My daughter is getting married in a couple of weeks, and decided a program was one thing we could do without. However, the MOG was shocked we weren't having them.
Is the wedding program a recent convention? I remember years ago, I never saw the things. Why is it necessary for all the guests to know who all the bridesmaids and all the groomsmen are? I would think it would be enough for the guests to know the bridal couple, after all they are the ones getting married.
Are wedding programs really necessary?
--Nightsounds
While wedding programs aren't an absolute essential, they
have come to be a regular, much-loved part of wedding ceremonies. Brides and grooms use them to pay tribute to their parents in a much greater way than that line on the invitation (if that's even there!), such as a special thank-you note for helping to plan the wedding. The list of bridal party names is there not for FYI, but as a way to publicly acknowledge all of their attendants for putting so much work into the wedding preparations, spending money on their outfits, travel, lodging, showers and gifts. And the child members of the bridal party love seeing their names in print.
A program also helps the guests to understand what's going on in the wedding ceremony, so that they understand any religious, spiritual or cultural elements of the event, also sharing the name of that lovely song that's playing, or the title of the poem or psalm that's read. And the bride and groom might put their 'at home' information on the back cover so that everyone has their new address, phone and e-mail, or they might print an in-the-moment thank you to guests that is just a nice touch, not a replacement for official thank yous sent later.
People do keep wedding programs as keepsakes, and the bride and groom often frame them for display in their home, as do parents. It's one of the few tangible things that are kept after the wedding, along with the photos.
So that's why the MOG said the programs are a must, but talk to the bride and groom about what they have planned for their wedding programs. That might be one of the fun, couple-project things they're working on together. And they can be done inexpensively with pretty papers and a home computer.
--Sharon Naylor
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