3 Alternatives to a Traditional Wedding Program

Posted on June 26, 2019 at 1:44 am by Carisa Lockery

The wedding program is traditionally used to inform the guests of the flow of the wedding ceremony. They can be helpful if guests are visiting from out of state and may need a pointer as to who the flower girl is, or the purpose of a specific reading at the ceremony. Today though, lots of couples are opting out of the usual paper program for a more fun and chic option!

Try a Decorative Board

Having a chalkboard, window pane, wood board, or mirror with the timeline of events can be a creative way to greet guests as they find their way into the ceremony. You can even re-use an antique you may have around the house and spice it up with some decorative paint. Just find the board you’d like to use, draw on the timeline of events (your wedding planner can help you figure this out) and place it in entrance of your choice. You can even put it next to the guests name cards so they get all the information they need at once.

A Fan

We all know what it’s like attending an outdoor wedding in July and August; beautiful but also sometimes very hot! Having fans set up for guests on a table where they enter the ceremony is a nice way to show them you’re thinking of their comfort too. Use a little sign to tell them that when they open the fans, they’ll see the plan for the night! It’ll serve a dual purpose, and be an extra surprise that guests won’t forget.

A Photo Wall

Use recycled frames or just hang sans frame for a fun way to inform guests of the order of ceremony, short wedding party bios, cocktail hour menu, and anything else you want to communicate! If you’re using a hashtag, add that into one of the frames too. You can make this sleek, rustic, or quirky dependent on the type of frames you choose and the way they’re set up, it’s a very flexible idea. Put the photos at the ceremony entrance, then move it so that guests can continue to enjoy it during cocktail hour and the reception. This can be a cute photo opportunity spot for friends and family as well!

Are you having a wedding program? Traditional,Tell us in the comments!

About the Author

Carisa Lockery

Thanks for stopping by. I'm so excited that you decided to learn more about me!

First and foremost, I am a wife and mother to 2 boys, Kyle and Mason. They're part of the reason that I continued to pursue my dream of being a business owner. Having the ability to make my own hours and still be present for them is invaluable, and an experience for which I will forever be indebted to my amazing husband.

As a kid, I was always organizing everything. I loved stationary and paper and pens and markers and journals and planners and anything else that allowed me to plan and organize. Trapper Keepers and Lisa Frank? Yes, PLEASE! As I got older, that love for organization became a love for planning, particularly fun things like events. I woke up one day with the thought, “Could I actually make a living doing this?”. I had gone to Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT for my Bachelor's Degree in Communications, so I had a little knowledge about business and how they worked. When the idea began to formulate more and more in my head, I decided to take my education even further and pursue a Master of Business Administration Degree. Right after I earned this degree, I had my first son, so the timing was perfect! I was able to be home with him during the week while my husband worked, and work at night and on the weekends, when most events took place!

More than 10 years later, I still love bringing the idea and concept of a wedding or event into reality. Each one plays out differently, and I love that! It keeps things fresh and exciting! I can't wait to hear from you and learn all about how I can help with your next event!

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