top of page
Writer's pictureRachel Griffin, owner & lead wedding planner

Wedding Signage

"We were together, I forget the rest" wedding sign

Wedding signage is one of those tricky details that sneaks up on you while wedding planning. You know you probably need at least a few, BUT how many are too many? Which ones are REALLY necessary? We’re here to help! 





Must Haves:

Welcome Sign 

Welcome signs are super helpful because they let guests know right away that they’re in the correct place. Sometimes parking is confusing, or maybe you’re at a venue that has multiple entrances or events. A welcome sign just tells your guests they’ve made it and sets that initial vibe for your day. This is a great decor item to move with you throughout your event for extra decor touches too. 



Ladder wedding seating chart with hiking boots and mountain welcome sign

Seating Sign 

However, you’re choosing to seat your guests for dinner (open seating, assigned tables, place cards, etc.), you’ll need some sort of wedding signage to let your guests know how to find a seat for dinner. Whether it’s a “Pick a seat” sign for open seating, or a seating chart designating a table, guests will need signage to know where to go when they’re asked to move into the dinner space of your venue.  


Cards & Gifts Sign 

A table sign for your cards and gifts is incredibly helpful to clue your guests in for where the spot is for these items. Sometimes the card box or empty table space isn’t obvious and a small sign letting them know is the perfect way to help them find it.  


Guestbook Sign 

Same as with the cards & gifts sign, a guestbook sign just helps your guests locate this. If you’re having a more unique or involved guestbook, you’ll want the sign to include directions. You can find some great examples in our Guestbooks 101 blog



Directional Sign 

If your venue has unique directional concerns, you’ll need some sort of wedding signage that directs guests to move along the correct paths between locations.  This doesn’t apply to every venue, but if it does for yours, these are a must-have.  


Optional: 

Bar Sign 

These aren’t necessary, but they can be super fun and helpful. While guests are waiting, they’ll be able to review their options so they’re ready when they make it to the bartender. They can also be a great place to infuse your personalities or love story or even pets with fun names for signature drinks and cute phrasing.  



A sign with a memorial blurb with a lantern and some flowers next to it

Memorial Sign 

Many couples decide to include photos of loved ones that aren’t able to be a part of the celebration. Photos arranged together are often enough, but including a memorial sign is an option as well to add something additional if you’d like.  


Ceremony Sign 

These can be a great alternative to programs if you’d like a way to showcase the people in your wedding party and ceremony.  


Unplugged Sign 

If you’d prefer that your guests keep their cameras and phones tucked away during your ceremony, having an unplugged sign is a great idea. We also always recommend having your officiant announce this too to give it some additional attention.  

A chalkboard on an easel with the wedding timeline on it

Timeline Sign 

These are great ways to let your guests know what to expect throughout the event. If you have special things scheduled throughout the night, guests will get the heads up early and know to be there for them.  


Grand Exit Sign 

If you’re having any kind of special grand exit at the very end of the evening, these are a great way to let your guests know so they’ll stay all the way to the end for it. We recommend placing them at the bar, or somewhere equally as noticeable, with the time that your exit will be at. This way, if they might be tempted to head home after cake, they’ll know that they’ll be missing something by leaving early.  




General Tips for Wedding Signage

  • Wedding signage doesn’t have to be elaborate to be effective. Simple inexpensive frames that match your decor with DIY printed paper off your personal computer work great.  

  • Etsy has lots of amazing templates for download that you can use to keep your designs consistent for all of your signage. You can also make your own too! Having a template base makes creating multiple signs super quick and efficient.  

  • If you choose some larger sized signs for your day, don’t forget about easels to display them on. Whether the easel is built into the sign itself, or separate, you’ll want them to be stable in wind and large enough to keep your sign upright. 

  • For seating signage, we always recommend displaying names alphabetically rather than by table. This helps guests find their names much quicker and easier and prevents bottlenecks while guests search.  

  • Looking for some fun inspiration for your own signs? Check out the Gallery page on our website for lots of fun wedding eye candy and ideas! 




Comments


bottom of page