To have programs or not to have programs

Depends on the wedding. Is it going to be a quick ceremony, or will there be a processional, recessional, and several readings? Do people need to know what's going on or no? How long will it be?

I find that people use programs to see how much longer something is going to take. So if it's going to be over 15 minutes, I'd make a program.

My ceremony will be 5-10 minutes depending on how fast we talk, no bridal party, nothing but the vows and a scripture reading. So I don't think I need programs.

I am doing a sign instead of programs but expect my ceremony to be about 30 minutes.

ETA: people will just throw them away later.

I'm considering programs only because my ceremony will be outside and I will design them so that they double as fans.

Programs ARE helpful for church weddings so that guests of different faiths understand what is happening.

We decided not to do programs. Our ceremony will be about 15-20 minutes from processional to recessional, and there will be no readings, sand ceremony, etc. we will have a sign at the entrance with the days schedule.

We're having simple one paper programs for our ~45 minute Catholic ceremony to help orient people. If its a more casual ceremony I suspect it isn't necessary. I have seen programs double as fans which is clever.

I'm not doing them because we only have about 3 people on each side and intend to have a short and sweet ceremony. To me they're a waste of paper. None of my guests are going to care who's who.

I made our programs! All it cost me was 6 rolls of ribbon ($12) and a pack of cardstock (less than $5) and I made 150!

I am planning to DIY programs for a few reasons. One, we are incorporating some select, modified traditions from our Jewish and Greek heritages and want to provide a bit of explanation. Two, when I go to weddings, I not knowing who is in the wedding party. Who are these people I'm looking at?

Unnecessary for us since we had a short ceremony and it's a waste of money. They get thrown away immediately.

I think it's nice. Everybody knows what's going on and what to expect. I would leave out the 2 paragraph biography of each member of the wedding party. That gets to be a bit much.

We did them for our 1 hour and 10 minute church ceremony, because there were lots of readings and multiple hymns.

I essentially modified the church's Sunday bulletin for ours, and we had them printed, folded, and stapled at Staples. I wanted to DIY the folding/stapling part, but we literally ran out of time.

As a wedding guest, I love reading the programs. I never keep them, but as a perpetually early or on time person they keep me entertained while waiting for others to take their seat. I think they're a very nice touch, but just understand not everyone will read them, and very few people will keep them.

Short ceremonies don't need them. Long ceremonies definitely need them. Guest use these to keep track. If you have a long ceremony with no programs, the ceremony will seem to drag on and on and on.

I didn't have them. It's not necessary unless you are having a formal wedding.

I'm not doing programs, I'd like to believe that most people know how your standard wedding goes so they don't need them.

My friend ordered 150 of them. She ended up going home with 140 of them. I don't think it's necessary at all!

Our wedding is outside and in August so we decided to turn our programs into paddle fans! We are also having a few unique touches to our ceremony (live duets, poetry readings, parents blessing, etc) so our ceremony will be about 30 minutes. I wanted everyone to know who those people were

I like programs! I like knowing who all is in the wedding and how they are connected to the bride and groom.

We are having a DW beach wedding, we wont be doing them.

I wasn't going to do them but FH'S oldest two nieces are upset they aren't in the wedding. The youngest 3 are RB/FG. So I thought if I made programs they could pass them out.