Crafting Wedding Signs: A Guide To Making Yours Unique

Wedding signs are a great way to add a personal touch to your big day. Whether you're looking to welcome your guests, provide information, or simply add a decorative element, making your own wedding signs is a fun and creative project. With a range of techniques to choose from, you can create signs that reflect your unique style and theme. In this guide, we'll explore different methods, from printed design transfers and paint-over stickers to using stencils or creating your own chalkboards. We'll also discuss the latest trends in wedding sign ideas, including welcome signs, gift table signs, and just married decorations. So, get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into the world of DIY wedding signage!

Printed design transfer

First, design and print your desired sign onto regular paper. Then, flip the paper over and colour the backside with pencil or chalk. Next, turn the design back over and centre it on your chosen surface. If you are using transfer paper, place the matte side down underneath your printed design. Using a pencil, firmly trace the printed design. This will transfer the chalk or graphite onto the surface. Finally, trace your design with a marker, paint, paint pen, gold leaf pen, or Sharpie.

Paint over stickers

A fun and creative way to make wedding signs is to paint over stickers. This technique is like a backward stencil and is a genius way to get a hand-lettered look without any of the hassle. All you need for this project is paint and cute letter and number stickers.

First, paint your sign the colour you want your letters to be. You could use spray paint or regular paint for this. Then, using fun-shaped stickers, arrange your saying, firmly pressing them into the wood. You can cut your own stickers with a Cricut or buy pre-made ones. You could even use different types of stickers, including shapes, to create your design.

Once you have arranged your stickers, paint over them! You can use spray paint or regular paint for this step too. Finally, remove the stickers to reveal your awesome design.

There are endless ways to use this technique. You could leave the letters the wood colour or make them an ombré effect. You could also use decoupage glue to make your stickers stay put and glue other pretty things to your sign, such as paper, paper ribbon, glitter, and more.

Use a stencil

Using a stencil is a great way to create a wedding sign, especially if you want to avoid hand-lettering or painting freehand. Stencils can be purchased online or at craft stores, and they come in a variety of designs and themes, including wedding-specific options. You can also make your own stencils using stencil paper and a craft knife.

Here's a step-by-step guide to using a stencil to create a wedding sign:

• Prepare your materials: You will need a stencil, paint, and a surface to paint on (such as wood, canvas, or acrylic). You may also want to use adhesive spray or tape to secure your stencil in place.
• Choose your stencil design: Select a stencil design that fits your wedding theme and the message you want to convey. You can find stencils with letters, numbers, words, phrases, or decorative elements like flowers, hearts, or wedding rings. Consider whether you want a modern or script font for your lettering.
• Prepare your surface: If necessary, sand and clean your surface to ensure it is smooth and ready for painting. If using wood, you may want to paint the surface a base colour before applying your stencil. Allow the paint to dry completely.
• Position your stencil: Place your stencil on the surface and ensure it is securely adhered to prevent paint from bleeding underneath. Use adhesive spray or tape as needed.
• Apply paint: With a small amount of paint and gentle pressure, dab paint through the openings of the stencil. Be careful not to use too much paint to avoid bleeding. Work slowly and carefully, especially when dealing with intricate designs.
• Remove the stencil: Once all areas have been painted, carefully remove the stencil by lifting it straight up. Wash your stencil with warm soapy water if you plan to reuse it.
• Allow the paint to dry: Let the paint dry completely before handling the sign or displaying it.
• Add additional details: If desired, you can embellish your sign further. Consider adding glitter, stickers, or other decorative elements. You can also paint the back of your sign with a contrasting colour to make the design pop.

Using a stencil is a straightforward way to create a professional-looking wedding sign, even if you don't consider yourself a crafty person. With the right tools and a bit of patience, you can easily make beautiful wedding signage.

Paint your own chalkboard

Chalkboards are a fun and cost-effective way to add signage to your wedding. You can make your own chalkboard from scratch or repurpose old items such as picture frames, chipboards, or dry-erase boards. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create your own chalkboard for your wedding signs:

Materials:

• Chalkboard paint (spray or liquid)
• Painting boards or a surface of your choice (MDF board, artist's board, chipboard, etc.)
• Chalk or chalk pens
• Sandpaper (medium and fine grit)
• Roller or paintbrush
• Rubbing alcohol or cleaner
• Paper towels
• Painter's tape
• White craft paper
• Chalk markers or chalk ink markers (optional)

Steps:

• Prepare your surface: If using wood, sand it with medium and then fine grit sandpaper for a smooth finish. This step is not necessary if using glass, metal, or plastic.
• Paint your surface: Use a roller or paintbrush to apply chalkboard paint. If using spray paint, apply 2-3 coats, allowing each coat to dry in between. For liquid paint, use a roller for a smoother finish, and apply 2-5 coats, waiting 4 hours between each coat.
• Let it dry: Allow the paint to dry for 72 hours.
• Prime the chalkboard: Rub chalk all over the board and then wipe it away with a rag. This step ensures your chalkboard has a long writing life.
• Design your sign: Use chalk or chalk pens to write your desired message. If you want to ensure permanence, use a chalk ink marker.

Additional Tips:

• Using a roller instead of a paintbrush will result in a smoother finish.
• If you make a mistake with a chalk ink marker, you can easily wipe it off with a little Windex and a paper towel.
• To avoid scratches, you can skip sanding the frame and directly apply the paint.
• If using a dry-erase board, clean it with rubbing alcohol before applying chalkboard paint.

Acrylic signs

Firstly, print your design. Depending on the size of your decor, you may need to split the graphics onto multiple sheets of paper. Next, prepare the acrylic board by cleaning the surface with rubbing alcohol to ensure it is perfectly smooth and clear.

Now you are ready to add the design to the acrylic. Position the paper(s) face down on the board and check from the other side to make sure it is perfectly aligned. Tape the paper so it stays in place. Put your clear board on a hard surface with the paper side down, and trace the design onto the front of the board with a paint pen. Oil-based pens are recommended for acrylic wedding signs as they are weather-resistant and durable.

Once you have traced the design, you can remove the paper from the back of the sign. Clean any tape residue with rubbing alcohol. If you want to, you can now paint the backside of the sign with a contrasting colour to make the design pop. You can cover the whole surface or get creative with different painting tools like brushes, sponges, or spray paint to create unique textured effects.

If you want to save time, you can use vinyl lettering for the design and just paint the back surface of the clear plexiglass. This will give your sign a professional look.

There are many different types of acrylic signs you can make for your wedding. Welcome signs, seating charts, romantic quote signs for photo shoots, and background signs for photo booths are all popular options. You can also choose from a variety of colours, fonts, and sizes to make your signs unique.

Frequently asked questions