To program or not to program?

I've been to weddings with programs (within the last 5 years or so). They're nice to glance at while waiting for things to get started, but generally get left behind. They're also nice when the wedding has traditions that aren't necessarily familiar to everyone.

We didn't do programs, but we did find reasonably priced fans on Oriental Trading and had them on the chairs when guests arrived, and they were used.

I did a program only because mine was outdoors and sunny so i kind of felt like at least the program was some shade/fan.

but you can totally forego the program.

We are doing fans (also a beach wedding) but won’t have programs on them. Decided against the programs because our entire wedding is tiny and only 2 people in our wedding party. So it felt unnecessary.

View Quoted Comment I wanted to do programs because I have someone in my wedding party that none of my family or other friends really know. And none of my fiancé‘s family really know my family all that well so I thought it would be good for people to know who everyone is and why they are doing what they’re doing. But I was just unsure. But I really do think fans are necessary. It’s September in Texas and it’s still going to be in the low 90s I’m sure.

View Quoted Comment It’s going to be hot since it’s going to be September in Texas, so I thought fans would be a nice touch. I thought it would be good to put a program on the fan so everybody knows who all is in the wedding party since my fiancé’s family doesn’t know my family that well and I have a friend from out of state coming in that none of our families know. I just don’t understand my mom‘s a version to a program. LOL

View Quoted Comment I figured if I wanted to program the best way to make it useful would be to make it into a fan. This way everyone knows everyone in my wedding party and their relationship to the couple and people have a way to stay cool in the 90+ degree temperatures it’s going to be in September. LOL

I think programs were done frequently many years ago. I can’t remember any wedding that has had them since I was about 12 years old. I’d save your money and skip them.

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I hear you on the weather front - our wedding was in outside. In July. In Alabama. lol and a fan is definitely the way to make a program useful. I'm not so sure it's going to help in this case though. The problem is going to be that guests won't know who is who in the bridal party, so it doesn't really "introduce them" so to speak.

Are you seating the bridal party among other guests? If so, then that will give the person who is an unknown quantity the opportunity to meet and be met. Also, if you still have any pre-wedding events, then they will have the opportunity to meet people there (assuming they are able to attend).

View Quoted Comment We are not having any pre-wedding events, not even sure we’re having a rehearsal dinner. This is sort of an elopement, and I’m not sure if the planner we are using is going to have time for us to have a rehearsal before the actual thing. My bridal party is very small, so I thought it would be helpful for them to place a name with the person they are seeing up there. And to know why she’s there. L O L plus I also look at it as a reminder of telling everyone where to go after the ceremony for the reception. my mom found some really cute wedding programs, but they look similar to my invitations and that they are just 5 x 7 card stock. I’m afraid using those they will blow away in the ocean breeze. They could double as a fan but I don’t think they’re sturdy enough to stay put on their own. I really hate Texas weather sometimes, doing it earlier in the year and March or April and you run the risk of being cold, doing it in June July and August and you know you’re going to be hot, and September October and November you run the risk of being very hot or very cold. There doesn’t seem to be much in between. LOL

Programs are good when it’s a long wedding that has many different things within it. For example my husband and I had a Catholic wedding. There’s SO much going on during just the ceremony! Readings, kneeling, sitting, standing, singing, getting Communion, and more! So for that we definitely had programs to help guide people with what was going on. If the wedding is more simple with not as many readings, you could stand going without programs.
If you still want to do them to list out your wedding party members, I think it’s possible to do them on a budget. They would only be one simple page as opposed to our eight page booklet hahaha!

Personally the only programs I've found useful were those at Catholic weddings. I'm not Catholic, so I enjoyed being able to follow along for the order of service. Other than that, they're just another thing you'll pay for that no one will really look at after the first 5 minutes.

We did programs because we had a Jewish ceremony and not all guests in attendance were Jewish. I think that if you're having a religious ceremony and not all guests share your religion, then having programs is the courteous and inclusive thing to do. I know that I would be completely lost at a Christian wedding if I didn't have a program to follow along to. If you're not having a religious wedding, then programs are unnecessary and can definitely be skipped

I am not doing programs. At the last minute, I decided to do a welcome sign and menus.

I have yet to attend a wedding with programs. To me, they seem to be a waste of money. From what I’ve heard from friends, guests never keep them and they just end up littered everywhere

I love the idea. We were actually going to do fan programs too. We will be in a chruch . I know folks say this often and it drives me crazy......But it's your wedding do what you want. If you find some you love at a good price I say go for it 100 percent. I think it's an awesome idea and wedding favor. Hope they come out great. 💜

View Quoted Comment I wanted to provide fans for everyone since it’s outside on the beach, so I thought I would just do a two first so everybody knew who everybody was and have a reminder of where the reception is afterwards since it’s not in the same place.

View Quoted Comment Thanks! 💕 if heat my guess will be appreciative of the fans, because we’re doing it as close to sunset as possible but it’s still going to be hot.

Also having a Catholic ceremony, also planning to do programs lol. I've seen them more at religious ceremonies, but if you think they'd be useful for the heat and reminding people about the reception, I say go for it!

A fan program is an awesome touch for a summer wedding. Some people do them some don’t. I personally am just doing a little sign with the schedule of the day and that’s it, but I’m a fall wedding.

View Quoted Comment Thanks, I think I will!