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Programmes / Order of Ceremony - how do these work?

13 replies

Miyajima98 · 05/10/2018 18:25

Hi everyone,

We are seeking a rather simple wedding and have decided against many traditions. I am now at the stage where I need to think about printing some "programmes" / Order of Ceremony, and also menus and place cards. The wedding ceremony is civil and will only last about 20 minutes. There are no readings, and we are not too close to our families so not really keen on having family names listed in what I believe is the traditional way. We do have some friends helping us though. The event is in the same location so guests will be ushered where to go - , so the "order" of things will basically be "get married, drinks, meal, party".

Do you think there is any point in having programmes made? I saw an article suggesting you can do away with programmes altogether and have a large display showing the order of the day (displayed on an easel as people go into the ceremony).

Alternatively we can make some but keep them simple. Either way, what is the simplest wording you think we need to have / information that people need to see?

Thank you!

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BigRedBoat · 05/10/2018 18:30

I didn't bother and no one seemed confused by the day - just got some loud voiced guests to announce when it was time to sit down for food etc, I think unless you're having hymns people need to sing along too you can get away without them.

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Floyella · 05/10/2018 18:32

We just had a single side of A5, printed on nice card, with the titles of the readings and music on.

They were really lovely (and cheap!!)

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CaseStudyResearch · 05/10/2018 18:35

I don’t think you need them by the sounds of it. I’ve only really seen them in a church.

Ours sounds very similar to yours and people were just ushered from downstairs to upstairs when the meal was ready. It worked really well.

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Ragh · 05/10/2018 18:36

Order of service for guests is only really needed for participation - hymns, when to kneel etc. A poster or similar will be fine so people can plan their drinking etc

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user1493413286 · 05/10/2018 18:36

I didn’t have them and I can’t think of any weddings I’ve been to where they’ve had them

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ThatFridayFeeling · 05/10/2018 18:38

There's loads of boards available online that you can personalise - we chose one one etsy and got it printed but I've seen people just use chalkboard. My friend recently painted a simple one for her sister just saying ceremony, drinks, cake, food, dancing

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ThatFridayFeeling · 05/10/2018 18:40

And the times obvs!!

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BackforGood · 05/10/2018 18:40

I don't think they are needed either. I always wonder what to do with them when they are given.
If you are expecting people to join in hymns, then it is simpler to have everything in one place, but other than that, I can't see why you'd need them. As a guest I certainly wouldn't miss them.

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Butterymuffin · 05/10/2018 18:42

Given what you've said about no readings etc, I don't think you need them. You could put the order of things up on an easel as you said. Likewise with the menu - have this displayed somewhere in a large size, or alternatively have one A5 one done for each table.
For place cards, you can buy sets of blank ones and write them out yourself, or get someone you know with really nice handwriting to do it.

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WildFlower2018 · 05/10/2018 18:44

I had a very similar wedding (no readings, no listing of names etc)

I used zazzle and used a menu card template and put our names at the top and timings under.

So...

14.00 ceremony
14.20 drinks and photographs
15.45 etc etc

If you want to see an example, I can dig one out for you.

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Miyajima98 · 05/10/2018 18:52

OP back again. Ah thanks everyone, this is really helpful. I think we will just go with the easel idea in that case - much easier. I might be inclined to make it myself if I can be faffed if I have time, or get one printed.

As we won't have mentioned friends names anywhere, on the menus I think I will include the names of people doing speeches after the dessert.

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SheWoreBlueVelvet · 05/10/2018 22:48

We are getting married in the next few weeks and have only just recieved the order of ceremony ourselves.
TBH it's bog standard vows, 2 readings and no hymns. Not sure anyone is going to care. They just have to stand or sit for 30 minutes whilst we bash through it.

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Doobigetta · 09/10/2018 13:35

I used zazzle templates as well and was really pleased with them, but I doubt any of the guests would have noticed or cared if they hadn’t been there, it was purely to satisfy my personal desire to get as much glittery shit as possible. I think it’s nice to let people know when they’ll get food, but you could do that with one nice homemade sign or board or something.

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