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

Decorating a wedding car is a fun way to celebrate your big day and can be as unique as the couple. From tin cans and Just Married scribbles to elegant floral garlands and fairy lights, there are endless possibilities to make the happy news known. Whether you're looking for a DIY project or a ready-made solution, here are some tips and ideas to create a stunning wedding car sign.

Using a template

For example, Wepik offers a free hand-drawn illustration of a classic car with balloons and hearts, which you can edit using their online tool. You can change the colours, texts, and font styles to match your preferences. Once you're happy with your design, simply download it and it's ready to print.

If you're looking for something more simple, Erin from Ruffled Blog has shared a "Just Married" template that you can download and print onto paper. You will need a few more materials for this, such as a thin piece of cardboard, spray mount, a cutting tool, ribbon, suction cups, and decorations of your choice. After printing the template, glue it to the cardboard, cut it out, and punch two holes in the top. Pull the ribbon through the holes, tie it in knots, and glue on a flower or other decorations. Attach the sign to the back window of the car using the suction cups, and you're done!

You can also find a variety of wedding car sign templates on Etsy, which can be personalised and downloaded for printing. These include "Just Married" banners, car decals, and even custom license plates.

Attaching suction cups

Step 1: Prepare the Sign

Before attaching the suction cups, ensure that your sign is ready. Print out the template on your chosen colour of paper and cut it out neatly. Glue the paper to a thin piece of cardboard for added strength and stability.

Step 2: Punch Holes

Using a hole punch, create two holes at the top of your sign. These holes will be used to thread through the ribbon, so make sure they are evenly spaced and large enough for your ribbon to fit through.

Step 3: Attach the Ribbon

Thread the ribbon through the holes and tie it securely in knots. You can add a decorative touch by gluing a flower or other embellishments on top of the knot. This will also help to conceal the join.

Step 4: Add the Suction Cups

Most suction cups come with a hook, which you can use to attach the ribbon. Simply hook the ribbon onto the suction cup, and your sign will appear to be hanging from the ribbon. You can reinforce the connection by adding a small amount of super glue to the base of the suction cup before attaching it to the ribbon.

Step 5: Secure the Sign to the Car

With the suction cups ready, you can now attach your sign to the desired location on the car. The suction cups will adhere securely to either the car's body or the rear window. Ensure that the suction cups are firmly in place before driving off.

Tips and Tricks:

• You can use any colour of ribbon to match your wedding theme or colour palette.
• Get creative with embellishments! Add feathers, shells, buttons, lace, or anything else that suits your style.
• For added security, especially if you're concerned about the sign falling off during the drive, you can also use super glue or hot glue to attach the suction cups directly to the car's surface. However, be cautious when using glue on a rented or borrowed vehicle.

Adding flowers and ribbons

Choosing Flowers and Ribbons

• Consider the colour scheme: Opt for ribbons that complement your wedding colour palette or the bride's and bridesmaids' dresses. You can also choose flowers in shades that match or contrast with your chosen ribbon.
• Go for a classic look: White or ivory ribbons and bows are traditional choices for wedding cars and can be paired with a variety of flower types and colours.
• Opt for double satin ribbon: This type of ribbon is smooth and soft on both sides, reducing the risk of abrasions to the car's paintwork.
• Think about ribbon width: Wide and robust ribbons, such as satin, grosgrain, or organza, are ideal for creating elegant bows and are easy to work with.
• Add a personal touch: Include the couple's names, wedding date, or a personalised message on the ribbons for a unique detail.

