Your wedding program is one of those necessary aspects of the ceremony that usually doesn’t get a lot of attention. After all, it’s just a piece of paper with the order of events printed on it, right? But like every other part of the wedding, it’s possible to take it to the next level. Here are some wedding program ideas to jazz up that boring old thing and give it a little sparkle.
Blackboard
Instead of printing out programs and handing them to every guest, only to have them left on the seats and floor in the venue, consider using a blackboard. Take a pretty picture frame and frame a piece of wood painted with chalkboard paint. Then have your bridesmaid with the coolest handwriting write down the program on the blackboard. Guests can read it coming in, and then you won’t have to deal with the rustling of paper during the ceremony.
Fans
If you’re having an outdoor wedding, help your guests deal with the heat by handing out fans printed with your program. It’s a nice little touch that makes the program stay useful all the way through the reception. Who knew that brainstorming wedding program ideas could turn into something so useful? Just try to resist the urge to make a pun like, “for our biggest fans” on them. Eh, just kidding. Go for the fan pun.
Crossword Puzzle
Include a crossword puzzle or a word search in your program, with clues based on your relationship. Make sure to include a pencil so your guests can solve the puzzle while they wait! Guests just love having games to play at your wedding.
Confetti Bags
For a rustic touch, print your program on a brown paper bag. You can fill the bag with confetti or flower petals to toss at the end of the ceremony, so there’s a reason to hang onto the bags and not leave them littering the venue. Alternatively, wrap each bag around a beer bottle for the guests to sip while you say your vows. Okay, maybe not that last bit.
Miniature Newspaper
One of my favorite wedding program ideas is to set it up as a miniature newspaper. Create a headline on the front that announces you’re getting married and the story of how you met on the first page. The inside can detail the members of your wedding party. On the back you can do a write-up of your wedding vows, or honeymoon plans, or anything else you want to share with your guests.
Attach a Wedding Sparkler
One of the most elaborate wedding program ideas is to include a wedding sparkler with each program. It usually works best to cut a few slits in it for the sparkler to slip into. I find that a 20 inch sparkler for wedding celebrations is the perfect size. Make sure to include directions on how their wedding sparklers should be used on the programs!
Fortune Teller/Cootie Catcher
For a super-cool program your guests won’t be able to put down, fold them into those little fortune tellers (also known as cootie catchers) you used to play with on the playground. Or just provide instructions for your guests to do the folding.
Go Sarcastic With Your Wedding Program Ideas
The best program we’ve seen starts with “So you’re going to sit through a wedding…” and positions itself as a “practical guide to not falling asleep during our ceremony.” Your guests will appreciate the levity, and you’ll probably end up with a picture of the program shared over and over on Pinterest.
If you choose one of these wedding program ideas, this humble slip of paper provides plenty of opportunities for a creative wedding couple. You can make it useful, funny, or unexpectedly poignant. Remember that your program can be anything you want it to be. Just make sure you make it your own.
