Creating A Vintage Wedding Sign: A Step-By-Step Guide

Creating a vintage wedding sign is a fun and easy way to add a personal touch to your big day. Whether you're looking for a rustic, elegant, or simple design, there are many ways to make your own vintage wedding sign. You can use a variety of materials such as wood, chalkboards, mirrors, or even wreaths to create a sign that reflects your wedding theme and personality.

One popular idea is to use a wooden frame with lettering and add greenery or floral arrangements for a rustic chic look. Another option is to create a hand-lettered frame sign using chalkboard paint, stencils, or lettering stamps. If you're looking for a more elegant design, you can consider using a mirror as your base and adding calligraphy or painting directly onto it.

For those who want a simple and inexpensive option, buying a food banner with a clear message, such as YUM, can be a great choice. You can also use vinyl letters, printed letters, or even gold spray paint to create your desired message.

Whatever style you choose, making your own vintage wedding sign is a creative way to welcome your guests and add a unique touch to your special day.

Choosing a font

When creating a vintage wedding sign, choosing the right font is essential to ensuring your guests can read the sign and that it aligns with your wedding theme. Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect font:

Firstly, consider the legibility of the font. Your guests should be able to read your sign easily, especially if it is meant to be viewed from a distance. Avoid intricate or overly decorative fonts that may be difficult to read, especially in low light or when viewed from a moving vehicle.

The size of your font is also crucial. Ensure that the font is large enough to be read from a distance. As a general rule, the font size should be proportional to the size of the sign itself. Additionally, it is recommended to avoid using all capital letters, as they can be challenging to read from a distance.

Next, think about the theme and style of your wedding. If you're having an outdoor farm wedding with rustic touches, a cursive script font like Brush Script MT in black or white would be a perfect choice. On the other hand, if you're going for a more elegant or modern theme, consider using simple and clean fonts like Arial or Helvetica Neue Black.

When choosing a font, it's essential to consider the colour as well. Avoid light colours, as they can be difficult to read, especially in harsh sunlight or at night. Instead, opt for colours that contrast well with the background of your sign to make the text stand out.

Finally, don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with different fonts. You can even mix and match fonts to create a unique and personalised sign. However, remember to use no more than two or three different fonts to maintain a sense of cohesion and avoid making the sign look cluttered.

In conclusion, choosing the right font for your vintage wedding sign is crucial to ensuring its legibility and aesthetic appeal. By considering factors such as font style, size, colour, and your wedding theme, you can create a beautiful and functional sign that enhances the overall atmosphere of your special day.

Using a wooden frame

Creating a vintage wedding sign using a wooden frame is a fun and simple DIY project. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Prepare the Wooden Frame:

• Cut the wood pieces to size: Determine the desired size of your sign and cut your wood pieces accordingly. You can use a miter saw or a router for this step. If you're creating a rectangular sign, cut two pieces to the exact length of the top and bottom sides, and cut the other two pieces 1 1/2 inches longer than the left and right sides.
• Sand and stain the wood frame pieces: Use sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges and create a uniform surface. Then, apply wood stain to all sides of the frame pieces (except the back, unless desired). Allow the stain to dry for several hours or until completely dry.

Create the Sign Design:

• Choose a design: Decide on the text, quote, or image you want to display on your sign. You can keep it simple with a welcome message, include your names and wedding date, or get creative with a favourite quote or lyric.
• Transfer your design: There are several ways to transfer your design onto the wood. You can use a vinyl stencil, a pencil tracing method, or print out your design and transfer it using a pencil, chalk, or transfer paper.

Assemble the Sign:

• Attach the frame pieces: There are several methods to attach the wood frame pieces to your sign. You can use a brad nailer, corner braces, or a Kreg Jig. Each method will require specific tools and steps, so choose the one that best suits your skills and resources.
• Finish the sign: Once the frame is attached, you can fill any nail holes with stainable wood filler and touch up the stain if needed. If desired, you can add decorations such as flowers, greenery, or twine to give it a rustic or elegant touch.

