Giant Wedding Letters: Diy Guide To Create Stunning Décor

Giant letters are a fun and creative way to add a unique touch to your wedding decor. Whether you choose to make them yourself or purchase them ready-made, these oversized letters are sure to make a statement and create a lasting impression on your big day. From light-up letters to those adorned with fringe or flowers, the possibilities for customisation are endless. Not only do they serve as fantastic photo backdrops, but they also reflect your personality and style as a couple. In this article, we will explore different ways to make giant letters for your wedding, providing a step-by-step guide to ensure your DIY project is a success. We will also offer inspiration for different materials, designs, and personalisation options to make your giant wedding letters truly yours.

Giant light-up letters

Materials and Tools:

• MDF sheets (660mm wide) – 1x 10mm thick, 1x6mm thick
• 8mm dowel rod
• Batten lamp holders
• Low wattage bayonet light bulbs (30W or less)
• 3-strand flex and a plug
• Aluminium sheet (130mm, 0.9 mm thick)
• Studs or round-headed copper tacks to hold the aluminium in place
• Spray mount glue
• Jigsaw
• Hole drill (100mm and 7mm)
• Wire strippers and pliers
• Rubber mallet
• Paint and paintbrushes
• Pencil sharpener
• Hammer
• Drill with spade or forstner bits for bulb holes
• Aluminium roof flashing (6" x 25')
• Wood screws
• Table saw and dado blade or handsaw and chisel
• Power chopsaw (optional)

Step 1: Design and Cut Out the Letters

Use a computer program like Microsoft Excel to create your desired letters in the size you need. Print out the letters, cut them out, and trace them onto the thicker sheet of MDF. Cut out the letters from the MDF using a jigsaw.

Step 2: Prepare the Lights

Drill holes for the lightbulbs in the thin sheet of MDF. Cut the dowel rod into 85mm lengths and sharpen both ends with a pencil sharpener. Insert the dowels into the small holes in the thin sheet of MDF to create a "hedgehog" effect. Drill additional holes along the edges and corners of the letter for the aluminium sheet.

Step 3: Assemble the Letters

Attach the thin sheet of MDF with the drilled holes to the thicker sheet using nails or panel pins. Connect the batten lamp holders to the flex and screw them into place on the thicker sheet of MDF. Be sure to follow proper electrical safety guidelines.

Step 4: Paint and Finish

Give the letters a couple of coats of paint in your desired colour. Cut the aluminium sheet to size and use a centre punch to mark holes for the studs or tacks. Stand the letter up and carefully attach the aluminium sheet along the edges, using a rubber mallet if needed.

Your giant light-up letters are now ready to be displayed at your wedding! Be sure to plan ahead and allow enough time for assembly and drying between coats of paint.

Using plywood, roof flashing and string lights

Using Plywood, Roof Flashing, and String Lights to Make Giant Wedding Letters

Giant wedding letters are a great way to add a personal touch to your special day. In this guide, we'll take you through the steps to create your own 4 ft. tall, illuminated letters using plywood, roof flashing, and string lights.

Materials and Tools:

• 4' x 8' x 3/32" (3mm) plywood - approximately half a sheet per letter
• 1" x 2" x 8'-10' pine strips for letter stiffening
• 1" x 4" x 8'-10' pine boards for heart/curve stiffening
• 6" x 25' aluminum roof flashing
• 1' x 2'-3' x 7/32" (6mm) or thicker plywood for the base
• 1.5" incandescent light strings - 1 to 1.5 strings per letter
• Wood screws for the base
• High-resolution programmable dimmer (optional, for a heart-beating effect)
• Table saw and dado blade, or a hammer, handsaw, and chisel for half-lap joints
• Power chopsaw (optional)
• Drill with spade or forstner bits for bulb holes
• 7" x 24" x 1/8" scrap piece of steel for bending anvil

Step 1: Design of the Letters

Choose a font and design that suits your wedding theme and style. Consider the complexity of the letterforms, as tight curves and intricate shapes will complicate the flashing installation. For straight outside lines and fat serifs, the BlaxSlabXXL Medium font is a good option.

Step 2: Cutting Out Letters

Use a free program like Inkscape to design and resize your letters to 48" x 96". Print out the letters in full size on multiple sheets with a 0.2" overlap, then tape the sheets together and cut out your paper patterns. Lay these patterns on the plywood, mark the outlines, and cut them out with a jigsaw.

Step 3: Stiffening the Letters

To stiffen each letter, glue 1x2 pine strips to the back. These provide support and also serve as the anchoring points for the aluminum flashing. Cut the pine strips to fit the perimeter of each letter, ensuring they overlap at each junction. For letters with curves, use 1x4 pine boards for stiffening, tracing the plywood edge and sanding to match the curves.

Step 4: Painting the Letters

Paint the letters before adding the flashing. Choose colours that match your wedding theme.

Step 5: Forming the Flashing

The aluminum flashing is bent and wrapped around the edges of the letters to create a full 3D effect and reflect the light inward. Practice bending a short piece of flashing first to refine your technique.

Step 6: Wrapping the Letters with Flashing

Place the letter flat, face up, and find an inconspicuous location for the first overlap. The sharp, non-rolled edge of the flashing should sit right against the table. Use a carpenter's square to bend the flashing, working it to the desired angle. Tack the flashing around the perimeter every 6" and 1" from each corner.

Step 7: Adding the Base and Lights

Cut plywood squares to serve as the base, screwing them to the 1x2 bases from underneath. Add 45-degree braces to a 1x2 screwed to the back top of the plywood for added stability. String the lights, hot-gluing the cords to keep them in place.

Your giant wedding letters are now ready to shine at your event!

Giant fringe letters

Materials:

• 4 large boxes
• Box cutter
• Crepe paper in your desired colours (we recommend Carte Fini for their great selection)
• Shredder scissors
• Clear duct tape
• T-ruler
• Glue (paper specific)

Step 1: Measure and Draw:

Measure a 22" x 30" square on each of your boxes. This is the space you will use to draw your letters. Draw your letters individually in each box, ensuring that the arms of the letter "V" are 7 inches wide. For the letter "O", draw a box in the middle with 7" spacing on the sides, then freehand the curves of the inside.

Step 2: Cut Out the Letters:

Using the box cutter, carefully cut out your letters. Make sure to do this on a surface that can't be damaged by the cutter, such as a cement floor. Cut through both layers of the box to save time.

Step 3: Measure the Depth:

Once your letters are cut out, measure the sides to determine the depth of your letter, giving it a 3D effect. Figure out how many sides your letter has and cut out the same number of pieces with a width of 7".

Step 4: Tape and Glue:

Tape the pieces together with small pieces of clear duct tape. Then, cover the insides and sides of the letters with crepe paper and glue, stretching the paper to give double the length needed. For a seamless look, tuck the paper down the sides and ends.

Step 5: Create the Fringe:

Cut fringe pieces for the front of the letters. Measure and cut strips of paper for each row, leaving some extra length on the sides to trim down later if needed. Start at the bottom and glue piece by piece, making sure each piece covers the gap from the fringe underneath.

And there you have it! Your very own giant fringe letters, perfect for a ceremony backdrop or reception decor. Feel free to experiment with different colours and sizes to match your wedding theme. Don't forget to share your creations on Instagram with the hashtag #GreenWeddingShoesDIY!

Spell out your new last name, nicknames or other sweet words

Giant letters are a great way to personalise your wedding and can be used to spell out your new last name, nicknames, or other sweet words. Here is a step-by-step guide to making your own giant letters for your wedding:

Step 1: Design and Cut Out the Letters

Start by deciding on the font and size of your letters. You can use a program like Microsoft Excel or Inkscape to create your letters and adjust them to the desired dimensions. Remember to consider the width of the material you'll be using when sizing your letters. Once you're happy with the design, print out your letters and cut them out. You can then use these paper patterns to trace and cut your letters onto the material of your choice, such as plywood or MDF.

Step 2: Add Stiffening and Edging

To add strength and stability to your letters, you can glue or nail stiffening pieces to the back of each letter. For straight edges, you can use pine strips, and for curves, you may need to use wider boards, such as 1x4 pine boards.

