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

Wedding signs are a fun and functional way to add a personal touch to your big day. Whether you're looking to welcome your guests, guide them in the right direction, or simply add a decorative element to your celebration, making your own wedding signs is a great way to save money and infuse your personality into your wedding decor. In this guide, we will explore different techniques and ideas for creating wedding welcome signs that will impress your guests and make your special day even more memorable. From simple and elegant designs to trendy and unique creations, the possibilities are endless for crafting the perfect DIY wedding welcome sign.

Use your own photos

Wedding welcome signs are a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding decor and can be a fun DIY project. Here are some tips and ideas for creating your own wedding welcome sign using your own photos:

Choose your photos

Select photos that reflect your personality and sense of humour, as well as the overall aesthetic of your wedding. Consider including engagement photos, couple portraits, or even a custom crest that incorporates your joint initials and other motifs that reflect your relationship. If you're feeling creative, you can also experiment with pressed flowers, watercolour designs, or gold calligraphy to add a unique touch to your sign.

Design and layout

When it comes to the design and layout of your wedding welcome sign, it's important to consider the overall aesthetic of your wedding and choose a style that complements it. For example, if you're having a rustic wedding, a wooden base for your sign would be a perfect choice. If you're going for a more modern or minimalist look, opt for clean lines, neutral colours, and a simple design. Don't be afraid to play around with different fonts, colours, and sizes to find the perfect combination that reflects your style.

Materials and tools

The materials and tools you'll need will depend on the specific design of your wedding welcome sign. However, some basic supplies you may need include a foam insulation board, spackle and a spackling knife, an Exacto knife or box cutter, sandpaper, primer, paint, and vinyl lettering. If you're feeling creative, you can also experiment with other materials such as mirrors, fabric, or acrylic boards.

Putting it all together

Start by gathering all the materials you need and creating a plan or diagram of your sign. Cut the foam board to size, sand the edges, and smooth out any creases, cracks, or dents with spackle. Once you're happy with the surface, prime and paint the board in your chosen colour. Finally, add your photos and any other decorative elements, such as vinyl lettering, flowers, or other embellishments.

Displaying your sign

There are several ways to display your wedding welcome sign. You can prop it up on an easel, lean it against a wall, or even hang it up. If you're having an outdoor wedding, you may need to create a sturdy base to ensure your sign stands up straight. Don't forget to choose a spot where your guests can easily see your sign as they arrive!

Print a meaningful quote

Printing a meaningful quote is a great way to make your wedding welcome sign stand out. It can be a fun, romantic, or inspirational quote that sets the tone for your special day. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Romantic Quotes:

These quotes showcase the love between you and your partner and can be a great way to make your guests feel the love. Here are some options:

• "I love her, and that's the beginning and end of everything." – F. Scott Fitzgerald
• "I have found the one whom my soul loves."
• "You are my happily ever after."
• "Nothing can stop our love."
• "It's a forever thing."
• "You are my greatest adventure."
• "I've never loved anyone the way I love you."
• "You make my dreams come true."

Funny Quotes:

If you want to add a bit of humour to your wedding welcome sign, consider a funny quote. These can lighten the mood and make your guests smile. Here are a few ideas:

• "You're the gin to my tonic."
• "I love you more than pizza."
• "Trust me, you can dance" – Alcohol
• "You look hot. Let's do this."
• "All you need is love and pizza."
• "You be my glass of wine, I'll be your shot of whiskey."

Song Lyrics:

Incorporating song lyrics into your wedding welcome sign is a great way to showcase a song that holds a special meaning for you and your partner. Here are some lyric ideas:

• "All of me loves all of you."
• "All you need is love."
• "I can't help falling in love with you."
• "Bring me a higher love."
• "You've got the best of my love."
• "I will love you unconditionally."

Movie/TV Quotes:

If you and your partner are movie or TV buffs, consider using a quote from your favourite film or show. These can add a whimsical touch to your welcome sign. Here are a few suggestions:

• "To infinity and beyond." – Toy Story
• "You are perfect to me." – Love Actually
• "Love always finds a way." – Jurassic Park
• "Can you feel the love tonight?" – The Lion King
• "I look at you and I'm home." – The Wizard of Oz

These are just a few ideas to get you started. Feel free to choose a quote that holds a special meaning for you and your partner, or even come up with your own!

