Creating Shabby Chic Wedding Signs: A Step-By-Step Guide

Shabby chic is a romantic, vintage, soft, and feminine way to decorate a wedding venue rustically. It is a sweet, heartwarming, and creative style, often filled with organic textures and natural warm colours. If you're looking to create a shabby chic wedding sign, you can use a length of pine, sanded to a smooth finish, and paint it with a base coat and a top coat. You can then add lettering using FrogTape and paint, before distressing the sign with sandpaper to give it that signature shabby chic look.

Vintage-style centrepieces with old lanterns and fresh flowers

Creating vintage-style centrepieces with old lanterns and fresh flowers is a beautiful way to decorate your wedding in a shabby chic style. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving this look:

Source Your Lanterns

First, you'll need to find some old lanterns. You can hunt for these at antique stores, thrift shops, or online marketplaces such as Etsy. Look for lanterns with a vintage or rustic aesthetic; perhaps they have a distressed finish or intricate metal detailing. Consider the colour and material of the lanterns, opting for gold, black, glass, or wooden varieties to suit your wedding palette.

Prepare Your Flowers

Fresh flowers are an essential part of this centrepiece. Choose blooms that complement the colour and style of your lanterns and wedding theme. For a soft, romantic look, opt for pastel shades of pink, purple, or blue. If you're going for a bolder statement, try rich jewel tones or vibrant summery hues. Don't forget to include some greenery, such as eucalyptus or monstera leaves, to add texture and a natural touch.

Assemble the Centrepieces

Now it's time to put everything together. Place your lanterns on the tables, perhaps in the centre or along a runner. If you've chosen hanging lanterns, ensure they are securely suspended at a height that won't obstruct your guests' view. Arrange the flowers around the lanterns, using vases, jars, or baskets to create different levels and textures. Intersperse candles or fairy lights among the flowers to add a romantic, glowing ambiance.

Final Touches

To finish off your vintage-style centrepieces, you can add some extra details. Scatter petals or confetti on the tables, incorporate lace or ribbon for a soft, shabby chic touch, or place vintage books or small crates underneath the lanterns for added height and interest. Signage, such as a seating chart or Mr & Mrs plaques, can also be included as part of the display.

Your centrepieces will be a beautiful and unique addition to your wedding, bringing together the soft, romantic, and rustic elements of the shabby chic style.

Shabby chic wedding arch with old doors and branches

Creating a shabby chic wedding arch with old doors and branches is a unique and creative way to add a rustic, vintage, and romantic touch to your wedding ceremony. Here are some steps and ideas to help you achieve this look:

Choose a Focal Point

If you're using old doors as the main structure, distressed wooden doors can be a stunning focal point for your arch. You can source these from antique stores or even use doors with sentimental value. Alternatively, you can opt for a more natural look by using branches as the main framework.

Incorporate Greenery and Flowers

To achieve the shabby chic aesthetic, consider using neutral pampas grass or other dried grasses to frame your ceremony space. You can also incorporate knotted vines or twisted branches for a natural, rustic feel. If you want to add a pop of colour, include some fresh flowers in soft pastel shades or go for a bolder look with vibrant wildflowers.

Add Personalised Touches

Customise your arch by hanging decorative items such as vintage lanterns, lace curtains, or even hanging Mason jars filled with flowers or candles. You can also weave in fairy lights for a touch of magic. If you're feeling crafty, create handmade signs with quotes or your names, using distressed wood painted in soft colours.

Think About the Backdrop

When designing your arch, consider the backdrop of your ceremony. If you have a breathtaking view, you may want a simpler arch that complements rather than competes with the scenery. On the other hand, if you're in a blank canvas space, your arch can be the focal point with a more decorative design.

Don't Forget the Details

Remember the little details that will make your arch stand out. You can drape fabric, such as lace or a vintage rug, over the arch for a bohemian touch. You can also adorn the arch with ribbons, streamers, or even balloons for a playful twist. Finally, don't forget to consider the area in front of the arch, perhaps marking it with a simple aisle of flower petals or lining it with vintage doors.

Tin buckets filled with baby's breath for ceremony aisle decoration

Shabby chic wedding signs are a great DIY project to add a personal touch to your wedding. Here's an idea for ceremony aisle decoration that fits the theme: tin buckets filled with baby's breath.

For this project, source some tin buckets and fill them with baby's breath, also known as gypsophila. Baby's breath is a budget-friendly flower with delicate white blossoms that grow in bushy groupings. It is a popular choice for wedding decorations as it is versatile, long-lasting, and economical. You can often find it for $6 to $8.95 per bunch.

To create this decoration, simply fill each tin bucket with baby's breath. You can place these tin buckets by the aisle to create a mini-potted effect. This idea is perfect for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies and will add a touch of rustic charm to your wedding.

If you want to take this decoration a step further, you can hang mason jars filled with baby's breath from the aisle using string or ribbon. This will create a beautiful hanging effect and elevate the aesthetic of your wedding ceremony.