Arranging Flowers and Ribbons

• Drape flowers and ribbons across the trunk or bumpers: Avoid obstructing the driver's view by placing floral arrangements at the back of the car.
• Use suction cups, string, or magnets: These fasteners are ideal for attaching flowers and ribbons without damaging the car's paintwork.
• Avoid wire or duct/electrical tape: These materials can damage the car's finish, so opt for safer alternatives when securing your decorations.
• Protect the car from thorny stems: Ask your florist to remove any prickly parts and wrap woody stems in ribbon or soft fabric.
• Opt for silk flowers: If you're concerned about petals blowing away, silk flowers are a great alternative and will hold up better in the wind.
• Create a floral roof-line: Make use of the natural arch of the car's roof by creating colourful flower arches.
• Add a pop of colour: If you have a white or light-coloured car, use dark-coloured flowers like roses or irises to outline the vehicle for a stylish contrast.
• Keep it simple: A single, colourful bouquet on the hood of the car can make a minimalistic yet elegant statement.
• Combine flowers and ribbons: Intertwine flowers and ribbons to create a cohesive display, or use ribbons to secure flower arrangements in place.
• Enhance with other decorations: Combine flowers and ribbons with tin cans, balloons, garlands, or other decorative elements for a festive and cheerful look.

Hanging from the window

If you want to hang a wedding sign from your car window, there are a few ways to go about it. One popular method is to use a ribbon or cord to hang the sign. You can attach the ribbon to the top of the sign and then drape it over the car window, tying the ends together securely. This method ensures the sign is secure and won't blow away, and it also allows for easy removal once you reach your destination. When using ribbon or cord, you can choose a colour that matches your wedding theme or the car's interior for a cohesive look.

Another option is to use suction cups with hooks. You can find these at most hardware stores, and they provide a secure way to hang your sign without causing any damage to the car. Simply attach the suction cups to the window, and hang your sign from the hooks. This method is especially useful if you want the sign to be displayed on the outside of the window, making it visible to everyone as you drive by.

When creating the sign itself, consider using lightweight materials such as foam core or cardboard. This will ensure that the sign doesn't put too much strain on the ribbon, cord, or suction cups holding it up. You can decorate the sign with paint, markers, or even fresh flowers for a whimsical touch. Add the couple's names, a sweet message, or simply the word "Just Married" in a font that matches your wedding style, whether it's elegant calligraphy or a fun, bold typeface.

If you want to include some movement in your design, you can add streamers or ribbons to the bottom of the sign. These will flutter in the wind as you drive, creating a festive and celebratory look. Just be sure that any additions are secure and won't come loose or get caught in the car's wheels.

Finally, don't forget to plan the placement of your sign. Choose a window that will provide a good display for the sign, such as the rear window or one of the side windows. If you're hanging the sign on the inside of the window, roll the window down a bit to place the ribbon or cord, and then roll it back up to secure the sign. If using suction cups, ensure the window is clean and free of dust or dirt to get a good seal.

Using a decal sticker

Making the Decal Sticker:

• Start by preparing your design. Grab a white piece of paper and draw your ideas using bright and evocative colors. You can also use a computer and a photo editing program to create your design.
• Choose your favorite design and draw its silhouette on the paper.
• Attach your drawing to the vinyl with small pieces of tape to hold it in place.
• Once the template is firm, carefully cut out the outline of your design using an X-Acto knife.
• Now, move on to cutting the inside of the decal. Start at a negative area, such as the inside of a letter, and continue cutting, leaving you with only the necessary parts.
• If your design is complex, cut the border into pieces to make removal easier.
• Use tweezers to remove any centerpieces or leftover lettering.
• Apply transfer tape to your design. This will be necessary for applying your decal sticker to the car.
• Use a squeegee to smooth out the transfer tape, ensuring it is flat and free of air bubbles.

Applying the Decal Sticker:

• Clean the car window or surface where you want to place the decal. Use rubbing alcohol or a mixture of water and window cleaning soap.
• Peel off the backing from the decal sticker, being careful not to let it touch the window surface.
• Place the decal in your desired position and lay one edge of the graphic down, using your hand to smooth it out.
• Starting in the middle, glide the squeegee across the surface, moving outward towards the borders, to apply slight pressure and ensure the adhesive sets.
• Slowly pull off the transfer paper, checking that no part of the sticker is pulled up with it. If any edges start to peel, stick them back down with the squeegee.
• Handle the decal with a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the vinyl.

Your wedding car decal sticker is now complete and applied! You can also get creative and add other decorations such as flowers, ribbons, or tin cans to further embellish your wedding car.

Frequently asked questions