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Greet your guests in style with these decorative items. acrylic drums
From your altar installation to your table runners, every detail seen throughout your wedding will probably grab your guests’ attention, but if you want to make a great first impression the moment your friends and family arrive, put a welcome sign on display. These pieces of signage will likely be the first decorative item that your loved ones will come across once they set foot in the place, so adding them to your space is an opportunity to introduce everyone to your nuptials and get them excited for the upcoming celebration. Welcome signs also set the tone of your function, giving guests a glimpse into your overall aesthetic. For instance, a sign engraved with calligraphy and adorned with blooms may hint at an enchanting garden vibe, whereas a wooden slab featuring a palm tree illustration will most likely reference a tropical fête.
Not only are welcome signs an important part of your décor, but they’re also informative. While most include the couple’s names, their wedding date, and some form of “welcome” verbiage, many couples choose to communicate other important information about their soirée, whether it’s their hashtag for social media posts, the itinerary of the day, or requests for an unplugged ceremony.
It’s ultimately up to you what design and wording you choose, but we recommend featuring motifs found throughout the rest of your event, such as fonts, colors, and foliage, to imbue a sense of cohesion. If you’re looking for more inspiration, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite welcome signs, from gold frames spotlighting calligraphy to lucite boards embellished with pressed flowers.
Keep scrolling to see 40 wedding welcome signs that will definitely make an impression.
Photo by Olivia Christina Photography
When your guests first arrive at your venue, consider greeting them in style. Mirrored wedding welcome signs (such as the one at this personalized function on the Jersey Shore, with stationery by Julia Yates Design) are chic and elegant pieces of décor that bring an upscale touch to any affair when implemented. With this idea, as friends and family stop to admire this decorative element, they can even snap a picture of themselves in the mirror.
Beautiful illustrations will single-handedly convert your wedding welcome sign into a masterpiece. No matter your aesthetic, you can’t go wrong with a painting of you and your future spouse, especially one that foreshadows your celebration. For an apt selection, consider a drawing where the two of you are dressed in your wedding attire while posing at your venue, such as the sign at this Gatsby-inspired soirée on Long Island by LC Designs.
There are an endless number of ways to decorate your wedding welcome sign, but flowers are a sought-after choice. While fresh blooms work for any type of event, they're particularly suitable for ceremonies that take place in a garden, meadow, greenhouse, or other nature-focused venue. Take cues from this couple's sign, designed by Royal Swans at their picnic-inspired wedding in Vietnam, in which baby's breath and roses engulfed the lucite slab, making them the focal point.
Photo by Danilo & Sharon
Looking for an innovative alternative to traditional wedding welcome signs? Swap the conventional paper background with a gauzy piece of fabric. Be sure to select colors that coincide with your aesthetic, such as the beige backdrop and white writing that appeared on the sign at this earthy affair in Ibiza.
Photo by Alixann Loosle Photography
To hang your initial piece of signage, try propping it up on an easel. Wedding welcome signs that rest on wooden frames (like the one show here at this farm fête in California, with décor and styling by Saffron + Poe) have a rustic, artistic feel. To enliven your own, flank the stand with wildflowers and have the blooms sketched on the board.
If you have couple portraits that you want to show off, such as ones from your engagement photoshoot, use your wedding welcome sign to spotlight them. There's arguably no better way to introduce loved ones to your special day than with a sweet shot that captures your love for one another. To bring the image to life, consider planting a bed of colorful blossoms beneath it.
For a cohesive event, your wedding welcome sign needs to coordinate with your overall aesthetic. If you're throwing down at a Western bash, for instance, you'll want to embrace pared-back, all-natural materials. This wooden sign by Amber Moon (which was seen at this event in the mountains of Idaho) on a barrel, decorated with a wicker basket of dried grasses and colorful wildflowers, is a prototypical idea to reference.
Photo by Scott Clark Photo
Imprinting the phrase,"'Til Death Do Us Part" (like this bride and groom did at their nontraditional reception in New York), is perfect for edgy couples or celebrations with gothic aesthetics. A black-and-white palette and bare-bones design will help execute your vision, adding a hint of drama and moodiness. While these words are indeed ominous, they're also completely applicable to weddings since they're part of traditional vows.
Photo by Alice Ahn Photography
A simple design featuring neutral colors and floral arrangements is a timeless way to present your wedding welcome sign. Take, for example, this unfussy sign by Shimmer + Stain, trimmed with white buds and greenery, that enhanced this pair’s modern affair in Napa Valley. We particularly love this choice for minimalist fêtes.
Using lucite as the base of your wedding welcome sign is ideal for a contemporary bash. The transparent material looks sleek and sophisticated, and it allows the words themselves to stand out. With a see-though surface, this is a great opportunity to display your joint initials (like this couple modeled at their fall nuptials in Big Sur, with stationery by Swell Press Paper Co.).
If you’re a maximalist or simply want to make a statement, install a welcome sign composed of multiple planes. Overlapping boards in various colors, shapes, and sizes will create depth and dimension, thereby increasing the visual intrigue at your function. Use each section to highlight a certain aspect of welcome signs and station the setup with floral installations, like this couple did at their multi-day Indian wedding in Mexico.
