Creating A Unique Wedding Backdrop With A Chalkboard

A chalkboard backdrop is a cute, casual, and artsy way to add a personalised touch to your wedding. You can repurpose the backdrop as home decor after your wedding. You can buy chalkboard backdrops from Etsy and Amazon or make your own. If you're making your own, you can use actual chalkboards or painted wood cutouts. You can write your names, the wedding date, meaningful quotes, song lyrics, or short phrases on the backdrop in pretty lettering with chalk. You can also draw simple pictures like hearts, flowers, or leaves.

Chalkboard wedding signs

Sources and Materials

Firstly, you'll need to get your hands on some chalkboards. You can buy ready-made chalkboards, or get creative and make your own. Chalkboard paint is readily available and can be used to paint a variety of surfaces, from wood to glass and even some types of plastic. If you're feeling extra crafty, you could try making your own chalkboard paint by mixing grout with paint.

Sizes and Shapes

What to Write

The great thing about chalkboard signs is that they can be easily personalised. You can write anything from meaningful quotes, song lyrics, or short phrases to details about the wedding schedule or even the menu. If you're artistically inclined, you can also add simple drawings, such as flowers, hearts, or leaves, to give your signs a whimsical touch.

Placement and Display

Other Chalkboard Ideas

In addition to signs, there are plenty of other ways to incorporate chalkboards into your wedding. Chalkboards can be used as photo booth backdrops, wedding favours, place settings, or even as part of your wedding cake design. Chalkboard-inspired stationery and invitations are also a unique way to tie the theme together.

So, get creative and have fun with your chalkboard wedding signs! They're a great way to add a personal and whimsical touch to your special day.

Chalkboard photo booths

Choose a Backdrop

Decide on a backdrop that complements your wedding style and theme. You can opt for a simple chalkboard or get creative with a custom design. A popular option is to have a vinyl backdrop printed with a chalkboard design, personalised with the couple's names and wedding date. This can be a fun and affordable way to add a unique touch to your photo booth.

Props and Accessories

To make the photo booth more engaging, provide a variety of props and accessories for your guests to pose with. This could include items like oversized sunglasses, fun hats, feather boas, and colourful wigs. You can even have chalkboard-themed props, such as mini chalkboards with funny quotes or sayings that your guests can hold up.

Lighting

Ensure your photo booth area is well-lit to capture the best photos. Consider setting up some soft lighting or fairy lights to create a magical atmosphere. If your wedding is outdoors, take advantage of natural light during the day, and consider providing some lighting for when the sun goes down.

Backdrop Design

When designing your chalkboard backdrop, you can get as creative as you like. Keep it simple with a classic chalkboard look, or add some flair with decorative elements. You can include illustrations, such as hearts, flowers, or other designs that tie into your wedding theme. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even try your hand at some chalk lettering, adding personalised messages, quotes, or the wedding date.

Framing

To give your chalkboard photo booth a polished look, consider framing your backdrop. This could be a simple wooden frame or something more ornate, depending on your style. A frame can also make it easier to set up and display your backdrop, especially if you plan to have it freestanding.

Backdrop Size

Consider the size of your photo booth area and the number of guests you expect to use it. You'll want to ensure the backdrop is large enough to be visible and accommodate groups of people. A standard size for a photo booth backdrop is around 6 feet by 8 feet, but you can adjust it to fit your space.

With these ideas in mind, you can create a fun and memorable chalkboard photo booth that your guests will love. It's a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding and encourage everyone to capture special moments throughout the celebration.

Chalkboard-inspired stationery

If you're looking for a unique and creative way to incorporate a chalkboard theme into your wedding stationery, here are some inspirational ideas to get you started:

For a rustic or vintage-style wedding, consider using chalkboard-inspired paper goods with a distressed or aged appearance. This could include invitations, save-the-date cards, or even menu cards. You can find printable chalkboard-style templates online or create your own designs. Using white or light-coloured fonts on a black background will give the appearance of chalk writing on a chalkboard. Don't forget to include decorative elements like flourishes, banners, or chalk-drawn illustrations for a whimsical touch.

