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I woke up at 7am this past Saturday, my mind in a whirlpool of wedding programs. I can’t stop thinking about them. Against my will, I’m showing symptoms of being a bridezilla.
Time is ticking, and I still haven’t decided if I want to risk the invitation fiasco and make the programs myself (which may possibly mean I’m doing this until mid-June) or find an economical stationer that will make them for me.
However, I HAVE decided that they need to be wedding program fans, as the wedding is in July and I don’t want my poor guests to faint from the sun. I also don’t want silk fans or palm leaf fans, as I know a lot of the attending men-guests would be embarrassed using such feminine goods. I’ve been scouring the Internet for wedding program fan ideas, and it’s surprisingly limited. Here are some of my favorite designs:
Ceci New York. I love the rippled edge and use of multiple ribbons.
Grace Connell Designs. The hand-calligraphy is gorgeous although the curly bracket edge is too Victorian for me.
Unfortunately, Ceci’s prices start at $2000 and I’m sure Grace Connell is about the same, given the work she puts into each piece. My budget is $200, so the missing zero limits my options significantly.
Mr. Tomato suggested this, but I’m not big on the popsicle stick handle. At $2.35 each, they do fit within the budget though…
And then I came across custom-programs.com!
It doesn’t look like much in the photography, but the sample that came in the mail was better than I expected. At $3.50 each, it’ll come right around the $200 mark. Still, I could save a lot by doing it on my own. But how does one create those templates?
FINALLY, I found a DIY version. It looks straight-forward enough. Still, all the cutting is fairly intimidating. And I know that at the end of the day, the programs will be discarded, anyway. But $150 is a lot of money! It’s 150 items off the Mickey D menu…
What do you guys think? Should I save $150 by spending 4-6 weeks on it?
Hmmm. difficult call! i guess it would be a decision between:
1) your precious time
2) extra cost
3) feeling of satisfaction and pride from DIY
4) perhaps sanity? 
i love the ones from cici new york, if you do decide to order them!
I say buy nice paper, pay someone else to cut it [that would be the most frustrating part for me, anyway] and then assemble yourself. You can get someone to cut the paper for you pretty cheap!
Good luck!
Only if it’s really important to you and what’s available for sale doesn’t satisfy.
Of these examples, the least DIY headache is the first one — single piece cut like a scallop. Minimal cutting if you printed it on a standard size paper and them used an Exacto knife to cut out your pattern. And your pattern could be any shape you like (simple like tracing the edge of a bowl, or echo your theme). The multiple ribbons concept you like is easy to copy and you can pick ANY ribbon at ANY price point (but the ribbons are not too girly for the men who don’t like silk/palm fans?).
Have Custom Programs do all the work for you. I’m sure they’ll send you a template. I know Mrs. Bee and Mrs. Butterfly used them and the results were great.
wow 150 bucks is a good amt of savings! that could go toward a great veil or shoes or toward food. I would DIY. I am with the previous comment of go w/ the first one very straight forward OR the square ones. I think the pop. stick is cute and I am sure there are other stick options.
Make them yourself. Buy a bunch of cardstock in your wedding colors, have someone do the cutting for you, then punch a hole, add a brad and ribbons, and you’re done.
You could get two “blades” from each piece of cardstock if you made them like that last picture, which is four sides total, which could be enough depending on how much info you have to put in them. So that’s one piece of cardstock per guest, and you could probably find it pretty cheap (using a Michael’s coupon or even printing the one off hobbylobby.com). Then pay someone to make the cuts, and put them together yourself. It’s the same theory as invitations - it’s the labor that costs money, so if you could figure out a way to order everything premade do you could just assembly line it…
The questions to ask yourself would be:
1. Do you see anything you LOVE that you could order and be done with?
2. If you decide to DIY, could you make them simple and the leave them alone knowing they’ll be thrown away anyway? Or would you stress yourself out making every little bit perfect? That might be too much stress right before your wedding…
Check out http://www.lbnpc.com
They do the same thing but depending on how many you order, the price could be reduced. I haven’t used them. But I plan to when I get closer to my wedding date.
I’d DIY, but I’d make a new template- there’s no reason you couldn’t get 5, if not six, peices by “zippering” the blades of your design. You will need to think hard about how you will get those peices cut, and how much you are willing to pay for that service… a papercutter (even a $10 one) is a godsend for straight edges, but those curves are going to mean a template, stencil, scissors, and some quality time. I wouldn’t say “weeks” though- maybe a weekend The riveter costs money, too… but even with a papercutter and the rivetting, I don’t think the cardstock will run you as much as you think, as long as you have a way to get the printing done cheaply.
I’ve got a template on my laptop for the last one, if you’re interested, I can email it to you. I almost went with the fan program, but I had a hard time fitting all the information on each tapered page leaf. But, yeah - I can hook you up if you want to try your hand at it.
I feel it is worth spending the money.
Here are 3 reasons why I think so:
1. it seemed like time is running out and I’m sure there are other more important things for you to personally look into.
2. $150 is considered not alot to the the overall money you are going to spend….so if it can bring you good quality stuff…why not?
3. DIY stuff is fun to do…but along the way, when more and more tasks and chores overwhelm you, it is not very nice
4. Lastly, be a happy bride….not bigged down by all these very hands-on tasks!!!
just my opinion
and I must say you look lovely…
I’m sure you are going to be a very pretty bride and your husband is a really lucky man!!!
(se i also use lots of exclamation mark)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The DIY template you found is by Aylee, who did my awesome monograms for dirt cheap. She does make programs and invitations, have you checked into how much she would charge for it? She’s super quick at responding and very nice.
I inquiried about program fans before and I found a stationer who can do the whole thing for you or just do the cutting and you provide the printed material. The stationer is cards de luxe (cardsdeluxe.com) and they have a few samples of the fan program if you email them. Good luck and let us know what you decide!
OMG I love the popsicle stick ones. Can you tell us where you found them, I didn’t see a link?
I have a question - when handing out programs, who all should get one? My 9-year old nephew is handing them out, but I think it would be better to give one to each family/adult instead of every single person. I don’t know how many to even make. I am sending out approximately 145 invitations, so should I make, say, 100 programs?
Just spent 20 minutes on Aylee’s website looking at all her cool monograms. What an amazing find. Thank you!!
To answer your question, I would only DIY if time permits. The last thing you want is to rush it an make mistakes.
I am getting my program fans made from a former knottie who started a stationary business. I was going to DIY, but after trying one, I realized it was going to be a PITA. Her company is Eiffel Print Design http://www.eiffelprintdesign.com and my programs are costing me a total of $3.50 each and she customized the paper to match my envelopments invites. Here is the link to her beautiful fans: http://tinyurl.com/2o4l72. HTH!
Those are the same two program designs I am trying to decide between. I actually do have the template for the second on my computer that I got from another bride. I can email it to you if you are interested. My email address is jammieallen@peoplesfirst.com and I would be more than willing to send it to you!
~Jammie :-}~
See Miss Bell Pepper’s 5/3 posting on DIY fan programs.
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Mrs. Tomato, Napa Valley Age and Occupation: 25, Technology Project Manager Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Engineer Engagement Date: October 22, 2006 Wedding Date: July 1, 2007 Blogging Since: May 1, 2006 Venue: Auberge du Soleil About Me: I love all things beautiful. From handmade stationery, feminine fashion and delicate flowers to the little moments in your life treasured with your loved one. I am also notorious among my friends to be a deal hunter! My best deal was perhaps my Monique Lhuillier dress for $1100 (orig. $5000). I also tend to use a lot of exclamation marks! =)
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