Wedding Programs?

[Deleted User] · June 2015

Are wedding programs required or part of proper etiquette? There were no programs at the last two (church) weddings I've attended in the past few months. My wedding is coming up and almost everyone attending shares our same religious beliefs (or did at one time). So, I'm not really worried about them understanding/following the ceremony. Can I skip the programs or is that against etiquette?

Viczaesar · June 2015

Knottie29408529 said:

Are wedding programs required or part of proper etiquette? There were no programs at the last two (church) weddings I've attended in the past few months. My wedding is coming up and almost everyone attending shares our same religious beliefs (or did at one time). So, I'm not really worried about them understanding/following the ceremony. Can I skip the programs or is that against etiquette?

Nope, not an etiquette issue at all. You can feel free to skip them.

[Deleted User] · June 2015

Skip; I am. Waste of paper and money.

ETA: not required and not an etiquette blunder.

ohmrs2014 · June 2015

I didn't have them either. Skip them if you don't want them. I actually don't think I've ever been to a wedding that had programs.

ohannabelle · June 2015

Knottie29408529 said:

Are wedding programs required or part of proper etiquette? There were no programs at the last two (church) weddings I've attended in the past few months. My wedding is coming up and almost everyone attending shares our same religious beliefs (or did at one time). So, I'm not really worried about them understanding/following the ceremony. Can I skip the programs or is that against etiquette?

Skip them. People were married for thousands of years without them. If we didn't understand the exact traditions of the ceremony we were seeing, we sat respectfully and listened, and took our cues from the rest of the congregation. Stand when they stand. Kneel when they kneel. Bow your head respectfully when people are praying, and think deep and meaningful thoughts if you don't want to pray along.

It worked.

spglsp · June 2015

Skip em. I haven't seen a wedding program in years and the ones I did see were always left behind by the end of the night. If there are ceremony details that you think are really important for your guests to understand, you can always have your officiant provide the background but guests can usually figure it out on their own.

julieanne912 · June 2015

The only time I've ever even taken a program was when it was written on a fan and it was a warmer outdoor wedding. So yeah, skip for sure.

novella1186 · June 2015

I say skip them. We ALMOST did, but H is a graphic designer so he was able to design and print ours for free. The only reason we even went to the trouble is because we felt like we should explain a few of the Jewish traditions we were following, since H's side is not Jewish and we didn't want to confuse people.

Otherwise, they seemed pointless to me.

lachattefatale · June 2015

The only time I've seen programs were for religious ceremonies that were basically full church service/mass ordeals, and they were normal church bulletins but with a wedding-themed cover.

We're probably going to have programs, though, because I like playing with stationery.

erinlin25 · June 2015

Skip them. I wasted a whole day making and printing programs-- Maybe 5 people took them.

lembaslover · June 2015

We are doing a large chalkboard program rather than printed ones because like PP have said for the most part they just get left behind and are a waste of paper. I figured any of the people who I know would want one for a keepsake (ie. my mother and grandmother) can take a picture of the sign. Plus we are putting the reception timeline on the back and will flip it over for that so people know the approximate times of things like the cake cutting.

Maggie0829 · June 2015

Skip them. Unless your ceremony is super detailed or in another language then they are kind of pointless.

labro · June 2015

Skip them. Definitely not necessary. I wish I had skipped them or just printed out a couple for keepsake/scrapbooking purposes. Otherwise, the other 98 programs I printed were 100% a waste of time, money, and effort. They looked really pretty though.

MizLiz3 · June 2015

I would skip them. My mother seems to think they're necessary so she is now in charge of them.

PrettyGirlLost · June 2015

lachattefatale said:

The only time I've seen programs were for religious ceremonies that were basically full church service/mass ordeals, and they were normal church bulletins but with a wedding-themed cover.

We're probably going to have programs, though, because I like playing with stationery.

Skip them.

I had a full catholic mass and didn't do programs.

thisismynickname2 · June 2015

No, they're not required and no, they're not part of etiquette.

However, I like reading them! I always keep mine from weddings with the intention of actually keeping it, but for most people I throw them away within a week or so. I've actually really only kept the programs when I'm in the wedding- someone I'm really close to.

If it's in your budget and is no skin off your nose, I'd do them. I'd also make them on recyclable paper because 95% of them will indeed go to waste. I spent 1 hour making mine on Vistaprint and had a good coupon, so it was easy and zero stress.

mrsdee15 · June 2015

We're probably skipping them. Our ceremony will be simple, and it just feels like a waste.

SP29 · June 2015

You can skip them.

We made our own. Designed it on the computer (publisher maybe??) and then printed them on nice paper at Staples. Wasn't too expensive. We also did our place cards that way too.

I personally like them, and I do keep them from the weddings I attend, but I know not everyone does. And I keep the invitation anyway, so I don't *need* 2 things to keep

.

ILoveBeachMusic · June 2015

They aren't necessary; however, my daughter is doing them for her wedding which is a full catholic mass. Our family isn't catholic (she is and fiance are) and isn't familiar with the form of the mass. We will also have a lot of guests other than family that aren't catholic. If it weren't for that situation, she wouldn't do them.

Viczaesar · June 2015

thisismynickname said:

No, they're not required and no, they're not part of etiquette.

However, I like reading them! I always keep mine from weddings with the intention of actually keeping it, but for most people I throw them away within a week or so. I've actually really only kept the programs when I'm in the wedding- someone I'm really close to.

If it's in your budget and is no skin off your nose, I'd do them. I'd also make them on recyclable paper because 95% of them will indeed go to waste. I spent 1 hour making mine on Vistaprint and had a good coupon, so it was easy and zero stress.

I like reading them as well.

Jen4948 · June 2015

If your congregation doesn't require them, there are no parts of your service that need to be explained to your guests (e.g. rituals or translations of texts in foreign languages), and there are no deceased loved ones you are giving a tribute to, then you don't need programs.

Well, you don't need them to be in compliance with etiquette for those reasons either, but they are nice to have when those circumstances exist.

VerizonGirl · June 2015

Not required but unless I am superclose to bride, I have idea who is in the wedding party nor what the wedding will include for me to do, etc. I like the programs.

kvruns · June 2015

Ours were a last minute thing bc my mom thought it would be nice to have names etc listed. I bought the basic trifold ones for $8 and printed at home. Not too time consuming though probably maybe 2/3 or 1/2 were taken

charlotte989875 · June 2015

Agreed. We did them because they were included with our "fee" we paid the church. They designed and printed them. Probably wouldn't have bothered otherwise.

[Deleted User] · June 2015

Yes, you can skip them. I believe current ruling on programs is to help guests who may not be familiar with the religion and to help them follow along. I did programs because we had a couple of my family members who flew in from Germany who don't understand english that well. It helped them to follow along. They were able to read the program at a pace they were comfortable with while after being seated and then they were able to know what was going on.

Wedding Programs?

Re: Wedding Programs?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards