Creating Wedding Paper Fans: A Step-By-Step Guide

Paper fans are a fun and unique way to present your wedding ceremony details and can be a great way to keep your guests cool during warm spring and summer weddings. They are simple to make and can be personalized to fit the style of your event. You can make them in different sizes and colours, and even add messages or graphics to make your event more festive.

Choosing paper and handles

When making paper fans for a wedding, it is important to choose the right paper and handles to ensure they are durable and aesthetically pleasing. Here are some tips and suggestions for choosing the best materials:

Paper Type and Weight:

• For a sturdy and durable fan, use cardstock paper. This type of paper is thick and can hold its shape well.
• If you prefer a lighter option, you can choose a lightweight paper such as wrapping or scrapbook paper. However, keep in mind that this may require additional support, such as glue or string, to hold the folds together.
• The weight of the paper is also an important consideration. For single-sided printing, use a professional printer and opt for paper that is at least 110 lb. For double-sided printing, 65-80 lb paper is recommended, especially if you are using a home inkjet printer.

Paper Colour and Design:

• Choose a paper colour that complements your wedding theme and colour palette. You can opt for plain paper or select coloured or patterned paper to add a unique touch.
• Consider printing graphics, messages, or the wedding program on the paper before assembling the fans. This adds a personalised and festive element to your wedding décor.
• If you want to involve children in the wedding, you can leave the fans plain and provide crayons for them to decorate their own fans.

Handles:

• Wooden fan handles are a popular choice for wedding paper fans. They come in various colours and can be decorated or personalised with stamps, chalk, or paint.
• When selecting handles, ensure you choose the appropriate size for your fans. For 8.5" x 5.5" fans, an 8-inch stick is recommended, while a 6-inch stick would be more suitable for smaller fans.

Printing a message or graphics

If you're printing a message or graphics onto your paper fans, you'll want to do this before assembling the fans. You can print your message or graphics onto the paper using a home printer, or take your paper to a local copy shop to be printed. Index paper is a good option as it goes through most printers well. If you're printing on both sides of the paper, opt for 65lb-80lb paper, especially if you're using a home inkjet printer. For one-sided printing, it's best to use a professional printer and ask for 110lb paper.

When it comes to the design, you can include a variety of information such as wedding party names, ceremony details, and messages to your guests. If you're creating a one-page design, it's best to fold and crease your paper before adding any glue. This way, you don't have to worry about the glue sticking or drying before it's lined up. If you're printing a design with thicker paper, you may find it difficult to get a nice crease, so you can use a bone folder to help with this. Simply line up the corners and use the bone folder to smooth out the crease. You can usually find these in craft sections, craft stores, or art supply stores for under $5.

Using adhesive

To attach the fan stick, cover about half the stick in glue or tape (less if you want a longer handle). Adhere the stick to the unprinted side of one card, then trace the perimeter of that card with tape or glue (including the stick). Finally, adhere the blank side of the other card to the glue. Press each edge firmly to ensure that all edges are sealed. Make sure to use clean fingers or a clean tool, such as a bone folder, as even a small amount of grease or glue can leave a mark on your design.

Rounding corners

Rounding the corners of your paper fans can add a creative style to your wedding. It gives a cool, contemporary feel and helps different colours and patterns work together. Rounded corners also reduce wear and tear as they are less likely to be bent than pointed corners.

There are several ways to round the corners of your paper fans. One way is to use a corner rounder punch. These are available in different sizes, so you can choose the size of the corner you want and make sure to stick to the same size for all corners. Insert the corner of your paper into the punch, making sure it's all the way in, then squeeze to punch the corner. Repeat for all four corners, shaking the punch between each corner to keep the blade clear of paper scraps.

If you don't have a corner punch, you can still achieve rounded corners. Turn your paper over and draw around a coin at each corner, then trim these curves with scissors.

For a classic look, a simple round corner is perfect. However, there are lots of options for fancier corners if you prefer.

Adding finishing touches

Adding those all-important finishing touches to your DIY wedding fans is a great way to personalise your creations and make them extra special. Here are some ideas for how to do this:

Embellishments

Use corner punches, apply ribbon or twine, or come up with your own unique embellishments to add a personalised touch to your fans. You could try stamping your fan sticks, adding ribbon and other embellishments to your fans, or even using a small hole punch to cut half-circles and add twine.

Colour

Choose a colour scheme that coordinates with your wedding theme. You could opt for a simple, elegant look using plain paper, or go for fun colours like gold, rose quartz or bright white.

Print

You can print messages or graphics on the paper before making the fans to make your event even more festive. You could include wedding party names, ceremony details, or messages to your guests.

Shape

You can cut your paper into different shapes. Try a circle or a flower shape for something a little different.

Decoration

If you're making pinwheel-style fans, you can decorate the centre by adding alternating cardstock coloured circles to hide any imperfections and create a pretty, flowery look.

Guest involvement

If you're making a large number of fans, why not get your guests involved? You could hold a fan assembly party and give each person a step to create an assembly line while you chat or watch a movie.

Children's entertainment

If there will be lots of children at your wedding, you could leave boxes of crayons for them to decorate their fans as a fun distraction during the day.

Frequently asked questions