Creating Customized Chalkboards For Your Wedding Day

Chalkboards have become a popular choice for weddings, with their versatility and customisability making them an attractive option for couples looking to add a rustic, whimsical touch to their special day. From seating charts to decorative props, chalkboards are a simple yet effective way to incorporate a unique, personal style into your wedding. This paragraph will explore the different ways you can make chalkboards for your wedding, offering a fun and creative way to elevate your celebration.

Seating charts

A seating chart is an important part of wedding planning, helping with crowd control and providing key information to guests about where to sit. It can also be a stylish addition to your wedding decor, complementing your colour palette and theme.

Planning the Layout and Design:

• Consider the size of your chalkboard: Paperlust, for example, offers two rectangular sizes: A1 (841mm x 594mm) and A2 (594mm x 420mm). Choose a size that fits your space and guest list.
• Think about the overall design and layout: Will it be a simple list of tables and names, or something more creative? You can browse online for inspiration, with many websites offering free templates to help you get started.
• Choose a font and colour scheme that match your wedding theme and are easy to read.

Gathering Information:

• Start gathering your guest list and their RSVPs early. This will give you an idea of how many tables you need and help you group guests accordingly (e.g., family, friends, colleagues).
• Consider any special seating arrangements: For example, you may want to seat elderly guests or those with mobility issues away from the dance floor and closer to the buffet or other amenities.

Creating the Chart:

• Choose a chalkboard: You can find these at craft stores or online. Make sure it's large enough for your guest list and has a smooth surface for writing.
• Plan the layout: Use a ruler or tape to create straight lines for tables and names. You can also add decorative elements like flourishes, illustrations, or borders.
• Write the table numbers and guest names: Use chalk or chalk markers in your chosen colours. You may want to practise your lettering beforehand to ensure a neat and consistent look.

Displaying the Chart:

• Find a visible location for your chalkboard: Place it in an area where guests will easily spot it, such as near the entrance to the reception venue.
• Consider the presentation: You can lean the chalkboard against a wall or prop it up on an easel. Decorate the area around it with flowers, garlands, or other wedding decor to create a stylish display.

Creating a seating chart can be a fun and creative part of your wedding planning. It's a chance to add a personal touch and ensure your guests feel welcomed and organised on your special day.

Happy planning!

Wedding stationery

Invitations

Create a chalkboard-inspired invitation suite with a chalkboard background or design elements. You can even use liquid chalk markers to handcraft your invitations and save on printing costs. This adds a whimsical touch to your wedding stationery and allows for a unique, personalised design.

Thank You Cards

Carry the chalkboard theme through to your thank-you cards. This provides a cohesive look to your wedding stationery and is a great way to express your gratitude to your guests with a personalised touch.

Place Cards

Use smaller chalkboards as individual place cards, writing each guest's name in chalk. This doubles as a wedding favour, as guests can take their chalkboard home as a memento.

Menus

Designing your menus with chalk allows for creativity and flexibility. You can use a chalkboard as a menu display, writing directly on a chalkboard slate or using chalkboard contact paper inside a picture frame. Alternatively, for an unconventional menu, repurpose a mirror and write the menu with liquid chalk.

Table Numbers

Mini chalkboards can be used as table numbers, adding a rustic touch to your wedding tables. You can also use chalkboards to label food and drink stations, such as a "sips and sweets" bar or a charcuterie board.

Favours

Add a personal touch to your wedding favours by using chalkboards to label homemade jams or plants as part of a "green" favour. You can even use tin pails and chalkboard plant pots with flowers, writing a message of remembrance on them with liquid chalk for an elegant finish.

With these ideas, you can create beautiful and unique wedding stationery that will leave a lasting impression on your guests.

Signage

Chalkboards are a versatile and customisable addition to your wedding decor, perfect for adding a rustic, whimsical touch to your special day. Here are some ideas for creating chalkboard signage for your wedding:

Welcome Sign

Welcome your guests with a personalised message on a chalkboard. This can be placed at the entrance of your wedding venue to greet guests as they arrive. You can even include your wedding hashtag if you have one!

