Welcome signs are a MUST for a wedding. Just about every bride that books me for signage includes a welcome sign. Welcome signs are the most popular signage pieces that I do. Here are some pointers on what to include on your welcome sign, and what to keep in mind when deciding what you want your sign to look like! I’ve asked a few local wedding planners to chime in. I’m throwing in my own personal tidbits as well! Of course none of this is a must. So if you want to get creative with your welcome sign, have at it!
THE BASICS – What verbiage do you include on a wedding welcome sign: At a minimum, I would include the following:
- The word “Welcome” or “Welcome to the wedding of” is always a classic
- The Bride and Groom’s names
- Wedding date
Include a love quote.
“There are different options for the language you can have on your wedding sign. We recommend including a greeting, the couple’s name, and the wedding date. It can also be a sweet touch to add a cute or significant quote about love…” – Laurie D’Anne Events
Include a timeline?
“I like to include the Bride and Groom’s Name and Wedding Date. I have also had a couple that hired Claire to create an event schedule or “Order of Events” as a welcome sign and, as a planner, I loved it!” – Music City Events
If possible, budget for florals or greenery on the welcome sign.
“We most often add floral or greenery to the Welcome Sign. It should feel like it flows and fits with the rest of the feel and vibe of the wedding and can be as simple flowing greenery. You can get creative with how you want to display, depending on the style of your wedding.” – Laurie D’Anne Events
Utilize the venue!
Nashville has a few venues that have great opportunities with including the welcome sign on the venue space – my favorite is the Clementine’s chalkboard wall, located at the entrance of the venue.
Clear Acrylic is more legible with a background – whether its a wall of some sort, florals or paint on the acrylic.
Not sure if you’ll have a good background for a clear acrylic sheet? Opt for a painted sheet of acrylic.
If your welcome sign is on a mirror, keep in mind what the reflection will be! Hillside are lovely. Guests standing at a bar as the reflection? Not so lovely.
Keep your venue’s aesthetic in mind. When it comes to the welcome sign, this is potentially the first thing your guests see when walking into your venue. Make sure the sign is cohesive with the aesthetic of the venue.
Don’t forget the easel! Some venues have easels in stock already, so double check with your venue before reserving a rental through me! I keep several different kinds of easels in stock for you to rent with your welcome sign: acrylic easels, wood easels, gold easels, copper frames, etc. I’ve got you covered and can make suggestions on what easels look best with your welcome sign! Different easels have different weight capacities, so when working with heavy mirrors, that’s something to keep in mind.
Keep it simple if you want to keep the welcome sign as a keepsake! So many of my clients keep these as decor to use in their first home together. If you are going this route, I would suggest just your names and wedding date!
Welcome Signs – Most commonly used materials: The most commonly used materials that I used for welcome signs are:
- Mirror (or glass of any kind)
- Wood
- Acrylic (clear, clear + paint, colored, or frosted)
- chalkboard – an oldie but a goodie!
- fabric
Placement of Your Welcome Sign: When determining the size and style of your welcome sign, it’s always helpful to visualize the placement of your sign at the venue. “A welcome sign can be at the venue entrance, the “back” of the ceremony or the entrance to the reception. Any high traffic areas that will be seen by all of your guests.” – Music City Events. The welcome sign could also be at the entrance of the ceremony. The Get Together Events Co says welcome signs are placed “….At the entrance to the ceremony or right at the front doors that get folks to the ceremony locations. I don’t put off a public road as we don’t want to encourage crashers! I also then transfer to the front of the reception if there is time.”
At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong way to have your welcome sign designed or displayed. This is your day – I always encourage uniqueness! Lean on your wedding planner to answer some of the questions you have, check with your venue about what clients have done in the past and whether or not they have easels readily available (that’ll save you some money!). And if you want to do something outside of the box, I’m here for it! I like to tell my clients, “if your wedding album had a cover page, the welcome sign she be on this page.” – so keep that in mind! It’s the entrance to your big day, the announcement of where guests are at, and the first visual guests usually see of what’s to come for the wedding.