By Amanda Colyer, Della Stella
For our DIY Wedding
Materials for DIY Wedding Programs:
- A2 sized folded cards (or card stock
- Golf pencils
- Popsicle sticks
- Scissors
- Needle with a large eye
- Corner Rounder Punch
- Thin ribbon
- Double Sided Tape
Note: A2 is a great size because there’s room for content, but they’re not so big that they’re floppy. If you go with a different size, make sure that when folded, the programs will be sturdy enough to write on.
Designing my programs was a snap with Microsoft Word. On the front, I put the basics – names, ceremony details, and bird graphics to match our wedding theme. To jazz up the back, I came up with three wedding related games for our guests to play while they waited for the ceremony to start: a Mad Lib, a fill-in-the-blank, and a word search.
I had tons of ideas for games that I ran out of time to use. How about a crossword puzzle, Sudoku, maze, or connect the dots?
Once you’ve designed your programs (making sure to fit the card dimensions), print the front and back onto the outside of the cards. I used my regular ink jet printer
To start assembling, open up a card and put double stick tape on three sides.
Then put double stick tape on both sides of a popsicle stick, covering about half of the stick. Center on the card and press in place.
Close the card, pressing to seal the edges.
Using the corner rounder punch, carefully round all four corners.
Cut a piece of ribbon that, when halved, is long enough to reach from the end of the popsicle stick to the end of the pencil, while still allowing enough slack to write on the program.
Thread the halved ribbon through the hole in the popsicle stick.
Use a lark’s head knot to secure.
Thread the two cut ends of the ribbon of the ribbon through a golf pencil.
Knot the ends to secure, then trim.
Here’s the back of a finished program. Word search, anyone?
And the finished stack of about 50 wedding programs.
Our guests loved them! I had people coming up to me during the reception to read me their wedding Mad Libs. We got such a kick out of the reactions to these programs — I’m really glad I took the time to do them. They were quick and easy to put together, and total cost ended up being around $25 for 50 programs. The hardest part was drilling holes in the pencils and popsicle sticks. I’m dangerous around power tools, so my husband very nicely did them for me. And isn’t helping each other what marriage is all about?
Amanda Colyer is a 24 year old cubicle-dweller in corporate America. She dreams of one day finding a job that will pay her to knit, quilt, and generally be crafty. You can see her various creative endeavors at dellastella. Read about Amanda and Ben’s Real Wedding.
Oh, these are adorable! So much fun and I love the combo fan/program. Linked to it on my blog…
I came across your DIY program and I loved the idea of it. It’s taking me sometime to put mine together. Can you tell me the font and letter size that you used? I love them but can’t seem to locate it on my computer.
Thank you
KUDOS!!! These look amazing! You deserve a huge pat on the back for helping other brides like me who aren’t as creative!!
Love this idea!! I’m always looking for small ways to entertain my guests. Could you tell which font or template you used in Word to create these? How did you get your bird graphics? Thanks!
Might we possibly get a template? I am not nearly as design savvy as I need to be to design this.
Was this 80lb cover stock? I’m concerned they wont be heavy enough to keep my guest cool. Thanks!
This is LOVELY! I will be linking later this month…
This is amazing. It has so many functions. A program, an activity to keep them busy, and a fan to keep them cool. I love it and am definitely going to use it. What is the template on word? I cant find the A2. I might be able to use what card stock I buy and just match the measurments. I am very excited about this! Thanks!
i’m going got be making some programs like this for a friend-where did you get the large popsicle sticks?
this is fabulous! i’m planning a relatives wedding and in the process of making programs… where can i get the box of pencils and popsicle sticks? also, can i actually buy a pile of A2 paper? and from where?
oooh, the madlib/fan combo is SUCH a cute idea.
Here are some answers from Amanda re: the programs:
“I believe it was 80 lb cardstock. The popsicle stick helps to reinforce it and keep it from flopping. Unfortunately, I don’t have a template made up for these. The popsicle sticks and folded cards were both from Jo Ann’s. The pencils were from an online golf store. If you look around, there are a few places like that to get them. The fonts I used were Lainie Day (free for download, just do a Google search), and Verdana, and I’m not sure what sizes I used.”
I already have 2 templates made – the Mad Libs and a word search! The fill in the blank is going to be the hardest. I had to make some changes, however. We don’t have too much time, so I am actually skipping the popsicle stick. The cardstock is actually heavy enough on its own, once folded over. And, I am securing the pencil in the knot created when I thread the ribbon through.
Thanks for such a great idea! Our theme is actually brown and green (with a touch of pink), and we are even using birds! Awesome!
This is such an amazing idea and I want to do it for my wedding. Is there a template for this by chance that you can share? If so, please send it to my email… cedmo@catocorp.com.
Thanks so much!!!!!
Sorry Candice, there is no template.
I love this! What a great idea for programs on hot day!
This is absolutely different and doable! I am the mother of the bride and I’ve helped out to the tune of making 75 beach themed invites, so I may as well finish it out with the programs…great job! I love it!
Thanks for your comment Tee Green! Let me know how they turn out!
Really loved the idea, but since my wedding is in the winter, really no need for a fan. But I did borrow the idea of a word find in my program. Thank you for the great ideas…..
Viviana
The programs are great! Where did you find the bird graphics? Love them!
I will look into this Veronica.
I need clarification on the A2 card reference above. In word, my daughter has designed two separate pages. How does that print as A2? My printer has A4, A5, A6, and B5.