Remember to plan your design and measurements carefully, and don't be afraid to get creative! With a wooden frame as your base, you can create a beautiful and personalised vintage wedding sign that will impress your guests.

Adding flowers and greenery

Supplies:

First, gather your supplies. You will need a sign of your choice, preferably with a wooden frame, and an easel or a stand. For the flowers and greenery, you can choose a variety of options such as eucalyptus, silver dollar eucalyptus, leather leaf, lemon leaf, carnations, roses, and spray flowers like wax flowers. You will also need floral foam, an easel, floral wire or chicken wire, mini zip ties, and a glue gun with glue sticks.

Start with Focal Flowers:

Begin your arrangement by placing the focal flowers first. In this case, we suggest using white roses as they are visually appealing and can take up a lot of space. Place 2-3 roses, and then add in some greenery to create shape and dimension. Cover any mechanics, such as plastic or foam, with the greenery.

Add Spray Flowers:

Work in some spray flowers like white mini carnations to add a different scale, texture, and color to your arrangement. Use varying stem lengths to create depth and a more professional and organic look.

Incorporate Color:

Add in some color with carnations. Use 2-3 carnations at varying stem lengths to avoid creating a dense ball of flowers. You can also include other colorful flowers like delphiniums, breaking down the long and rigid stems into smaller pieces or individual blooms.

Fill in Gaps:

To finish off your arrangement, fill in any holes or gaps by working in small stems of wax flowers. Cover any visible floral foam or plastic with the flowers or greenery. You can also add longer pieces of greenery to create an organic feel and a more focused design.

Step Back and Adjust:

Periodically take a step back to view your arrangement from a distance. This will help you place the flowers and greenery more effectively and make the design flow better. Remember, keep it simple, and don't overcrowd your sign with too many flowers.

Your vintage wedding sign with flowers and greenery is now complete! This addition of natural elements will surely enhance the rustic chic vibe of your special day.

Painting the sign

First, decide on the colour you want your letters to be. You could use gold metallic craft paint for gold letters, or black paint for a simple, elegant look. If you want to get creative, you could use watercolour artistry to paint your sign.

Next, paint 1-2 coats of your chosen colour onto the board. If you want to add a border, paint this at the same time. You could also add a painted border in the same colour as your letters, freehand or using a ruler to create a straight line.

If you want to create a rustic look, you can distress the sign by sanding it with 120-grit sandpaper or a sanding block. You can also use a chain, hammer, or screws to further distress the sign.

Finally, seal the paint and wood with dark antique wax to finish off your vintage wedding sign.

Adding a border

Choose the Right Materials

Select materials that complement the vintage theme and overall style of your wedding. For a rustic or vintage look, consider using old rough-cut oak boards or similar types of wood. You can also use a furring strip board to create a border, as mentioned in the Little House of Four blog. This adds a professional and polished touch to your sign.

Cut and Measure

Decide on the size of your sign and cut your chosen wood to length. If you want a more polished look, cut the boards at a 45-degree angle. Measure and cut the furring board to create a border around your sign. You can make the top and bottom pieces longer so they butt up against the side pieces.

Paint or Stain

Before attaching the border, decide if you want to paint or stain the wood. You can paint the border pieces to match the colour of your letters or go for a contrasting shade. Sanding the wood before painting can also give it a distressed, vintage look.

Attach the Border

Once your paint is dry, it's time to attach the border. Apply a small amount of wood glue to the ends of your sign and use a nail gun to secure the border pieces. Start with the shorter pieces first, and then add the longer top and bottom pieces.

Embellish

To add extra interest and detail to your border, consider embellishing it. You can wrap twine or burlap around the edges, add lace or pearls for a touch of elegance, or even attach small flowers or greenery for a rustic chic look.

Don't Forget the Details

Remember that vintage signs are often imperfect and handmade. So, don't worry too much about making it perfect. Focus on creating a unique and personalised sign that reflects your style and the theme of your wedding.

Frequently asked questions