For a more finished look, you can also add edging to your letters. For example, you can bend and nail aluminium roof flashing around the edges of the letters to give them a full 3D effect and make the light reflect inward.

Step 3: Drill Holes and Add Lights

Mark and drill holes for the lightbulbs to sit in. Space them evenly, and consider how many lights you want for each letter. You can use low-wattage bayonet lightbulbs or string lights for this purpose. Connect the lights together and secure them in place with hot glue or tie wraps.

Step 4: Paint and Decorate

Give your letters a couple of coats of paint in your chosen colour. You can also distress the paint with sandpaper for a rustic look or add additional decorations, such as tacks or studs, to enhance the design.

Step 5: Add a Base

To ensure your letters stand securely, add a base made of plywood or another sturdy material. Screw the base into the letter from underneath, and add braces for additional stability.

Now you're ready to display your giant letters at your wedding! You can spell out your new last name, nicknames, or any other meaningful words to add a personal touch to your special day.

Giant light-up letters using MDF and dowel

Giant light-up letters are a great way to illuminate your wedding and can be made at home with some MDF, dowel, and a few other materials. In this guide, we'll take you through the steps to create your own 3D light-up letters using MDF and dowel, just like Ellie and Jon did for their wedding.

Materials and Tools:

• 2 sheets of MDF per letter (660mm wide worked for Jon, with 1 sheet 10mm thick and the other 6mm thick)
• Plenty of 8mm dowel rod
• Around 15 Batten lamp holders (check Wickes for the cheapest option)
• Around 15 low-wattage bayonet lightbulbs (30W is a good option to avoid blowing the electrics)
• About 10m of 3-strand flex and a plug
• 130mm aluminium sheet (Aluminium Warehouse is a good source for this)
• Studs to hold the aluminium in place (e.g. round-headed copper tacks)
• Spray mount glue
• Jigsaw
• 100mm hole drill
• Wire strippers, pliers, and other wiring tools
• Big rubber mallet
• Outside space for working

Step 1: Design Your Letters

Use Microsoft Excel to create your desired letters in a size that fits your MDF sheets. Print the letters across multiple sheets and use spray mount to stick them onto the thicker MDF sheet. Attach the two MDF sheets together with small nails or panel pins.

Step 2: Cut Out the Letters

Use your jigsaw to cut around the letters. For intricate areas, drill a 10mm hole and work your jigsaw from there. For straight edges, use a straight piece of timber clamped to your workbench as a guide.

Step 3: Prepare the Dowel

Cut your 8mm dowel into 85mm lengths, with roughly 25-30 pieces per letter. Use a pencil sharpener to bevel both ends of each dowel piece.

Step 4: Mark Holes for Lightbulbs

Turn the two MDF sheets over so the letter is backward. Mark the middle of each intersection and work outwards, spacing your marks evenly between the outside and inside edges. These marks indicate where you'll drill holes for the lightbulbs.

Step 5: Drill Holes

Use your hole drill to drill through the marks you made. Only drill holes in the thinner MDF sheet. Also, drill some smaller holes along the edges and corners of the letter to hold the dowel pieces.

Step 6: Assemble the 3D Letter

Gently prise the two MDF sheets apart. Place the thicker sheet on your workbench and hammer the dowel pieces into the holes. The result should resemble a hedgehog.

Step 7: Wire the Lights

Move to a well-lit indoor space. Connect the batten lamp holders to each other using flex and attach them to the thicker MDF sheet. Be careful to connect the wires to the correct terminals. Drill a hole in the backboard for the power cable.

Step 8: Final Assembly

Return outdoors and lay the thinner MDF sheet with holes on top of the dowel structure. Use your mallet to tap the MDF until the dowel is flush with the surface. Paint the letters in your desired colour.

Step 9: Add Aluminium Edging

Use a centre punch to mark holes about 10cm apart and 5mm from one edge of the aluminium sheet. Stand your letter up and hold the aluminium sheet against the back edge, using the punched holes as a guide for your tacks. Hammer the tacks into the base sheet.

And there you have it! Your very own giant light-up letters, perfect for a wedding or any other event. Feel free to add your own creative touches to make them truly unique.

Frequently asked questions