Please help!
julia
I have looked online and I cannot find the golf pencils online do you have the website you ordered off of?
Hi Crystal,
Amazon.com com has them. Go the section in the post where it says Materials for DIY wedding programs and you will see a link to “Golf pencils” which will take you to the amazon listing.
How did you make the mad lib in word? I’m having a hard time fitting the part of speech under the lines and making it look right.
What a creative idea. I love it. It has been years since I have tried a mad lib but remember them fondly. So much fun.
I am also having a hard time figuring out the paper size and printing. Did you purchase the paper already folded as a card and which paper setting on your printer did you use to create the fan? These are a great idea!
Hi All,
Just an FYI: We’re doing this for our wedding also, but I’m going to make them a bit bigger than the A2s. Pencils were bought at staples – $7 for 200. The popsicle sticks I found at a hobby store in downtown Boston for $3 for 80. My backup plan was to get the tongue depressers from a medical supply store.
Also – this is where I found a template:
PADDLE FAN TEMPLATE
by Aylee (www.ayleebits.com)
There are a few different shapes to choose from.
Good luck!
I am getting ready to borrow this idea for our programs. I love it!!
I can’t seem to figure out how to make the puzzles. The only puzzle makers I can find online don’t look dood at all. Please help!!
Thanks
I really love this idea! I am curious to know which fonts you used.
Anyone have any tips on how to make the madlibs? I can’t figure out how to put the noun, verd, etc. under the blank line.
I absolutely love this idea!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing with the rest of us DIY brides!
love this idea! only 2 weeks left, though, ’til our wedding! would you be willing to send me the template?
I absolutely LOVE this! I’m working on our programs right now. Actually, we’re doing a bird theme and I *REALLY* want those two images you used! Any chance you can share them or link to where you found them?!
Hi Amanda!
What did you use to make the games on the back of the programs? They are so adorable, but I have no idea how to do that!
Thanks!
I echo some of the comments above – how did you put the word forms underneath the blank line? I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do this!
This is the cutest thing. I can likely do the fan part, not sure about the crossword puzzle and other games. I’m sure if I searched I could find which template you used. Great ideas though!
OMG! I flippin love this. I’m getting married in October on the beach in Key West & these will be perfect! What size drill bit did your husband use to drill the pencils & were they circle or the hexagon shaped? Also, how did you design the word search & madlibs with noun, adj, etc under the lines?
LOVE this! Thanks for the idea! But where in the world can we find Popsicle sticks and pencils with holes? Or are they all hand-drilled?
Lindsey, you need to drill them yourself.
Thanks! A wedding project the Fiance will enjoy!
Love this idea! Any way you have a temeplate you can email me?? I would greatly appreacite it!
How fun! It’s a great way to keep guests entertained before the ceremony begins!
What does your front say.. that’s the hardest thing.. i can’t seem to figure out if i’m putting what SHOULD be on there on there without cluttering it.. i love yours.. plain & simple & it looks like it’s short & to the point.. Could you possibly tell me what you put for the ceremony details..? Also do you have the templates for the games?… I was just going to make the front side when i saw this on another site but i love the creativity of having a little game too! .. Just not sure how i can create it!
Amanda-
I had to write a comment, hope all is well! I am looking up programs to make for our upcoming wedding and stumbled upon your page on google. What a small world! They are super cute, great idea!!
-Marla
I am using this idea for my June 11 wedding programs & they are turning out so much better than I even imagined – THANK YOU for the idea and tutorial!!
Here is a link that I used to make the word search. You can put whatever words you want, how many lines, etc. My fiance told me about the site after I kept struggling with spacing.
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/WordSearchSetupForm.asp
Has anyone been able to find the bird clip art? I’m having trouble finding it.
Hi Mishayala… I was playing with this puzzlemaker a few months ago. It’s awesome. And free too! Thanks for reminding me about it. I am going to do a blog post about it soon.
I love this idea so much and am borrowing it for my wedding programs! It was really hard finding a wedding mad lib template so I wrote one based off a crappy version I found online (the original did not make sense or work). This one has been tested and approved for hilarity. I hope you guys find it useful!
“Wedding Wishes”
A Mad Lib
We are so (emotion) for Jill and Jack! They are the
most (adjective) (plural noun) and we wish them many
(adjective) days for the rest of their lives together.
My best advice? Don’t forget to (verb) before you
(verb) and (verb) after the (verb).
Jack should always (verb) Jill’s (noun) and
Jill should always (verb) Jack’s (noun). We
wish you (number) years of happiness
and (adjective) (plural noun).
I just finished this project for my Nyly third wedding, and I have some tips: The craft store in my neighborhood Michaels, did not have a2 cardstock so I bought stock that was 5 x 6.5…..worked perfectly. Brand was called Reflections. The cardstock came with envelopes also, but I just set those aside for another project. I made150 fans and it took 8 spools of ribbon. We used glue sticks to adhere the cards and saved the tape for the craft stick…sped up process. We used a Dremmel to drill holes, cant remember bit size, but we played around for awhile. It’s helpful if you make sure the needle you bought fits through the hole you made. we ran into this as I bought a crafting needle which ended up being too thick. Last, we used Design I D to create the program. Way easier than Word, and copied and rewrote our mad lib.We had a hard time finding an exact template. With four people and pre-drilled sticks and pencils, It took us 3 hours to complete 150.