What Should You Use Instead of Publisher for Event Programs?
Short answer: Canva for most wedding, funeral, and event programs — its templates already handle the booklet-style folding. For a simple, text-only order of service, Word works fine too.
Here's the fast path for your event program
Canva has templates built for programs specifically
Wedding, funeral, and event program layouts with the booklet fold already accounted for.
A text-only order of service can stay in Word
If your program is mostly a list — hymns, speakers, order of events — with little design, Word is genuinely enough.
These are usually one-time, time-sensitive documents
Unlike a recurring bulletin, most programs are made once under a deadline — pick whichever tool you can move fastest in.
LibreOffice reopens your old program directly
Draw opens .pub program files without a PDF step, useful if you're reusing a past program as a template.
Three tools that can replace Publisher for programs
Canva
Templates for wedding, funeral, and event programs with the booklet fold already worked out.
Compare Canva to PublisherWord
Genuinely enough for a program that's mostly a list, with no photos or heavy design needed.
Compare Word to PublisherLibreOffice
Opens your old .pub program directly via Draw, so you're not rebuilding it from a blank page.
Compare LibreOffice to PublisherHow to actually make the switch
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Decide if this program needs real design, or is mostly a list
Photos and decorative elements point to Canva; a plain order of events points to Word.
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If reusing a past program, export or reopen it today
Export to PDF from Publisher, or open it directly in LibreOffice Draw.
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Search Canva's program templates for your event type
Wedding, funeral, graduation — starting from a matching template beats building the booklet fold yourself.
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Print and physically fold a test copy first
Programs are almost always booklet-folded, and folds are easy to get wrong on the first try.
Event program questions people actually ask
What's the fastest option under time pressure?
Canva, if you need visual polish; Word, if your program is mostly text and you already know Word well. Don't learn new software the week of the event.
Can I reuse last year's program as a starting point?
Yes — export it to PDF from Publisher, or open it directly in LibreOffice Draw, and use it as your layout reference.
Do these programs need a specific fold or page count?
Most are a single sheet folded in half, making a 4-page booklet. Canva's program templates are usually pre-formatted for this.
Is this a case where I should pay for a template?
Not necessary — Canva's free plan includes a solid selection of program templates for common event types.
What if I need to print a lot of copies quickly?
Confirm your printer's turnaround time and exact paper size ahead of time — this matters more under a tight deadline than which software you use.
Not sure which tool fits your program?
The Publisher Retirement Kit includes a decision guide made for exactly this kind of call — no guessing required.
Get the Retirement Kit