When choosing a wedding program, don’t settle for a ho-hum piece of paper folded in half. Design an easy but unique fan-shaped program that will not only give your guests all the information they need about the wedding service and who’s who in the wedding party, but will serve as a beautiful keepsake of your special day. And if you are planning a summer wedding, this type of program serves another a purpose – when held and waved gently back and forth, it provides a welcome breeze on a warm day when many people in attendance are dressed in beautiful but someone stifling formal attire.
MATERIALS NEEDED FOR EACH FAN
One 8.5" x 11" sheet of heavy decorative paper
One 8.5" x 11" sheet of thinner decorative paper
One 8.5" x 1" strip of thin cardboard
Approximately 16" ruffled craft lace
12" narrow ribbon
One small silk rosebud
Two small silk leaves
OTHER SUPPLIES
Glue stick
Hot glue
Paper punch
Straight-edge scissors
Craft scissors that cuts decorative edges
Two paper plates to use as patterns
Pencil
Ruler or tape measure
Computer (to print programs)
Begin by folding the heavy piece of paper in half width-wise to achieve an 8.5" x 5.5" rectangle. This paper will serve as the base of the fan. With the folded edge at the bottom, lay one half of the paper plate over the paper and trace around the edge. Using the decorative scissors, cut through both layers on the line. Do not cut folded edge. Glue the strip of cardboard inside the fan along one side of the fold.
On the second paper plate, measure in one inch from the edge and draw a line around. Using the straight scissors, follow the line and trim around the outer edge to create a circle that is slightly smaller than the first plate. Fold the circle in half and cut one inch above the fold. You will now have two half-circles.
These half-circles represent how much space you will have available on which to print information. One half-circle should list the order of the wedding service and the other half-circle should include the name of the bride and groom, the date, and names of people in the wedding party. You will not have a lot of room to work with. Choose your words carefully. On a computer, begin typing and experimenting with fonts and spacing until you achieve the desired look. Print sample copies and trim the samples in the shape of the small half-circle to ensure that none of the wording will be chopped off. When you are satisfied with the results, print the information on your thin, decorative paper.
Lay a small half-circle on top of each set of information and trace around the circular edge and the straight edge on the bottom. Using the decorative craft scissors, trim on the pencil lines.
Lightly rub the glue stick on the back edge of each sheet of thin paper. Attach the sheets to the front and back of the base of the fan, being sure to center the paper about one inch up from the bottom edge of the fan base.
Cut a length of ruffled lace long enough to go from the right-hand bottom corner of the fan base to the left-hand bottom corner. Using dots of hot glue very sparingly, attach the edge of the lace between the two layers of heavy paper. Glue only the seam of the lace. Gluing the ruffles will result in a bumpy program. Use a few more dots of glue to hold the front and back of the program together. The glued edge of lace will be sandwiched between the front and back of program.
Punch a hole at the center of the bottom, folded edge of the fan base. You will be going through both layers of heavy paper and the strip of cardboard. Thread a 12" piece of ribbon through the hole, allowing 6" to hang on either side of the fan. On one side of the fan, glue a small silk rosebud over the hole. On the other side of the hole, glue two silk leaves.
