Wedding Etiquette Forum

Program etiquette thread got me thinking...

We didn't print our programs just yet, but we designed them in VP.  For parents we were planning on:

Mother of the Bride:  Blah Blah
Mother of the Groom:  Blah Blah
Father of the Groom:  Blah Blah

I have zero relationship with my biological father, so I am just listing my mother who is single.  My fiance's mom is not remarried but has had a steady boyfriend for the past 5 years or so.  His dad eloped this year with a woman he's been with for the past 5 years or so.  We did not plan to list her on the program as his father began dating and married when my fiance was in his mid 20s and he doesn't consider her a stepmother (yes, I know technically she is).  Does she have to be listed and if so, how do we do that?  In a separate line?  What are your suggestions for wording?  I'm fine to add her on I just want it to look right.  Side note the Mother of the groom kept her name and has the same last name as his father and his new wife.  I remember her saying a while ago how she was a little worried about how that would look.

Thanks!

Re: Program etiquette thread got me thinking...

  • OK so it doesn't matter when they got hitched, we'll add her. 

    Father and Stepmother of the Groom:  Blah and Blah Blah.

    Thanks!
  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its
    edited April 2012
    My answer...

    Programs are dumb.  None of your guests will care who is who, they are there for you and your FI not your WP or parents, and anyway, if they are family and friends they will know who the parents are and/or figure out who is who by the end of the night.

    I also think programs are a waste of money and paper.  It may just be me, but I never look at them and if I do, it is only to judge how long the ceremony may be.  No one takes them with them and 98% of them will end up in the trash.

    Edit:  Seriously TK, why the heck do my posts randomly start centering themselves!!!!!

  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_program-etiquette-thread-got-me-thinking?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:ed3ad701-9f23-4dbe-8747-8591ba7e495dPost:a0508747-6d59-443a-aad4-d1188ebf56f3">Re: Program etiquette thread got me thinking...</a>:
    [QUOTE]OK so it doesn't matter when they got hitched, we'll add her.  Father and Stepmother of the Groom:  Blah and Blah Blah. Thanks!
    Posted by lacey3eb[/QUOTE]

    I really think that's the best thing to do here.
    Lizzie
  • I feel like programs are being way overthought today.
    image
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_program-etiquette-thread-got-me-thinking?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:ed3ad701-9f23-4dbe-8747-8591ba7e495dPost:6e47473b-109b-4cca-9f9a-166e89328cad">Re: Program etiquette thread got me thinking...</a>:
    [QUOTE]My answer... Programs are dumb.  None of your guests will care who is who, they are there for you and your FI not your WP or parents, and anyway, if they are family and friends they will know who the parents are and/or figure out who is who by the end of the night. I also think programs are a waste of money and paper.  It may just be me, but I never look at them and if I do, it is only to judge how long the ceremony may be.  No one takes them with them and 98% of them will end up in the trash. <strong>Edit:  Seriously TK, why the heck do my posts randomly start centering themselves!!!!!
    </strong>Posted by Maggie0829[/QUOTE]

    hi-jacking this thread momemtarily, but this is driving me nuts on my posts too! 

    OP, what about a Parents of the couple section. 

    mom
    dad and new wife


    they'll figure out that, even with the same last names, the name on the same line as the father's name is the new wife.
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • In our programs we are putting something simple like, "The bride and groom give thanks to their parents and family for all their love and support" This way you cover everyone without saying names.

    IMO a program is for letting the guests know what is going on in the ceremony. There is no need to name all these family members.

    Wedding date July 7, 2012
  • List her, it doesn't sound like you have a reason not to list her (although in those cases, I say forego the programs).  Programs are unnecessary, unless there are portions of the ceremony you expect the guests to participate in or you're getting married in religion that a substantial number of the guests are unfamiliar with, then it's nice to let them know when to stand/sit/kneel/shake hands etc.
  • See my post in the thread below, but basically list people based on the order of the Processional if they are processing.

    List people like this:
    Person's name, title/relationship escorted by 2nd person's name, title/relationship

    Leave the title/relationship for the father's wife out
    i.e. Groom's father's name, Father of the Groom, escorted by Groom's Father's Wife's name

    If they are not processing, you could do something similiar by saying "accompanied by."

    Good luck.
  • I don't think we listed parents in the program due to all of the divorces, remarriages, girlfriends, etc. We just put the order of the ceremony (FWIW I like programs because I like to know how long the ceremony will be), listed the wedding party and put a note in to thank everyone for coming.

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