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why not DIY?
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I can't remember having programs while I was at a wedding, but I did make some for mine since our ceremony is untraditional (family is Catholic and have all had Catholic weddings, though we definitely will not be). I wasn't going to at first and nobody thought of this as a problem! I just bought the paper from Staples and printed it myself. It was a huge pain in the rear to finally get everything set up to print out properly, but I got it eventually :p
If we do them, we'd definitely DIY them (we're doing our own invitations, too), but even so, it means more printing and paper (we're expecting about 200 guests, so it'd be quite a job)
I'm pretty sure we're going to skip the programs. I'm pretty positive the wedding I attended last summer had no programs, and I know my brother's had none. I really didn't miss 'em. I think it's kind of nice with a longer ceremony so your guests know how much more they have to suffer through, but I don't think it's otherwise necessary. :P
I think I may do DIY programs on Microsoft Word on pretty scrapbooking paper and top it with a bow.
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None of my cousins had programs at their weddings and actually between my fiance and I we can't think of any weddings we've been to that had any... (We're not planning on having them either.)
I think the only time they're necessary is if the ceremony is going to be very unfamiliar to your guests or complicated.
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I've never been to a wedding without them. I think they're important, but you can certainly skip them if you want. I like to know who is in the wedding and what the readings are, etc.
Out of the 8 billion weddings I've been to (or so it feels like!) only two weddings had programs. They are a nice addition to a ceremony, but I agree with your FI that you can do without them. The only time I think programs are necessary is if you're having an interfaith wedding or filling your ceremony with something your guests may not be used to!
Most of the weddings I've been to have had programs - but only one had any sort of info on the traditions, etc. The rest were all just a list of who's who and the readings, etc. I'm still debating whether to bother myself - I personally think it's something you can skip, unless you really want your guests to know step by step what is going on... besides which most just end up in the recycling bin after the fact, seems like a waste! 
To be honest I never seen programs in the weddings I been to. So Im debating if I should do them or not.
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pretty much every wedding with the exception of one (which I can remember, at least) had programs. Recently, my FBIL & FSIL didn't have them but used a slideshow during the processional to identify everyone. It was cute and everyone enjoyed watching a ton of pictures.
we're going to DIY the programs.
We had programs at our wedding, but they were DIY all the way (perhaps I should technically call it HDI - husband did it). The main two reasons we had them were: our families and friends (95% of them) travelled from Louisiana to be with us for our wedding in the Rockies and we wanted to thank them. Second, I wanted to incorporate something to honor those who couldn't be with us, especially my father who passed away when I was 17. I knew I would end up bawling if it was part of the ceremony, so honoring his memory in our program was the way for us to go. Oh, and also, we had a handfasting ceremony, and I really felt it was important to explain the symbolism behind each of the 13 colored ribbons.
I've only actually attended a handful of weddings, they all had programs. I never thought about not having them, but I'm sure nobody would miss them! I don't think anyone would be looking for one! I may even choose to leave them out too ... what a waste of trees.
Most of the weddings I've been to have had programs, and I think they are a nice touch. But I wouldn't say they are necessary, unless it is the type of ceremony where the guests are supposed to participate a lot. We are kind of taking the middle route. Our church will print the programs for us if we give them all the necessary information and provide the program covers. Hopefully we will be able to get that to them within the next week- or I guess we will be sans programs.
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I would say it's 50/50 as far as programs at weddings I've attended. I don't think they're necessary at all, but they do give your guests something to read while they're waiting for the ceremony to begin.
If you don't have the budget, I wouldn't think twice about forgoing the programs.
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MOST of the weddings I have been to did not have programs. My wedding ceremony is going to take all of 10 minutes so I am not bothering with programs.
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I don't think I've ever been to a ceremony without a program. I like them because I like knowing where we are in the ceremony's progress, but I guess it wouldn't be a big deal not to have them. We're using them because we've got a couple of unusual traditions that we want to explain.
I remember seeing those at weddings I attended in the 90s to be honest with you. The weddings I've been to lately do not have them. My personal opinion is that they are an added stress that I do not need. With that being said, you can probably guess that we will not have them. Then again we are not having such a traditional wedding in comparison to different things I've read on weddingbee. Sometimes, I think I'm outta my element here, but that's a whole other blog.
I would think programs would be necessary for weddings with lots of guests in attendance to identify the large wedding party's and if the wedding has a lot of traditions many of the guests wouldn't be familiar with, so the program would serve as an explanatory/supplement item.
We didn't have any programs. Nobody said a word about it, not even our parents. :)
I don't think they're necessary but they are a nice touch, especially for your bridal party since they'll be listed.
I DIYd mine with paper from Paper Source and Photoshop. I did 50 and the total cost was like $10. I got tons of compliments on them.
Because our ceremony will be less than 30 minutes and everything is in the same place, we are not doing programs.
If I have one I will DIY.
Truthfully, I did NOT have one before when I had the super big formal wedding. Neither did my friends and one of my best gf's had a wedding over 150k and no programs.
I kinda think that it's a given..you come in, there might be music, there will be bridesmaids, groomsmen, maybe a cute flower girl or ring bearer, a lovely bride and groom and some sort of a religious or heartfelt service. Kinda standard if you ask me, what will happen during a wedding.
If it's Catholic or full mass or many songs or involvement needed from the guests, I might think it's ok then. For a very 'involved' type of ceremony.
We are getting married in Vegas. To the upset of our parents (we were both raised Catholic), we are having our ceremony at the hotel's chapel. It will be 15 minutes long, programs would be a waste of time, money and paper. I do think that if we were having a traditional Mass, we would do programs. Most of the weddings I have been to had programs, in my cousin's program she listed her vendors (I thougth that was jsut tacky).
Keep in mind, most people throw them away. It is a personal decision, and most people will not notice if you do or do not use them. Happy planning!
Every wedding I've attended has had programs. However, you don't need to do programs for every person, I've heard 50% is usually a good idea. I decided i wanted fun programs (not really sure why since I am not usually a paper person) and ordered a bunch of supplied from Paper Source's sale section. We will DIY about 70 programs for 100 guests and supplies cost about $60 which I don't think is so bad since we got booklet type things. My cousin simply did standard sheets of colored paper folded in half and that worked too. In my opinion, the program serves as a way to recognize your bridal party and welcome everyone to your wedding in addition to providing ceremony details.
DIY those programs baby! If you have a "normal" 10 min ceremony and don't have alot of things to say, then print 2 programs per page so you can cut papers in 1/2. You can even go into Word and set up the page to have 3 columns and print out 3 programs per page. Pick out a beautiful paper, and then make 3 cuts on the paper. I've seen long lean programs on the knot.com and they're stunning. Just pick out great stationary since you can splurge on that. Programs are a great way to thank the outta town relatives,mention the bridal party/groomsmen, and introduce your reception's color pallete, monogram/ other design elements. I'm all for stationary. It's such a great way to tie together your whole wedding look.
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I was talking about invitations with my fiance yesterday and all of a sudden it occured to me that most weddings include a program listing the wedding party, etc.....which would double our printing costs (we're on a very small budget). My fiance seemed to think that wasn't all that necessary and I suppose in the grand scheme of things it's not essential.
So here's my question: has anyone ever been to a wedding where they didn't have programs? Is that acceptable?