Program Alternative?

Hola PW ladies!

I am at the 2 month mark and have not even began to think about programs. I'm unsure how the ceremony will be. My FI childhood friend is marrying us, and basically said he could do our ceremony any way we wanted. 

Back to programs, I know they have the bridal party and sequence of events. Has anyone used other options to the traditional programs to hand out. I am also being a little cheap here, are they necessary? Or best cost effective option to doing these?

TIA

I didn't include any actual ceremony details! Our wedding was outside in Key West so I made these cute little paddle fan programs.

SO CHEAP!! I think the sticks were like $3.99/48and the paper was 50% so I think I paid $3.99/100 sheets

It's totally up to you. There definitely not necessary. I did programs for ours just cuz I like doing stuff like that lol. I included the parents/special guests, wedding party, ceremony order, poem for my grandma (she passed :( but meant the world to me. I'm her first granddaughter and first to get married in our fam. I also included a small section of remembrance for both mine and my FI grandma's who have both passed. Oh and last page is the thank you. We did a one page trifold. I'm pleased with how they came out.

Not everyone does them, I agree. It's not an absolute must.  I just like knowing who's who, explanation of some traditions, to those who might not be familiar with the kind of religious ceremony we were having, and I also gave credits to our vendors.

We're not doing programs b/c we're in Vegas and the quicker its over the more time we have for pictures b/c we only have the place for an hour. But I wouldn't do one if it was here and more people were coming. If we did we would probably put a game on the back of it too lol

Thanks! Luckily, there's still (a little) time. I may also check into the chalkboard diy to have the bridal party on there...?

You definitely don't have to do them if you don't think you need them. I actually combined a few things into the program and it was a 12-page booklet. With the usual program info, I put the dinner menu, bar menu, room/seating layout, thank you's and driving directions to the freeways in the program. So I think I "saved" by combing a bunch of things into one. That way we didn't have a bunch of trash leftover, they took them home as keepsakes.