Photo by Unique Lapin Photography
A welcome sign enclosed in a gilded frame has an old-world and glamorous flair to it that’s perfect for destination weddings in Europe. With an intricately carved frame along the perimeter, the sign itself won’t need many (if any) loud designs. For instance, at this French-inspired wedding at an estate in Delaware, the bride and groom’s welcome sign by Foundry Paper Co. featured their joint initials and wedding date on a white background, which didn’t detract from the fixture’s meticulous detailing.
Photo by Rachel May Photography
For organized couples who want to set the expectation for what’s to come, use your welcome sign to map out the day’s schedule. That way, your guests will know exactly when the next event will happen, which will avoid any confusion. Not to mention, having your itinerary on full display is also an attempt to hold yourself and everyone else accountable, so the event runs smoothly and no one shows up late.
Wedding welcome signs will naturally draw attention, but the decorations that you use around the item have the opportunity to take your display to the next level. Modern structures suspended with crystal chandeliers brought a glitzy, upscale touch to this black-and-white sign, which made an appearance at this timeless affair in Antigua. We love this look for glamorous aesthetics or venues, from New York City ballrooms to Italian villas.
When you use pristine penmanship to relay information via your welcome sign, no other design elements need to be present. Written on a white board, calligraphy really takes center stage and evokes an elegant and sophisticated feel. Not only did this couple highlight their names on their welcome sign, but they also used beautiful cursive to emphasize the number of postponements they had to make before finally getting to marry one another in Coachella Valley. This fact wouldn’t have made as much of an impact among other competing design elements.
Your wedding décor is an opportunity to showcase your personality and relationship, so why not include some of those telling details on your welcome sign? Using your sign to highlight a custom crest that you’ve created will capture the essence of your love story, making your nuptials feel more meaningful. At this couple’s coastal wedding on Cape Cod, with signage by Albertine Press, the main focus of the bride and groom’s welcome sign was a large symbol featuring their joint initials and items that reflect their lives and values, from their puppy to the Chicago flag.
If your locale is an integral part of your nuptials, paint the landscape on your welcome sign. For example, this couple exchanged vows in a beachside ceremony in Laguna Niguel, California, so they nodded to the Pacific Ocean by painting overlapping strokes of blue on their welcome sign. Imprint your names and incorporate a welcoming message in a white shade for contrast.
While wedding welcome signs are stunning on their own, fitting one into a larger installation will really up the ante. Consider nestling your sign in a bed of flowers, like this couple’s lush arrangement that engulfed a fountain at their Italian-inspired nuptials in Florida, with stationery by Chalk Shop Studio. Make sure the design of your sign coordinates with the colors of the surrounding blossoms.
The main purpose of a welcome sign is to greet your guests, but its function may also be twofold: You can use your sign to equip family and friends with items that will keep them comfortable. Maybe that’s pashminas at a fall or winter ceremony with brisk temperatures (which is what this couple did at their art museum wedding in Boston) or parasols on a sunny day in the summer. Either way, your loved ones will appreciate and always remember the gesture.
Photo by Kayla Mendez Photography
Implementing a welcome sign is one of the best ways to introduce your aesthetic on the big day. With a sleek pink canvas, modern typeface, and clean lines, this couple’s mid-century modern welcome sign transported guests back to the 1940s at their desert fête in California. In addition to the design itself, their sign included instructions on seating arrangements and also encouraged guests not to use their cellphones.
Pampas grass has almost become synonymous with bohemian nuptials, so if you’re throwing a wedding with an earthy and effortless vibe, engulf your welcome sign in the dried plant. You can either frame the outer edges of your sign with the textured foliage or place arrangements of the tall, wheat-colored grass on the ground beside your sign. Consider mixing in other fresh flowers, such as roses and baby’s breath, for a unique multitude of hues, textures, and shapes. At their fashionable Indian wedding in California, this duo even coordinated their sign’s structure and font color to match the surrounding pampas grass.
Photo by Sean Thomas Photography
Although most couples purchase premade wedding welcome signs, creating a DIY piece will give you the opportunity to include even more customization. Plus, if you’re a crafty couple, you’ll be able to flex your creative muscles. For their organic garden party in San Diego, this bride and groom built their own welcome sign, which greeted guests once they showed up to the ceremony. They even infused personal touches, such as paper cranes to represent their engagement and their family motto, a quote from their favorite Bible passage.
Instead of a solid-colored background, use pressed flowers to make the base of your welcome sign. The preserved blooms will animate your names and wedding date, creating a lush, colorful display at any affair. Plus, the flowers will last a lifetime, so you can install the sign in your newlywed home after you’ve exchanged vows. Make sure you use a lucite sign with a transparent surface, so your guests will actually be able to see the compact buds.
Photo by Jana Williams Photography
A welcome sign with bright, bold graphics, such as a fun neon sign, is the perfect segue to an eclectic and retro event. This sign by Swell Press Paper Co., which was seen at this pair’s vow exchange in Palm Springs, is reminiscent of the ‘80s. The pattern is mesmerizing, and the combination of yellow, black, and white is certainly eye-catching.
