DIY Wedding Programs

You're two weeks from a day you've been planning for months years and suddenly it hits you.... "Son of a bitch.. We need programs!!!" You've been so busy planning all of those details for the reception that you completely forget about all of the details for the part of the day that really matters... the ceremony!

So you hop on etsy to buy the fanciest programs you've ever seen... ((insert sound of both your hands smacking your cheeks)) $5.00 per program?!?! When you are two weeks away from the wedding another $5.00 per person FOR PROGRAMS is the last thing you want to spend money on.

So.. here is my suggestion:

Spend one evening (I know free evenings and weekends are hard to come by at this stage in the game, but try and find one... it will be worth it!) typing, printing and folding your programs. If you have some of those relatives that are dying for ways to help.. THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS THEY CAN HELP... Have them fold! Its a simple half fold on an 8.5x11 sheet of paper... we all learned how to do this is Kindergarten... And, if you are feelin' real crafty, put a ribbon on there!

Here's what I'm talking about...

You can't see it really well in this photo, but I used a Champagne shimmer paper and gold and champagne colored ribbon with a simple knot-tie at the bottom.

You can find a link to the Champagne shimmer paper here. And, here's the ribbon I used. 

Step 1: Pick your paper. There are hundreds of websites you can order paper from for your programs. My suggestion is 8.5x11 that is at least 80lb-thickness or more. Most website have an option to order samples... I highly suggest doing so before ordering enough paper to kill a tree. Here is my favorite place to get paper. Also, I suggest a lighter color... anything dark is harder to get ink to show up on.   

Step 2: Create your wedding programs by typing them out. I use Adobe InDesign, but you can recreate something similar using other programs as well. ((I also sell personalized graphic files in my etsy shop for a reasonable price... for those of you who don't think typing all of this on your own is for you!)) Here is a sample of the programs:

Program Cover

Inside of Program

Step 3: Print. I suggest printing all of one side first and all of the other side second. Most at-home printers don't have the capacity to print double sided, especially with thicker paper! You can print in almost any dark color you like... The lighter ink you go, the harder they will be to read (and, if your grandmother is anything like mine then she will be PISSED if she can't read your programs!). Also, feel free to take the file and paper to to any Staples or Kinko's. 

Step 4: Rally the troops! It's finally time to delegate something... HOOORAY! A half-fold is all these programs need! (Just FYI, Staples or Kinko's may be able to do this part for you also.)

Step 5 (optional): So you may be looking at your programs and be thinking... these just don't have enough pizazz for me... So there are plenty of options! 

• Add a ribbon with a simple knot-tie at the bottom.
• Add a ribbon with a bow on the side.
• Add a rhinestone or two to the front of the program. 

Stop stressing about programs... and only put in as much effort as you think they are worth!