Ceremony Programs Necessary?
Hi there I am getting married in june and was coming across wedding ceremony programs, Anyone making programs or using them as part of their ceremony. If so how do I go about making them and is it hard to do. Any suggestions would be great. And if I need to make them how long will it take to make them.?
Comments
They are totally optional and most people don't have them. The only time they are needed is if someone is having a religious ceremony where the guests would be absolutely confused without something to let them know what is going on. For example, most Protestant ceremonies are fairly easy to follow along without one, but a Catholic wedding requires one because not everyone knows what to do when.
I think that ceremony programs are really helpful and I consider them to be a "must." I recognize that not everyone finds them all that necessary, but I think it's kind of essential that you let people know what's going on. Most church services have a program -- it seems appropriate that wedding services would also have a program. It also helps your guests not only know what is happening when, but who authored each reading, and who the members of your wedding party are. In particular, as a bridesmaid in a few weddings, I have always found it nice to see my name in print. I don't really care about the rest, but it's nice to know that I'm being recognized for my work and help to the bride.
How long it will take to make them depends entirely on you! You can either pay someone to make them for you, or you can just design them yourself as a Word doc (very easy, just use landscape view and make 2 columns in order to do a "foldover" single sheet program -- have one sheet be the back on the left and the front on the right and have the other be the first facing page on the left and the second facing page on the right...then print them and make double-sided copies so that you can just fold them down the middle).
I REALLY love programs and I've kept them from my close friends' weddings -- even when I didn't keep the favor I'll keep the program as a memento. So I'm hiring someone to do a really nice program with ribbon and fancy paper. But I don't think it's necessary to go "all out" in order to make them significant and nice. As I said, a single folded sheet of paper (maybe in a pastel version of one of your wedding colors?) does the trick quite nicely. Most people I know just do this and it gives all the info and makes for a nice memento.
Basically, if you're doing a simple program you'll want the front cover to have your names and the date and possibly the name of the church or other location. Then, when your guests unfold the paper they should see either the names and titles (bridesmaid, etc) of the participants on the lefthand side or on the righthand side (it depends on your preference). Include your parents' names too! On the other side you should have the order of the events of your service (starting with the processional and ending with the recessional). Include the names of the songs and their composers and the names of the readings and their authors (or section from the Bible, etc). On the back cover, you can have a favorite quotation, a "memorial statement" (something like, "We remember those who cannot be with us today, in particular, the groom's grandmother, Etta Smith."), a "Thank you for coming" kind of statement or just a neat design or picture.
That's basically it! If you can design a document as I've described, you can make a simple program! Seriously, unless you have a gigantic wedding party or a long ceremony that requires an explanation, then you should be able to make it work with just one folded sheet of paper. And honestly, that's all that people really expect -- they know that weddings are expensive and that you don't have a lot of time. All they want is a souvenier and an explanation of what to expect.
Just something to read while they're waiting for the ceremony to begin! It's so awkward to go to a wedding (especially when you don't know many other people) and just sit there for 15 minutes waiting when you don't even have anything to peruse. It doesn't matter if your wedding is formal or informal, your guests will appreciate it!
If you're having an informal wedding, then programs are really not necessary. Larger, more formal weddings or involved ceremonies (combined faith ceremonies, multiple readings/songs, etc.) may have programs. Programs are a relatively new "tradition" and are completely up to the bride and groom.
If you have the extra money then I suppose it could be a fun keepsake. But really, they are a waste of time and unnessecary...people show up and sit during the ceremony...they listen and watch to whats going on, they dont need it written down for them.
We used programs in our June wedding. I ordered the covers online to match the wedding invitations. I worded the content myself and took it to Kinkos so that they put in order on book pages. I then assembled at home with ribbon.
thb, i wouldnt bother unless it s a very religious/complicated ceremony where people NEED to know what is happening!
How about you just do an itinary for the day? Buy some coloured card and print something like this on it:
2pm- Arrive at Church
2.30pm- Ceremony
3pm- Photos
4pm- Arrive at Venue etc etc etc
Should take you a couple of hours to do them. Could always add stickers/gems to jazz them up...or keep them plain and simple
if your ceremony is going to be unusual, then a program may be necessary. but if it is cut and dry, ask a friend ( that isn't in the wedding party ) to guide people through and to make announcements...