Photo by Chris & Ruth Photography
Whether you’re saying “I do” on the beach or you’re hoping to transport guests to an idyllic island via a tropical aesthetic, palm trees will probably be a recurring motif in your wedding design—and your welcome sign is no exception. To welcome friends and family to your ceremony, incorporate an illustration of a palm tree on the sign itself, and then decorate the installation with palm leaves (like this couple did at their Tulum nuptials).
Whatever portion of the day you decide to welcome guests to, having a beverage on hand will make the start of the festivities more enjoyable for your loved ones. If you’re stationing your sign at the ceremony, arrange a pre-ceremony cocktail hour with welcome drinks. If you’d rather install your welcome sign at your reception site, place it beside a Champagne wall with coupes that double as escort cards.
Photo by Kaley from Kansas
While silver and gold are often the go-to metals that couples implement into their décor, copper is an equally stylish and glitzy substitute that evokes warmth. You can use the pinkish-orange hue to frame your welcome sign at any event, from rustic fêtes to glamorous celebrations. This couple even stationed their setup at their whimsical wedding in New York with a colorful floral arrangement filled with complementary warm tones.
Are you looking for an artistic display for your wedding’s first impression? Transform your welcome sign with watercolor designs. Add brushstrokes to the corners for a subtle inclusion or splatter paint across the entire board for a bold look. This couple chose blue and green for their European-inspired Dallas wedding, with stationery by Sincerely, Addison, to pop against a white sign with a gold font.
Photo by Amber Gress Photography
To bring your contemporary aesthetic to life, choose a wedding welcome sign with neutral colors and a minimalist appearance. We personally love a semi-transparent sign with your names and wedding date etched in white, which is similar to this couple’s setup at their wedding in Westhampton.
The design of your welcome sign is a common object of focus, but the wording that you use is just as important. At their family-focused affair in California, this pair opted for a no-frills design by Kelly Patrice, but they spread a heartfelt message, “We are so grateful to have you here,” that touched their guests. With comforting words, your friends and family will feel loved and appreciated.
Traditional wedding welcome signs usually include the couple’s names and wedding date, but these elements aren’t a requirement. For a sign that feels unique to you, write a message that showcases your personality and sense of humor while setting the tone for the upcoming event. At their unconventional and retro wedding in San Diego, this couple used their welcome sign by Peanut Press Creative to set the expectation that their wedding would be a blast by listing one simple instruction: “Have fun, okay?”
Photo by Shining Light Photography
A wedding welcome sign with a wooden base is the ideal complement to rustic aesthetics at a farm, vineyard, or distillery. With elegant calligraphy and a custom crest, the earthy surface can also look elevated enough for a formal event.
Photo by Emily Gude Photo
If your style is sleek and sophisticated, go with a minimalist display. Neutral hues, like black and white, work well for pared-back designs, especially if your aesthetic is modern or industrial. If decorations aren’t the focal point, the sky’s the limit with wording. This couple included a sweet message that said, “We’re so glad you’re here,” at their romantic Baltimore bash, in addition to stamping their sign with their names, wedding date, and location.
For autumnal nuptials, wedding welcome signs decorated with fall foliage will capture the essence of the season. Consider placing a cluster of dried leaves and fresh flowers in burnt orange and gold tones on the ground beside your sign to reflect the local flora and fauna. Terrazzo also makes a beautiful statement at weddings during this time of the year.
Photo by Du Soleil Photography
Rather than writing out information on a paper welcome sign, print your details on a banner for a luxurious and elegant spin. Then, flank your sign with pillar candles and seasonal blooms to increase the opulence. To really make an impact, remember to hang the item in a spot where your guests can easily see it.
Themes aren’t a requirement at every wedding, but if yours has one central focus, you’ll definitely want to mention it on your welcome sign. For instance, consider referring to your guests as “happy campers” for a function with a “summer camp” theme. Then, pull in details from your venue by including an illustration of the mountains and planting a bed of bright flowers in the front.
Photo by Pat Robinson Photo
We’ve already discussed that custom crests are a popular design element to include on wedding welcome signs, but fusing the first letter of your first name with that of your partner’s has a similar effect. Select flowing cursive for a formal event at a ballroom venue or bold block letters for a modern affair on a city rooftop.
Photo by We The Romantics
If you’re planning on stationing your welcome sign at your ceremony site, you can use your sign to share pertinent information about the service. For instance, if you don’t want your guests’ phones to get in the way of professional photos or to beep throughout the event, request an unplugged ceremony. Make sure to explain the device-free policy in a detailed-yet-succinct way.
Photo by Sydney Noelle Photography
An arched shape makes a stunning base for wedding welcome signs, especially those at modern nuptials. An acrylic board, trimmed with orchids and baby's breath, will particularly pull this look together.
Photo by Terri Baskin Photography
25mm acrylic A gold font color on a white welcome sign oozes luxury and refinement. The laser-cut lettering pictured at this lavish affair in Washington D.C. makes the bride and groom’s names stand out, while the acrylic stand creates the illusion that the sign is floating above the ground.