holding it together. It included all the details, music, readings, special reminders of those not there, a thank you to everyone as B&G started their life together, a poem, etc, dark green script on ecru cardstock.

I was amazed at how many people kept them and have mentioned them since.

bibliophile2010 · May 2011

As I mentioned in another thread, I'm something of a paper freak, so I love getting a program at a wedding, but they certainly aren't required.

That said, I think that, at a minimum, something simple is nice, especially for non-Catholics in attendance. It is also nice to direct people to where to find songs, prayers, etc. in the books available.

mica178 · May 2011

They are not necessary, but they are nice, especially for non-Catholics and for guests who don't know all the names of your WP.

It's not hard to design a pretty program for not too much money. I had my program printed onto high quality paper at Kinkos, then had them fold and hole punch them for me, and my BM and I bound them with ribbons that matched my flower colors. Some people kept them as keepsakes, and I certainly have one in my wedding scrapbook.

I probably would make one per couple, though. We made one per person, and we had a bunch of leftovers.

Jasmine&Rajah · May 2011

I LOVE having programs at a wedding! I think it's great to allow everyone to read along when Scripture is read, and to see song lyrics and a thank-you from the couple, etc. And they're just another fun detail to tie your wedding colors into. :-)

We had our programs made by CatholicBrides.com, and they were utterly gorgeous inside and out. (The gentleman I worked with was Ray, and he was excellent.)

csh96 · May 2011

As others have said, it's not required. Since the majority of my guests are not Catholic, I am doing them so they can follow along and I am printing the words to the responsorial psalm. Plus it gives me a way to mention grandparents that are no longer with us.
I am a DIY gal when it comes to paper things so I designed them in Word and will print 2 per 8 1/2 x11 page cardstock (front and back), cut down the middle, and will tie a ribbon at the top. Fairly simple.

jmorford · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_programs-neccessary?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:11082fd5-7b69-4953-aff4-9aefb40140f1Post:c1f21015-f977-41c1-9fea-e075fc07ab5d">Re: Are Programs Neccessary??</a>:
[QUOTE]No, they aren't necesssary, but a nice touch especially if you have a lot of guests that either aren't Catholic and/or if you are having a full Mass. We had a full Mass and did programs. But we didn't spend a lot of money on them. I designed them myself and printed them at home myself.
Posted by MissySue20[/QUOTE]

did you include the parts of mass, and eexplain what was happening? most of FI's extended family is not Catholic and i wanted to put things like this in our progeams.. can i see what you put in yours?

katieblue518 · May 2011

missy, would you mind sharing your program with me?
my email address is katieblue518@gmail.com

Thanks in advance! I am less than 2 weeks away, and this is the LAST big thing I have to do.

caseyhaynes429 · May 2011

Thanks!! I will probably definitely DIY them. Good point that it makes it much easier for non-Catholics to follow along, I didnt think of that and I definitely dont want them to be lost the whole ceremony! Will probably make about half the number of guests we have

clearheavens · May 2011

DIY is easy. We're going that route and printing on our home printer. Simpler is better. I wasn't a fan of DIY programs that had a lot of clip art or colors. It doesn't look elegant. You could google the Royal Wedding's program for an example of elegant and simple that I'm referring to.

Use http://www.catholicweddinghelp.com/ for the Order of the Rite of Marriage within Mass or Order of the Rite of Marriage outside of Mass, whichever you are having.

ellen73 · May 2011

98% of our guest were Catholic... and we had programs. With lyrics & everything.

As I've mentioned in another thread or two, we wanted full participation after going to a wedding where noone really participated in the mass at all (and most people were Catholic as well).

The programs aren't that difficult to put together. I bought all the paper at a paper wholesaler the week before the wedding. I used cardstock for the covers, and a fancy paper for the inside. I have a color laser printer, which made things somewhat easier! 200 thank you notes, placecards (300+) paper for the table numbers (35), favors (300+), programs (200), out of town bags.... all the paper & supplies were about $70.

I printed the covers the Sunday before our Friday wedding. Then printed the insides on Tuesday (once the music was finally finalized). Then I think we assembled them Tuesday night.

feel free to PM me if you want help!

Are Programs Neccessary??

Re: Are Programs Neccessary??

Choose Another Board

Search Boards