4 Places You Need Signage On Your Wedding Day
Let's face it, there are a ton of decisions to be made and overwhelming options when it comes to your wedding day. First and foremost, remember what this day is truly about, and that is you and your fiancé making a commitment to one another and celebrating that with your family and friends. With that said, there's still a lot to think about, and once the invitations are sent, there are still some paper decisions to be made for your day: signage!
You can go minimal with your signage or you can go all out! Of course I am a fan of going all out because I just love a cohesive wedding "brand" and there are so many fun things we can do, but at a minimum there are some pieces of signage that you will want to consider as you are deciding what to include for your day.
So let’s dive into some of the most important pieces of signage that will make sure your wedding is both beautiful AND practical for guest logistics.
1 | Escort Cards or Seating Chart
Some sort of guidance for your guests is a must! I strongly encourage a seating plan for your guests as opposed to open seating. I have been a guest at an open seating wedding and it caused confusion and lack of open seats for couples because when guests would go to sit at a table with someone they didn't know, they would leave one seat between them and the stranger and all of a sudden you had a plethora of single seats open and not any places for couples - you do what you think is best, but I highly suggest making some sort of seating plan. Your guests will truly appreciate it!
So once you have a seating plan, how should you communicate that to your guests? There are a couple of different ways to do this, but the most popular are a seating chart sign or an escort card display. A seating chart sign could be something like a framed sign, large mirror, or 5x7 cards placed on a wood display with table numbers and names listed for each guest so they know which table they are seated at. Seating chart signs have gotten SO creative these days and there are so many fun ideas for how to display all of the names.
Another way to do it is through an escort card display. An escort card is something that has the guest's name and table number on it, and they pick it up and take it with them to their designated table. This could be something as simple as folded cardstock escort cards placed on a table, or a large display shelf with glasses of champagne with tags attached that serve as the escort card. Again, so many ways to get creative. Whichever direction you decide to go and whether you decide to keep it simple or be elaborate, you need some way to guide your guests to their correct table during the reception!
2 | Table Numbers
Now that your guests know which table to go to since you are going to have a very fun, efficient way for them to know this information, they have to know which table is which! Your reception is not a restaurant where the hostess and the wait staff know each table number without it being labeled - your guests have not a clue which table is theirs! So you have to show them and this is where table numbers come in. You can have a framed table number, an unframed table number displayed on a stand, wood signs - so many options. The main point is that no matter which direction you go, it should be clear which table is which so that your guests can easily spot their assigned table and start the reception off smoothly!
3 | Menus
Menus are one of those pieces of signage that has a multitude of different ways to be incorporated in your reception. You can do individual menus for each guest, which can also double as a place card at the table. Side note: an escort card directs your guest to the table, and the place card is already set at their place to tell them exactly which seat to sit in (up to you whether you just do an escort card or choose to do both!). You could also display one menu per table so that the guests know what they will be eating, and this is more cost effective than individual menus.
Another option is a large sign displaying the menu as guests enter the reception, similar to a welcome sign or order of events sign. And lastly, if you are doing stations or a buffet rather than a plated dinner you can include signs for each station stating what is included (especially if there are dietary restrictions). And don't forget the bar menu - you need to let your guests know their choices for beer, wine, and cocktails!
Menus are a great place to think out of the box, especially if they are doubling as place cards or if you are doing one per table. You can think about incorporating acrylic, wood, handmade paper, vellum, wax seals - I mean I'm not kidding when I say there is so much creativity to be had with menus! This is one of the most overlooked pieces of day-of signage because it isn't seen as absolutely necessary, but menus can make an incredible statement so I encourage you to give them plenty of thought and consideration!
4 | Welcome Sign
Welcome signs do exactly what they sound like - welcome your guests to your venue and your special day! They are a great way to incorporate the theme for your day and tie in to all of your décor. Guests definitely feel special and sentimental when they see your names on that sign and they get all giddy for all of the fun to come that evening! And probably most importantly it lets them know they are at the right place, for the correct wedding. Although your wedding day is about celebrating you and your significant other, little touches making your guests feel welcomed and appreciated go a long way in them enjoying themselves the entire night and remembering your day fondly!
For a welcome sign, you can frame it or have it mounted to foam board with some greenery to display on an easel, you can have a hand lettered wood sign, an acrylic masterpiece, or something cool and funky depending on your personality and décor! This is one of those pieces of signage that doesn't really have any rules and can be a statement piece right as your guests enter your venue!
Of course there are lot of ways we can include more signage for your day like an order of events sign, a guest book sign, a favor display table sign…the list goes on. But the four listed above are what I would argue are the most important to consider when deciding where to include signage on your day and what your budget can accommodate. I work with my clients to determine exactly what will work best for their vision and their budget, and you definitely won't regret having a cohesive look to all of your wedding day signage - and even better if it corresponds to your wedding invitations!