Add natural elements

Adding natural elements to your wedding welcome sign is a great way to bring a warm, rustic charm to your special day, especially if you're having an outdoor or barn wedding. Here are some ideas to incorporate natural elements into your sign:

Use Natural Materials

Choose natural materials like wood, such as reclaimed wood or birch logs, to create your sign. This will give it an earthy and rustic feel. You could also use materials like mirror, marble, acrylic, glass, metal, or fabric to add a touch of elegance or modernity.

Incorporate Greenery and Flowers

Add some greenery and flowers to your sign to give it a natural and romantic touch. You can use fresh flowers that match your wedding colour palette, or opt for dried flowers or greenery for a more rustic look. Eucalyptus, baby's breath, and roses are all great options. You could also frame your sign with a wreath of flowers or floral decals.

Combine with Other Natural Elements

Combine your floral welcome sign with other natural elements such as lanterns, vintage mirrors or picture frames, branches, and candlelight to create a whimsical and rustic atmosphere.

Keep the Wording Rustic

When choosing the wording for your sign, opt for a warm and inviting tone. You could use phrases like "Welcome to our happily ever after", " [Names]'s wedding - Sit back, relax, and enjoy the love", or "Two families become one - Welcome!". A handwritten or script font style will also add to the rustic charm.

DIY with Natural Materials

If you're feeling crafty, you could make your own welcome sign using natural materials. For example, you could use a wooden pallet, crate, or slice of wood as your base and decorate it with flowers, foliage, or twine. You could even use a mirror as your base and add floral decals or calligraphy.

Use a chalkboard

Using a chalkboard for your wedding welcome sign is a great way to add a personal touch to your special day. Here are some tips and ideas to help you create a beautiful chalkboard welcome sign:

Choosing the Right Chalkboard

First, you'll need to choose the right chalkboard for your sign. Consider the size and shape of the chalkboard, as well as the frame. You can find chalkboards in various sizes and styles, from small tabletop chalkboards to large, freestanding A-frame chalkboards. If you're looking for something unique, you can even find chalkboards with rustic wooden frames or magnetic surfaces.

Planning Your Design

Before you start writing on your chalkboard, it's essential to plan out your design. Decide on the layout, font styles, and any decorations you want to include. You can search online for chalkboard sign ideas and font inspiration or create your own unique design. If you're feeling creative, you can draw or print out some practice sheets to perfect your design before writing on the chalkboard.

Using the Right Tools

When it comes to writing on your chalkboard, using the right tools is essential. Chalk pens or liquid chalk pens can give your sign a cleaner, more polished look than traditional chalk. They also come in various colours, allowing you to add a pop of colour to your design. If you're using a liquid chalk pen, be sure to give it a test run on a separate surface first to get a feel for how it writes.

Keeping it Clean

As you're working on your design, it's inevitable that you'll make a few mistakes. Baby wipes are a great way to clean up any chalky errors and start fresh. They're gentle enough not to damage the chalkboard surface but effective at removing chalk marks.

Adding the Finishing Touches

Once you've finished writing on your chalkboard, you can add some final touches to make it look extra special. Consider adding some decorations to the frame, such as flowers, ribbons, or other embellishments that fit your wedding theme. You can also add some extra stability to a freestanding chalkboard by attaching it to a sturdy base or easel.

Preserving Your Creation

After putting so much effort into creating your chalkboard welcome sign, you'll want to ensure it lasts through your wedding day. If you're using a liquid chalk pen, be sure to give it enough time to dry completely before transporting or displaying your sign. You can also consider sealing your design with a fixative spray to prevent smudging.

Using a chalkboard for your wedding welcome sign allows you to create a unique and personalised greeting for your guests. With the right tools and a bit of creativity, you can design a beautiful sign that will wow your guests and set the tone for your wedding celebration.

Paint over stickers

This technique is like a backwards stencil and is a genius way to create a wedding welcome sign. First, paint your sign the colour you want your letters to be. You can use spray paint or regular paint for this. Then, using fun-shaped stickers, arrange your saying, pressing them firmly into the wood. You can use letter and number stickers or cut your own with a Cricut machine.

Next, paint over the stickers. You can use a different colour or the same colour as your background, depending on the look you want to achieve. Once the paint is dry, remove the stickers to reveal your design. You can even leave the letters the wood colour or create an ombré effect.

If you want to add some extra decoration, you can use decoupage glue to stick on other items like paper, paper ribbon, or glitter. Apply 1-3 coats of decoupage glue, allowing at least an hour of drying time between coats.

Finally, remove any remaining stickers and apply a clear coat to smooth out rough edges and protect your sign.

Frequently asked questions