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
Photo by Kristen Sheft Photography for Velour Events at Cherokee Dock. “And so the adventure begins”
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.
Welcome Sign + Timeline + Hashtag at Clementine for PremierWed. Photo by Abigail Volkmann Photography
Clear Acrylic is more legible with a background – whether its a wall of some sort, florals or paint on the acrylic.
Photo by Nyk + Cali for Laure D’Anne Events at Cherokee Dock. Florals by Katy Stuart
Not sure if you’ll have a good background for a clear acrylic sheet? Opt for a painted sheet of acrylic.
Photo by Rachael Houser Photo
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.
Photo by Kendall Parsons Miller at Allenbrooke Farms
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.
Photo by Mandy Liz Photography at Noelle Hotel, Velour Events
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.”
photo by Janelle Elise Photography for Erin Creighton Events
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.
You guys, this is what copper wedding dreams are made of. First, let’s give a shoutout to the bride. Kendall and I met through my sister. Kendall and my sister at the same apartment complex and Kendall snapped some amazing photos of my sister and her dog. Come to find out Kendall is a wedding photographer and our paths certainly crossed many of times. Kendall asked me to be a part of her big day and I couldn’t have been more honored. She brought in some of the most amazing details, incorporating copper, rose gold, and the most amazing wedding dress. I love that she stayed true to her personal style and carried her style through every detail of this amazing day. Enjoy these photos! I hope they make you as happy as they make me!
Kendall’s invitation suite was from Minted.com. I provided the calligraphy – mixing pointed pen (for the addresses) and brush calligraphy (for the names) to match the style of her invitation. Just remember, I work with all different types of stationers! I can still do your envelope calligraphy, even if you get your invitations elsewhere 🙂
Kendall’s personality shined through literally every single photo. It makes my heart smile. I love that she stayed true to her style. Her pup made it to the big day as well!
The reception venue, the Cordelle, is in the heart of Downtown Nashville and one of the most timeless venues in my opinion. It is so versatile and is always a crowd pleaser. It provides a blank slate for brides, but has all the beautiful elements at the same time (hello amazing floors).
Kendall knew right away that she wanted to utilize my copper frames from my rental collection. The way she and her planner styled everything was a game changer, for sure. So stunning! From the welcome sign, seating chart, table numbers and bar signage – it all matched with matching copper frames.
Guests found their table on the seating chart, and their seat from their place card. Each place card sitting so pretty with the loveliest table-scape.
Oh hey! There is the bride with my sister, Townley. Sorry, had to throw this one in there! Ha!
The details that Lucy and Gary included in their BIG DAY were game changers. I’m sitting here looking through their photo gallery, and there are just SO MANY amazing photos. First, Lucy’s dress. I can’t. Second, Gary and his mom had an epic dance (so it appears, just looking through the photos)! The couple was married at the classic Union Station Hotel in downtown Nashville. Their ceremony and reception were both held in the hotel lobby, which is a stunner. So anyway, I’m here to share the details. It’s the bridesmaids’ duties to share their super cute images of their black floor length bridesmaid gowns; and family to share the sweet images of the flower girls. For me, I’m sharing the details that my future brides want to see!
This invitation suite was created using my spot calligraphy. Every line was hand lettered by ME, and then digitally reprinted. Spot calligraphy is always close to my heart – it ensures that the calligraphy on your invitation and envelopes MATCH; as well as the rest of the calligraphy used throughout! The emerald green envelope brings a modern touch to a very classic suite. Interested in Vintage Postage? The Little Postage House is my favorite source!
The wedding was planned by Erin Lynn Events, a wedding planner who lives in Nashville, but plans all over the country. I had the opportunity to drop by the setup for this event and see Erin in action!
FLORALS. Can we just take these florals in? Like let’s sit here and process them. Because they were stunners. Florals were done by Mary Love with Rosemary & Finch . Her work on the fireplace, come on. Also, Mary made sure that we popped some greenery on the welcome sign (something that is often overlooked when planning)!
John Myers Photography is the team behind the lens in these photos. I had the opportunity to pop in and say hi to Lucy when she was taking her portraits. This was actually my first time meeting John in person (AND Lucy for that matter!), we’ve been Instagram besties for awhile now.
Guests were welcomed at the entry of the lobby with a mirrored welcome sign. After the ceremony, guests grabbed their escort cards, which were done in gold calligraphy on ivory tented card stock. And the tables were dressed with my table number rentals.
The spot calligraphy used on the invitation suite was carried over to the wedding program.
A huge thank you to Lucy for being a part of the #whiteinkjacket movement! Not sure what this is all about. Be sure to CLICK HERE to read all about it. This project is so close to my heart! And Gary, stop being so precious 🙂
Lucy and Gary’s big day was the dreamiest. Classic and elegant with Nashville style. It’s always a pleasure to be a part of such a lovely event. xo – Claire
