Scrapping the Guestbook and Programs?

Here's what we used to tell our brides: Programs begin on the seat and end of the seat. They're honestly more for your sentimentality than anything.

We skipped programs because it seemed like paper waste because the only person that would keep it is my grandma. Instead I got a big mirror at TJ Maxx and an easel and my sister is going to hand letter what would be our program info (names, moh, parents, etc.). For our guest book we chose to do a photo booth. It spits out two prints so our guests get to keep one and one goes in our book. It'll be set up for the bulk of the night so it should give everyone plenty of time to filter through (granted we only have 160 on our invite list)

We held off on programs. I honestly think they're a waste of cash. If anything, we have a wedding website where I plan to post a timeline of events on there so people can access it online or on their phones. We also held off on save the dates. We just didn't think they were necessary. Especially since we had to postpone the wedding because of COVID-19, people should now have plenty of time to work out their schedules lol.

We’re only providing Programs because there is are meditations & prayers we would like everyone to be able to read along to.

And we decided to get an original print from an artist we love to have everyone sign the mat that will go around it for framing. I can’t imagine having a traditional guest book, like when would I ever take it out to look at it. At least with the print we can hang it on our wall and have it as a reminder.

Definitely not a must! I am doing program fans because I am having a mid-May Missouri outdoor wedding, and it can get hot out here. But if they weren't being turned into fans, I wouldn't do them at all.

We are doing a guestbook, but it is an old whiskey barrel lid I have stained and put the initial of our last name on it. That way we can hang it in our bar area. If I didn't have this idea, I wouldn't be doing a traditional guest book.

Hi Brianne! I'm sure many have commented on the programs, but I'll also add my two cents. I always thought programs were a bit of a waste (waste of paper, waste of money, people just throw them away or toss aside afterwards). Family would be the only ones probably wanting to keep them, but again, it ends up just being paper you don't need. And with the current situation, having more "touchless" things is a must.

We aren't getting married until next year and we're already considering how we can make high-contact areas into touchless experiences just to be on the safer side, (i.e. using a name table menu and having escort cards already at tables). As for the guestbook, I've been wondering about this, too. Having 400 people sift through a pen or whatever is on the table can be risky. I definitely don't think guestbooks are necessary - again, another way to spend more money. Sure, you'll have that to look back on, but you'll also have your photos. I've been to weddings where I've accidentally skipped over the guestbook. It happens - definitely not something to sweat over!

First of all congrats!!

a) Programs: Completely up to you. I'm currently trying to decide which route we will go as well. One option for us is to have a welcome sign that also includes the names of our parents and the wedding party. Guests wont really miss a program unless its a long ceremony.

b) Guestbook: A keepsake is great to have to look back on. It doesn't have to be a book per-say. My groom and I will have guests sign records that we will frame and hang on our walls. Another option is to have a photo enlarged of you both and have guests sign the negative space or the matte border around the photo. My sister had guests sign a cartoon photo of her and her husband and it was the cutest thing ever!

Good luck!

Oh wow, I missed that detail before. From a medical perspective, this plan is very scary...