Wedding Day Programs, Do You Really Need Them?
Wedding programs are often seen as a traditional aspect of a wedding ceremony, but in today’s modern world, many couples are questioning their necessity. Some may view them as an unnecessary expense, while others may wonder if their guests will even read them.
Much of the decision has to do with the style of wedding and personality of the couple. Wedding programs can serve an important purpose beyond simply listing the order of events. And they can come in many printed forms, shapes and sizes.
Remember that wedding programs were more than just a piece of paper. Since the ceremony is only 30 minutes, 45 minutes, quick - they forgo them. If your wedding ceremony will be more than 30 minutes long, I recommend reconsidering the need. The ceremony is the very moment you (and others) have been waiting for. They can provide valuable information to guests, such as the names of the wedding party and family members, special traditions or rituals included in the ceremony, and even the meaning behind certain aspects of the wedding.
In this blog post, we will explore the reasons why you may or may not need wedding programs for your upcoming nuptials.
If you are trying to determine if you need wedding programs or not, my recommendation is to create an outline of your day.
An outline of the wedding ceremony is another vital piece of information for the officiant and coordinators. Once you devise the outline, you can then decide if this is helpful for your guests to know with a printed wedding program.
You can probably omit a printed program if your ceremony:
Will be brief (less than 30 minutes)
Has little to no readings
Has very few songs
You have a small or literally no bridal party.
You may want to consider a printed program if your wedding ceremony
Will be at least 30 minutes or longer
Include a Bridal Party and Participants
Include Multiple Readers
Primary Prayers and Blessings
Multi-Cultural, Interfaith, Blending
Musicians (live, orchestra, singers)
Multiple Songs
What guests tend to do with them
We’ve seen guests use the programs to keep themselves cool in some areas that may be warm or unusually warm. Some guests will keep their program as a memento; others will leave it on their seats or toss it. And that is okay. There will be many things your guests will “toss” on the day of your wedding. Remember, you don’t have to print programs for every guest attending.
The rule of thumb is 40% of your guest list, people share when they arrive, and some will arrive to the reception only.
My professional recommendation is to create a wedding program that is uniquely yours, it’s okay to color outside the lines of the traditional wedding program and go with something different, inform your guests, and have a keepsake all at the same time. Overall, wedding programs are a useful and thoughtful addition to any wedding ceremony, providing guests with important information and a memorable keepsake to cherish for years to come.
Customized programs can say a lot about you and your new spouse.
Need a wedding program outline so you can draft your own? Download my free program outline here.
about the author
Ruby Brewer-Watkins, is a Certified Wedding Planner who specializes in wedding stationery. Her guest list planning and creative process have created efficiency within her client projects, which allowed her to effectively collaborate, design and create beautiful wedding invitations and “day of” stationery for countless couples since 2015.
Hi, I’m Ruby, your creative wedding professional. FINALLY, you made it! You can catch a glimpse into a few things I love, specifically how I passionately create wedding invitations and details for the “day of” for couples. I hope that that my blog posts and articles contained within this beautiful space truly inspire you. I offer unfiltered advice and space to give yourself permission to be creative and explore options, and ideas that are available to you to celebrate life's greatest moments.
