DIY: Useful and easy fan-ish programs with Mad Libs

June 10, 2010
I’d been meaning to post my wedding programs for a while and if it provides any inspiration for someone, I’m glad to be of service.  They were relatively simple to design and put together.  I’d also like to think they were kinda fun too (I mean mad libs and everything!)

Originally, I wanted fan-shaped programs with rounded corners that fit on a single sheet.  I e-mailed another bride to ask how she did it.  Apparently, it involved a Fiskar rounded cutting tool, another rounder, and lots of time (though I would have rounded the corners but didn’t buy the right tool).  Eeeek.
I like the simpler way so at first I just opted for angled pages.  The Kinko‘s guy tried to cut it, but a bunch of text ended up getting cut off so I modified it to a rectangular format and had it redone.  I totally recommend a local printer if you’re cutting paper – they charge $1.50 – $2 per cut and it’s easy and efficient (and the one cut applies to hundreds of pages).

Our programs included:

  • Ceremony Guide
  • Schedule of events
  • Wedding party and family
  • Note to our guests
  • Directions to the reception venue
  • Mad Libs (I always want to provide amusement)

The materials:

  • Printed cardstock
  • Heart shaped hole puncher
  • Ribbons

Directions:
1. I designed the programs on a landscape 8.5 x 11 page in Microsoft Powerpoint and printed a copy; Powerpoint will allow you to move sections of text easily and is easy when you make the Mad Libs.  I’d suggest making the Mad Libs one block of text and the corresponding words to fill in individual text boxes you can easily move under the text.  I’m not sure how to post my template online, but please send me an e-mail at cncliving{@}gmail.com if you would like it.
Note: It is useful to have a version with line cuts/borders printed out to serve as a guide for cutting and a version without borders electronically for Kinko’s to print.

2. I brought the printed and soft copies to Kinko’s.  They printed on cardstock and cut the programs.

3. I (or rather my lovely bridesmaids because I was looking for my missing veil) assembled the 3 pages and tied the ribbon on each completed program.

It could have still been simple and lovely if the pages were staggered lengths or had a vellum overlay with our monogram.

I still loved them though – our programs were informative, simple, and fun.
How did/would you plan your programs?

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  • Jammer June 10, 2010 at 13:00

    This is one of the coolest things I have ever heard done at a wedding!! I mean, MAD LIBS! Love it 🙂

    http://jammer10am.blogspot.com/

  • Ms. Givens June 10, 2010 at 13:23

    Hi. I am so glad people are thinking outside the box when it comes to weddings cause most times I dread going to them. Sad, I know.
    The shoes on my polyvore are called Metalic Declic and can be found at barneys.com.

  • PartyPlannerGal June 10, 2010 at 13:54

    Those are beautiful! I love fan programs, though it may be on the cooler end when we get married, so I’m not sure they would “go” with our ceremony. I love the look of programs inside of hand-stamped muslin bags, but it seems a bit wasteful if everyone is going to turn around and discard the bag. Sigh. So many options, so little time to decide!

  • THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE June 10, 2010 at 13:58

    Wow you are so creative!!! I adore them! Mad Libs is brilliant!

    Have a good flight back tomorrow 🙂 xoxo

  • Salt June 10, 2010 at 13:59

    You are officially the first person that I have ever heard of having program Mad Libs. What a FUN idea! I LOVE Mad Libs! You are so darn creative and your programs looked beautiful.

  • Keith June 10, 2010 at 13:59

    That is so awesome. I love this DIY.

  • knk June 10, 2010 at 14:38

    nits really nice , i never saw in our town

  • honey my heart June 10, 2010 at 15:58

    that looks so great! love the mad lib idea.

  • Valerie June 10, 2010 at 16:56

    What an awesome idea! I’m sure your guests LOVED the mad libs and your programs look great. Well done!

    Thank you for your sweet comment. Yes, you should absolutely try Sasabune if you’re ever in LA. We didn’t have to make reservations, but you can. We went around 6:30 or 7pm and were able to walk right in and sit down.

    🙂
    Valerie

  • Chocolate Lover June 10, 2010 at 16:59

    They look great! We are forgoing this and just printing a large schedule of the day to place on an easel. Figure its cheaper and saves paper.

  • shari @ little blue deer June 10, 2010 at 18:18

    So clever! I LOVE the Mad Libs idea, once again, wish I had seen this before I got married! Maybe for an anniversary celebration!

  • Mo June 10, 2010 at 23:35

    I love mad libs. Did you save any of the guests’ completed programs?
    I am going the fan route. Wish me luck!

  • Fashion Butter June 11, 2010 at 07:42

    those are REALLY cute.

    We didn’t have programs – got married here in Greece and I had to cut a lot of things I would have had as part of my wedding if we got married elsewhere. Wedding here are pretty straight forward and they skip a lot of the details – but I did still manage to do my fair share of wedding crafts. I designed the invites, made out of town bags, made the favors (little basil plants), made the “koufeta”boxes … yeah … I hope to never have to make 500 tailored bows again. 🙂

  • SS June 13, 2010 at 21:24

    I would love for you to post your template or if you would share it with me once you get back…90 day countdown to my big day and still figuring out what to do for our programs.

  • Gonna Be His Mrs. June 14, 2010 at 16:46

    Love your fun programs!
    And thank you for the visit….you’re so sweet…. as always.

    =)

  • Mrs T June 20, 2010 at 04:55

    They are so fun.

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