Are wedding programs necessary? I get this question all the time. My answer is always the same- it’s entirely up to you! Tell help you decide if you need them or not, let’s look at a few reasons why you might want to consider them.
You have a very long wedding. If you are having a longer Catholic wedding or any type of religious wedding where guests from different faiths will be present, you might want to have a program letting them know what is happening. They may not understand some of the customs and it’s helpful to have a guide for them to follow along. This is especially important if you are having an interfaith or multi-cultural ceremony.
You have family members and friends you would like to acknowledge for their dedication, hard work and love. Perhaps it’s the friend that introduced the two of you, or you have endearing friends and family that have been your rock in hard times. In addition, listing your bridal party on a program is a nice way to say, “Hey thank you for being an integral part of my wedding!” Whatever the case, the program card is a great way to let those important to you know that you care about them.
You have a special song or poem that has significant meaning. Printing the lyrics to your favorite song or the prose from a lovely poem can help set the tone of your ceremony. It’s cute and sweet and a nice souvenir as well.
If you are anticipating a very hot and humid wedding, in say, Atlanta in August, or planning on a major dance floor boogie fest, you can go with an old-fashioned hand fan. Your sweaty Aunt May can fan herself after she gets down with her bad self. Fans are great because you can print your bridal party members, a small thank you, or just a lovely quote on the back and they are actually very useful, not to mention, pretty cute for photo opportunities.
And you can ditch all of the above if you have a small budget and a simple wedding where everyone knows each other. My motto— it’s entirely up to you and your vision for your special day.