These tin buckets filled with baby's breath will make a stunning and romantic addition to your ceremony aisle decoration.

Window frame wedding table plan

Shabby chic is a romantic, vintage, soft, and feminine way to decorate a wedding venue rustically. It is a sweet, heartwarming, and creative style, filled with organic textures and natural warm colours.

If you're looking to create a window frame wedding table plan in the shabby chic style, here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Materials:

• Window frame: You can use an old window frame or purchase one from a thrift store or craft store. Ensure it is large enough to display your table plan.
• Paint: Choose colours that fit your wedding theme. You will need a base coat, a top coat, and possibly paint for letters or designs. Chalk paint is a popular choice for a rustic look.
• Primer: A spray primer will help the paint adhere better and create a smoother finish.
• Sandpaper: Use fine-grit sandpaper (100-120 grit) to smooth the surface before painting, and coarser grit sandpaper (around 80 grit) to distress the final finish.
• FrogTape: This will help you create crisp lines when painting letters or designs.
• Stencil brush or small paintbrush: For painting letters or designs.
• Craft knife: To cut out letters or shapes.

Instructions:

• Prepare your work area: Ensure you are working in a well-ventilated space.
• Sand the window frame: Use the sandpaper to smooth the surface of the window frame, creating a uniform finish.
• Prime the frame: Shake the primer spray can and hold it about 30cm away from the frame. Spray back and forth, overlapping as you go. Allow the primer to dry completely.
• Paint the base coat: Stir your chosen base coat paint thoroughly and apply it to the frame. Allow it to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
• Paint the top coat: Once the base coat is dry, apply the top coat paint colour. Again, ensure the paint is thoroughly stirred before use. Let it dry completely.
• Plan your design: Decide on a quote, words, or design for your table plan. Choose a font you like and print out your chosen text or sketch your design.
• Tape off your design: Use FrogTape to secure your printed text or sketch to the window frame, positioning it where you want your design to appear. Make sure the tape overlaps the edges of your design to create crisp lines.
• Cut out the letters or design: Carefully use the craft knife to cut out the letters or shapes of your design. Take your time and be precise.
• Paint your design: Stir the paint for your design and use a stencil brush or small paintbrush to carefully paint over the cut-out areas. Allow the paint to dry and apply a second coat if needed.
• Remove the tape: Once the paint is dry, carefully remove the FrogTape to reveal your design.
• Distress the finish (optional): If you want a distressed, rustic look, use the coarser grit sandpaper to gently rub the surface of the paint, revealing the base coat underneath in some areas.
• Display your table plan: Find a place to hang or prop up your window frame at the entrance of your wedding venue.

Feel free to add personal touches and creative flourishes to make your window frame wedding table plan unique and special. You can also find seating chart frames and templates on sites like Etsy, which can be customised and printed for your wedding.

Shabby chic wedding signs made from water cans

Materials and Preparation:

• Source vintage or rustic water cans that align with the shabby chic aesthetic. Look for cans with interesting shapes, colours, or patina that can enhance the overall look.
• Clean and dry the water cans thoroughly to ensure a good surface for painting and decorating.
• Decide on the message or quote you want to display on the signs. Choose a font style and size that complements the overall design.
• Gather the necessary paints and tools, such as chalky furniture paint in your chosen colours, paintbrushes, stencils, and FrogTape (painter's tape) to create your design.

Painting and Design:

• Prepare your work area in a well-ventilated space. Shake your primer spray can and spray the water cans with a steady back-and-forth motion, ensuring to overlap as you go. Allow the primer to dry.
• Apply your chosen base coat colour to the water cans. One coat is usually sufficient, and be sure to let it dry thoroughly.
• Paint over the base coat with your main colour. Stir the paint thoroughly before use, ensuring no oil is visible. Allow the first coat to dry for a few hours, and then apply a second coat.
• Plan the placement of your quote or message on the water cans. Secure the printed words or quote using FrogTape, ensuring the tape overlaps the strip before to prevent any paint from bleeding.
• Carefully cut out the letters using a craft knife. Take your time with this step to ensure precision.
• Paint the letters using your chosen paint colour. Stir the paint before use and apply two coats for an even finish. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly.
• Remove the FrogTape carefully, and give the sign a distressed look by gently sanding it with fine-grit sandpaper. This will reveal the base coat in some areas, adding to the shabby chic aesthetic.

Display Ideas:

• These shabby chic wedding signs made from water cans can be used at the entrance to your wedding venue, welcoming guests with a romantic message.
• They can also be used as decorative elements along the ceremony aisle, perhaps with flowers or other decorations nestled inside the cans.
• For an outdoor wedding, hang the signs from trees or place them on stands to guide guests towards the ceremony or reception area.
• If you have a photo booth, these signs can add a unique and playful touch to the backdrop, providing a charming setting for memorable photos.

Frequently asked questions