Your wedding decor isn’t limited to centerpieces and linens. Both decorative and functional, wedding signs ensure your special day goes smoothly. They help guests navigate the venue, find their table, and order their drinks. Not only are signs useful, but custom wedding signs also create a cohesive feel around your venue by using colors, fonts, and design elements to tie everything together. Follow our guide to learn about different types of signs, what materials you should use, and how to design a wedding sign.
What Signs Do You Need for a Wedding?
There are multiple types of wedding signs. The signage needed for wedding ceremonies and receptions will differ depending on the size of the wedding and the venue. Some are more important than others. Some party signs just serve aesthetic purposes. A board that says “Just Married” adds thematic decor to the reception area. Similarly, a sign with your family name adds a personal touch to the event space.
Other signs serve a purpose as they guide guests through the party. These signs need to be placed in key locations and be easy to see. Consider the different locations in your ceremony space. Many couples set up a custom welcome sign to greet guests at the venue entrance. Next to that, a program sign will let everyone know the day’s schedule; that sign can be reused at the cocktail hour and reception. At the ceremony, signs provide seating instructions. If you have a large venue, then you’ll need wayfinding signage to direct people from the ceremony to the cocktail hour to the reception. A seating chart sign informs everyone which table they are at. To match this, you’ll need to display table numbers. A guest book sign directs people to the guest book station and provides any relevant instructions, like taking a Polaroid picture or writing marriage advice. Wedding bar signs can share any personalized cocktails, as well as a QR code to tip the bartender.
Wedding Sign Materials
Your signage materials will depend on your design style. Here are some popular sign materials and wedding signage ideas to get started.
Acrylic Signs
The glossy finish on acrylic signage for weddings matches the luxury appearance many couples strive for. Trendy yet affordable, custom acrylic signs have the transparent appearance of glass but are much more durable. These are often used for decorative signs throughout the ceremony and reception. Smaller acrylic signs are used for bar menu signs and table number signs.
Foam Board
For high-end prints on a less expensive material, foam boards provide a great material for your decorative signs. The white material provides a neutral basis that allows for detailed color gradients and photographic designs. Plus, foam signs are lightweight and easy to display on an easel. Foam boards are often used for seating charts and directional signs, since text shows up very clearly on the opaque background. Arrow signs printed on foam boards make simple and straightforward directions to guide people around the venue.
Aluminum Board
Sleek and modern, aluminum signs have a shiny surface that adds an elegant appearance to your wedding day decor. The smooth, reflective appearance is ideal for luxury weddings. Print your engagement photos on aluminum signs. This material is ideal for decorating the space with your engagement photos or any other personal images. The latex ink and metal material produce rich colors and detailed prints.
Vinyl Banners
Not all signs need to be at eye level. Custom wedding banners hung from the ceiling or above entrances let you decorate all the available space. All you need to do is customize your banner to fit your venue. Whether it’s a rustic barn venue, a chill backyard wedding, or an elegant ballroom event, you can design a banner to match the space. The sturdy vinyl material is often used for outdoor weddings, since the durable fabric is weather-resistant.
Retractable Banners
If you want people to remember your night, then you can set up a custom retractable banner as a photo backdrop. Design a pattern that fits your theme and add your married name to the layout. Set up a table with props and accessories so people have fun with their pictures. Plus, you can pair this banner with a secondary sign with your wedding hashtag or a QR code to share their personal photos from the night.
Wedding Sign Shapes
The most common wedding sign shape is a rectangle. This is easy to display across several different settings and fits most easels. Similarly, square signs offer a simple shape that lets your design stand out. Both shapes are available as rounded rectangle and rounded square, which have smooth corners. For a luxury look, half circle signs look sleek and stylish.
Wedding Sign Sizes
Your sign size will depend on what purpose each sign is serving and where it will be located. For many signs, visibility is the primary concern. You want to ensure each sign best showcases the design without sacrificing function.
Wedding Welcome Sign Size
For an indoor display, the wedding welcome sign size is 18” x 24”. This is big and eye-catching without taking up too much space. An outdoor welcome to our wedding sign is often larger, typically around 24” x 36”. A rectangle is the most popular sign shape, but many people also use a half circle or a square. Custom wedding welcome signs typically need enough space for a short greeting, the dates, and your names or initials.
Wedding Seating Chart Size
Seating charts should be 24” x 36”. A seating chart needs to be large enough for every name and table to be legible, especially if you have a lot of guests. A more intimate wedding with fewer guests can use a smaller sign size. Regardless, make sure the font and text color are easy to read.
Bar Menu Signs
Menu boards need space for dish or drink names and ingredients. For menu signs or other tabletop displays, 8” x 10” and 11” x 14” work best. This is small enough to comfortably fit on the table without crowding the space. A menu displayed next to the bar, buffet, or food truck can be larger, around 16” x 23”.
Design Tips
Every wedding is unique to the couple, so your signs should reflect your individuality. Start with your wedding theme, since all the decorations should match that style. A rustic wedding can use a faux wooden background to fit the casual appearance. A garden theme should have flowers and plants. A celestial wedding should have constellations and stars. Use your wedding color palette for matching decor. If most of your decor is pink and purple, then a neon orange sign will look like an eyesore.
But the design shouldn’t overshadow any important information you’re trying to share. Text should be clear and easy to read, especially if it’s on an informative sign. Large fonts printed in colors that contrast with the background are the best for legible prints. Make sure to use the same font family across all your signs.
Most signs keep the text and other details in the center of the space. Any design elements should be added along the edges and draw attention to the important information. Others choose to print their text at the top or bottom of the layout and fill the rest of the space with their design. Browse our foam board sign templates and table number sign templates for wedding sign ideas.
How to Display Wedding Signs
Many people use various stands and frames to set up their decorative boards. Easels are the most popular; available in multiple materials, including wood and metal, it’s easy to find one that matches your custom wedding sign. Otherwise, people hang signs around the venue. Make sure to speak with the venue operators before doing so, but you can use command strips, metal hangers, or other display methods. Most rigid sign printing with GotPrint has optional hole drilling, which makes hanging signs easier.
Additional Wedding Essentials
GotPrint can print more than just your wedding signage. Print table place cards and mini menus on high-quality paper stocks to finalize your table displays. Design your entire wedding stationery suite, from save the dates to thank you cards, with our wedding shop. Use the same connected artistic elements throughout all your designs. Every print product, from paper goods to rigid signs, should use the same visual style. This ensures all your decorations are cohesive and that your theme is flawlessly represented throughout your venue.