DIY Wedding Program Fans

I'm curious about this too. My beach wedding company won't allow outside decorations and they sell fans for $5 a piece, so I'm somewhat prepared to be told I can't bring my own fans (which I've already purchased). I thought maybe if I make the programs into a fan then it shouldn't count. If you're doing the stick ones I found the cute wavy type sticks at Hobby Lobby.

Here are some templates if you want to try it yourself.

http://www.ayleebits.com/templates.htm

Tips for sticks, non-sterile tongue depressors.

* come back with pictures and tips *

I've seen them done (DIY) at a wedding.. they worked just fine! Like Hayley said - use tongue depressors (thicker and wider than popsicle sticks) and use heavy card stock paper so that the paper keeps it's shape and holds up nicely with use!

I plan to make ours. I don't want to cut out a fancy design by hand for 100+ programs, so I will likely just do the rounded corners with a corner rounder punch.

I made a template for mine, I have the backside done and printed, the front side will have the order of events and bridal party, not all the way done because I have a while to go, (I love how the ceremony side looks so far though!) but I order tongue depressors from ebay, 100 for $3.00! Painted them and glued to cardstock. Very easy!! And I love them! (Sorry, This is the only pic I could find, it is the paddle fan on the left!)

Awesome...thanks for all the tips guys and the templates (Haley). I will definitely post pictures.

@ Jessice -- your program fans, once finished will be 2 layers of card stock with the stick in the middle?

I wonder if three layers would be too thick / heavy?? I'm thinking of doing white on black (black card stock in the middle and white on each side) , Black will be a little larger than the white so it shows all the way around.

(Like we did the table #s...but without the jewels and ribbon)

I did one whole fan, 2 pieces of cardstock, one piece unfinished cut to size, just to see how it would feel and look once finished and it seemed good to me. Not to heavy! I also was wondering about glue so i did hot glue on stick and it worked out, no glue bumps and modge podge the sides! Worked awesome!

I didn't even think of modge podge ...the more I think about it, the more I'm thinking 2 layers of white and just add a black border...keep it simple.

what kind of paint did you use on the sticks?? I don't want something that is going to come off on people's hands,,,but I'd like a thick smooth look to it..your's look nice

We made fans but instead of using the tongue depressors for the stick part we used bamboo. It took a long time but we cut the dead bamboo, sanded it, spray painted it gold and cut a notch in the top for the program to be inserted. I love them! We are getting married in a bamboo garden so it ties that in beautifully. Plus they match our gold chiavari chairs.