If you're feeling extra crafty, you can take this concept a step further by using chalkboard contact paper or vinyl. This adhesive material can be cut and applied to various surfaces, giving you the ability to write directly on your stationery with chalk. Imagine invitations with a small chalkboard section where guests can jot down their names or a fun message. It adds a truly interactive element to your wedding invitations.

Another idea is to incorporate chalkboard-inspired elements as accents or embellishments on your stationery. For example, you could use chalkboard-style tags or labels attached to the invitations with twine or ribbon. These tags could display each guest's name and a personalised message. Alternatively, you could include miniature chalkboards as part of your table place settings, with each guest's name written in chalk, doubling as a unique favour or keepsake.

When it comes to the overall design and layout of your stationery, consider using fonts and illustrations that mimic chalkboard art. There are numerous fonts available that resemble chalk lettering, complete with textured edges and varied line thickness. Combine this with decorative flourishes, arrows, or dividers to create a charming chalkboard-inspired composition. You can also incorporate chalk-drawn illustrations, such as whimsical flowers, hearts, or other motifs that tie into your wedding theme.

Lastly, don't be afraid to experiment with different colours. While the classic black chalkboard is iconic, you can also find chalkboard-inspired paper goods in various colours, including greens, blues, and greys. These coloured chalkboard backgrounds can add a unique twist to your stationery while still maintaining the familiar texture and feel of a traditional chalkboard.

Chalkboard wedding cakes

Chalkboard cakes are a popular design request for cake decorators, especially for vintage-rustic style weddings. The trend was popularised by Liz Marek of Artisan Cake Company.

For a rustic wedding cake, you could pair chalkboard icing with soft pink sugar flowers, sugar berries, and foliage, as demonstrated by Ivone Kartadinata of the Sugar Penguin Cakery. Alternatively, for a more romantic design, Pure Cakes by Mila blends pink blossoms and berries with poetry and hearts on their chalkboard cake.

If you're feeling creative, you can experiment with coloured chalk effects, as Liz Marek does with her floral design, or add a whimsical floral frame around a chalkboard plaque, like Erica O'Brien's design.

For those who want a simple and elegant look, Sweet Bea's design pairs garden-style florals and celebratory laurel garland drawings with a chalkboard backdrop.

If you're looking for a more cost-effective option, you can purchase a chalkboard wedding cake topper from Amazon or Etsy. These toppers provide a cute and rustic addition to your cake, although some reviewers note that the size may be smaller than expected and the chalkboard paint could be improved.

Chalkboard wedding invitations

Design and Personalization:

• Opt for a rustic or vintage-inspired design aesthetic, incorporating elements like flourishes, scrolls, and handwritten-style fonts.
• Include chalkboard-inspired graphics or backgrounds on the invitation card, such as a chalkboard texture or a chalk-drawn frame.
• Feature your names, wedding date, and any other important details in a prominent yet elegant font.
• Consider adding meaningful quotes, song lyrics, or short phrases that reflect your love story.
• Enhance the design with simple illustrations like hearts, flowers, or leaves, drawn in a chalk-like style.

Materials and Presentation:

• Choose high-quality paper or card stock that mimics the texture of a chalkboard. A slightly textured, matte finish can add a realistic touch.
• Experiment with different chalkboard colors. While traditional black is classic, you can also explore colored chalkboards such as dark green or deep blue.
• Embellish your invitations with real chalk details. For example, use chalk to add small illustrations or fill in your initials for a unique, handcrafted feel.
• Present your invitations in a creative way. Consider using chalkboard-themed envelopes or adding a chalkboard-inspired wax seal for a sophisticated touch.
• Include RSVP cards or other inserts that continue the chalkboard theme, creating a cohesive suite of stationery.

Frequently asked questions