Directional Signs

Chalkboards can be used to point guests in the right direction with signs indicating where different areas of the venue are located, such as the ceremony, reception, bar, or photo booth. These signs can be placed on easels or hung from stands or hooks.

Wedding Party Display

Use a chalkboard to display the wedding party's names and roles, including the bride and groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen, and ushers. This is a fun way to introduce your wedding party to your guests and can be placed near the entrance of your venue or at the head table.

Schedule of Events

Keep your guests informed by listing out the events of the day on a chalkboard, such as the order of ceremonies, meal times, and any entertainment or activities. This will help your guests know what to expect and ensure they don't miss out on any of the fun!

Seating Chart

Create a large chalkboard with tables and guests' names written in chalk to guide them to their designated seats. Alternatively, use smaller chalkboards as individual place cards, adding a unique touch to your table settings.

Food and Drink Labels

Chalkboards can be used to label food and drink stations, such as a "Sips and Sweets" bar, a charcuterie board, or a cocktail menu. Get creative with your labels and add some whimsical flair to your wedding spread!

With these ideas and your own personal touches, you can create beautiful chalkboard signage that will enhance your wedding decor and delight your guests.

Table centrepieces

Chalkboards are a fun and cost-effective way to add a unique touch to your wedding. Here are some ideas for creating chalkboard table centrepieces:

Chalkboard Bottle Centrepiece

As suggested by VersaChalk, this centrepiece features four simple elements that come together to create a memorable look. Take an ordinary bottle and dip it in chalk paint, turning it into a mini canvas for liquid chalk writing. You can find candles at a dollar store and a lantern at Michael's. The lantern's metallic finish provides another surface for chalk designs. Complete the look by surrounding the lantern with your choice of flowers or greenery.

Chalkboard Picture Frame Centrepiece

This idea, suggested by Brit + Co, is a quick and easy way to create a chalkboard centrepiece using an empty picture frame. Remove the glass panel from the frame, and cover it with chalkboard contact paper. Place the covered glass back into the frame, and add your chalk lettering or designs. Prop up or hang your chalkboard as desired. Using a colourful or metallic frame will make the black chalkboard pop.

Chalkboard Tiered Planters Centrepiece

This idea combines the use of chalkboards with potted plants or flowers. Take tiered planters or bowls and fill them with dense tufts of goldenrod, fuzzy clusters of mimosa, globelike craspedia balls, olive leaves, kumquats, lemons, and sprigs of fresh lavender. Then, using small chalkboards, create table markers with calligraphy writing for an elegant finish.

Chalkboard Tin Pails and Plant Pots Centrepiece

Another suggestion from VersaChalk is to use tin pails and chalkboard plant pots with flowers as centrepieces. These can serve the dual purpose of being table markers and perfect mementos for your guests. Use liquid chalk to write elegant messages of remembrance on them.

Other DIY Centrepiece Ideas

If you're looking for non-chalkboard centrepiece ideas, here are some additional suggestions:

• Birdcages filled with small bouquets of flowers or tealight candles
• Glass vases or bottles filled with flowers, either a single variety or a mix
• Candles of varying heights and styles, such as pillar candles or church candles, displayed on decorative trays
• Wooden slices placed at varying heights on tables, topped with candles or small bouquets in glass bottles
• Tiered stands filled with cupcakes, sweets, or small favours for guests

Wedding favours

Small chalkboards can be used to display and reveal wedding favours. For example, you could display pashmina favours with a chalkboard sign that reads, "To have and to hold in case you get cold." Alternatively, you could use a mini chalkboard to display wedding favours such as seeds, as one environmentally conscious couple did, filling a wheelbarrow with seeds for the wedding party to plant.

Chalkboards can also be used as wedding favours themselves. For example, you could gift mini hanging chalkboards, mini easels and chalkboards, or mini chalkboard plant pots with flowers. These can be used as table markers, with a message of remembrance written in calligraphy with liquid chalk.

If you're feeling creative, you could also use a chalkboard to display punny wedding quotes tied to specific details. For example, "Here Comes Your Girl" could be written on a chalkboard sign carried by flower girls or ring bearers to introduce the bride.

Frequently asked questions