Wedding Programs

Definitely not necessary. About half the weddings I've gone to in the last few years have had programs. Ours didn't. I don't think anyone noticed. Unless you're having a very complex ceremony or one that is in a different language or something, most people will be able to follow along just fine.

I’m not for them, I feel like it’s an unnecessary expense. If the ceremony space has a projector, you can put up the highlights or you can put a timeline board at the entrance of the ceremony

Fun to have but completely optional. The only time I can see them being necessary is a religious ceremony that requires guest participation so they don't get lost. Otherwise save your money and sanity.

Definitely not necessary but I like them. Since the ceremony is so short and the whole point of the wedding I think it’s a nice way to honor it.

Save the money

Personally I don’t think you need them. Unless you have something different like instructions to stand etc but most of us know how weddings work. You know the bride or groom. That’s all that matters.

I've been really debating on whether or not to have programs or not, simply because of the fact that I want to have a sign telling people where to go after the ceremony is over, and give them a basic timeline of what to expect. I know my family in particular would be pretty upset if there were no programs at my wedding.

I think it depends if you're having a religious ceremony or not. Programs were a must for our wedding because we had a Jewish ceremony and many non-Jewish guests in attendance, and they would have been lost if they didn't have a program to follow along to. I'm also very thankful that all of that all of the Catholic weddings I've attended have had programs--otherwise, I would have been completely lost and would have no clue what was going on! If you are having a secular ceremony though, you can absolutely do without the programs.

I don't honeslty feel it's necessary however i would love to see one bc it shows how organization the planning is and to give guest an idea of whats going on...i mean it's def considered neat to me. But like I stated not needed at all

I don’t think they’re super necessary unless the ceremony is bilingual or really long or outdoors in a sunny day so they could act as fans aha

I don’t think they’re necessary, and I won’t be having them!

My daughter is having a morning ceremony and brunch reception, so we turned the "program" into a newspaper with the ceremony program, menu, fun facts about the couple, schedule, wordsearch (so people have something to do while waiting for ceremony to start), etc.

View Quoted Comment Your DJ can announce where to go after the ceremony.


To appease your family, have some programs printed. Don’t do what my coordinator did though— I specifically asked her to use her best judgment and print out however many she thought we would need and based on past weddings she’s done since most people don’t take a program. She still had printed out 250 programs (why?!). We only had 175 guests and I have over 100 extra programs. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Honestly, we aren’t doing it. We can put everything guests need to know on our wedding website.
The only thing I’ve seen and enjoyed as a wedding program was one that intentionally double as a hand fan during a summer wedding. But none of the weddings I have gone to recently have had them.

View Quoted Comment This is the only reason we’re doing one, so we have something to put on the hand fans. Also think it’ll be nice for guests to know what time dinner and cake cutting are going to start because personally I’m very food-driven at other people’s weddings hahaha

Waste of money! We are not paying money for something that will just get thrown away. Our ceremony is only 15 minutes long. It is unnecessary to have them. Also not doing the food menus. People will just figure out what they are eating once it's placed in front of them

They aren't necessary, but I will be having them. every wedding I've attended, I have kept the program and put it in a photo album along with a picture of the couple. I may be a little too sentimental LOL

We're skipping programs and menus. They're a totally optional expense.

I completely agree with you. I chose not to do programs. Instead, my invitations (on the back) say that our ceremony will be followed by dinner and dancing.

Not to mention I think it's pretty standard that after the ceremony the bridal party takes pictures/cocktail hour, and then the dinner and dancing and whatnot go on. But maybe that's just my experience.

I'm also kind of on the frugal side, so since I didn't think we needed it I skipped the extra expense.

If you wanted to do something like that, you could do them on a chalk board or a sign so that everyone can see it before sitting for your ceremony or even on the way into the reception.

Just don't like them. Don't know what to do with them after and feel bad adding more waste to the landfills.

Although Jill's idea is adorable !