Wedding banners and signs

Walk the day from the car park

Imagine a guest who has never seen the venue. They need to find the entrance, the ceremony room, the bar, the seating plan and perhaps a shuttle pick-up. Each of those moments is a sign. Write the list in the order your guests will meet them, then drop anything the venue already covers. Usually that leaves a welcome sign, a seating plan and one or two directional pieces, plus a banner if you want something larger for a marquee or a photo spot.

Names, dates and the seating plan

Mistakes on wedding signs are painful because the date cannot move. Have two people read every name letter by letter, particularly on the seating plan, where late RSVPs cause changes. Leave that piece until last, and keep an editable version so a swap does not mean redesigning it. Elegant scripts can be hard to read from a few metres away, so use them for your names and keep table lists in a plainer font. Our artwork guide explains how to set up your files.

Materials that suit the setting

• Rigid foamex boards sit well on easels and look neat for a seating plan.
• Printed acrylic gives a glassy, polished welcome sign, although it is heavier and needs careful handling.
• A fabric or PVC banner can be tied to posts in a barn or garden, as long as it can cope with wind and damp.

Many historic venues limit how wedding banners and signs can be fixed, so ask your coordinator first.

Related topics

• Birthday banner printing
• Race and finish line banners
• Pitch-side banners