Are ceremony booklets totally necessary?

Zascar

I'm not getting married in a church, it's overseas in the sun. I still have plenty to organise re the ceremony and arrangement - but its getting way close and I'm running out of time. I'm wondering do I really need a booklet? Should I just not bother? Has anyone else not done it or is it essential?

Greenmachine

I think it is open to debate. Were you planning to print them yourself or have someone do them.

Teyla Emmagan

Nope, not at all. They're only useful for figuring out who Bridesmaid No 3 is etc.

Rebshe88

We didn't have any. Hotel and celebrant both said they were pointless. People actually had to pay attention to the ceremony and not follow a booklet to see how long was left

Toots

I'd only do them for a church/religious ceremony TBH. That way if there's hymns or whatever, the words are there for people to sing along with. Also with prayers of the faithful, they'd be printed in the booklet so if you've got friends/family doing readings, they don't need to worry about forgetting their bit of paper with the prayer written on it.

ThatGeekGirl

We had a fun printed out card (A5) that was a reference to a game we both play and are known for within the family, in terms of cermony details it just mentioned the 4 song titles and the name of the reading my dad did. 25euro from a printer to do and it was purely for the craic that we did it - went down a treat

Loveinapril

I would say that are unnecessary. I never even considered having one for our kind of humanist ceremony. I always think they are such a waste of paper and time. And I agree with the other poster in that the only time I have paid attention to one is to see how long is left (this applies to church weddings!).

pooch90

We didn't do them. Did two big blackboards with the members of bridal party on one, order of service on the other, job done!

Jwacqui

You don't need them. I had a church wedding and we printed enough for everyone and had over half left over. Luckily my maid of honour/ sister in law had printed them all for me.

Maybe if you wanted to an outline. I seen a small leaflet with an outline example:

Wedding of Xxxxxxxxxx
Entrance song
First Reading
Vows
Second Reading
Signing of the register
Second song
Exit song

It was perfect and lovely but again wasn't nesseccary.

Greenduck

I'm getting married away next month and have made 'fan' programmes! Just have the order of the day and the bridal party names etc! They also double as a fan for the heat!

Electric Sheep

Totally unnecessary.

Rowley Birkin QC

We did a simple card one. Bought the design on Etsy (€15), modified it and printed them on card in Reads (€50~). Same with the menu. Totally not necessary but we didn't spend a fortune on them either.

Ghekko

Waste of money imo. People might bring them home but no doubt will bin them. If anyone wants to know who the bridesmaids/groomsmen are they can ask someone else. Save your cash.

Zascar

Thanks all, I opted out. I got some small paper fans instead

missmatty

We didn't bother with them, didn't miss them and I don't think anyone else did either!